Lao PDR

Getting Electricity in

Lao PDR

Below is a detailed summary of the procedures, time and cost required for a business to obtain an electricity connection for a newly constructed building in Lao PDR.

This information was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 185 economies. The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2012.

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  • Standardized Company

  • Name of Utility: Elictricite du Laos
  • City: Vientiane

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Submit application for an electricity connection to EDL and await an estimate of fees and technical specifications of the connection

The application for an electricity connection can be submitted to EDL by the construction company or by the building owner (it is more common that the construction company submits the application). Usually the application is submitted in person with attached documents in hard copies. The following documents have to be attached (1) Application for a connection as a new user; (2) Load and in house wiring designs (3) Distribution panel design (4) Building location (5) in some cases other clearances.

EDL does not carry out an external inspection for the preparation of the technical specifications.

EDL reviews the documents and responds with the following information: (1) the nearest substation or the point where the connection can be made (2) distance between the substation and the building. (3) recommendation of suitable transformers, a power transformer (PT) and a current transformer (CT) ,and ground resistance for the transformer.
The utility obtains the excavation permit for the customer. It takes 7 days on average to get the excavation permit.

Agency: EDL 		37 calendar days no charge
2 Await approval of the detailed technical design and installation plan and registration of the chief engineer at EDL

The electrical contractor/construction company in charge of the external connection works prepares a detailed technical design of the external connection and an installation plan.

When the electrical contractor/construction company submits the technical design to EDL for approval, registration documents for the chief engineer have to be submitted as well. The construction company must propose and assign someone to be the chief electrical engineer who is responsible for designing and supervision of the project. The assignment has to be approved by EDL. The registration of the chief electrical engineer is valid only for the proposed project. The construction company has to register a chief electrical engineer for every project it carries out.

The approval of the technical design is granted together with the proposal of the the consumption fees so arrangements for the supply of electricity are completed at this stage as well.

Agency: EDL 		30 calendar days LAK 1,500,000.0
3 Await completion of the external connection works by an electrical contractor

Once the electrical design is approved by EDL the electrical installation company can start external connection works.

The meter can be installed during the final stage of the external connection works by the electrical contractor.

Agency: Electrical Contractor 		60 calendar days USD 23,500.0
* 4 Await registration of a meter at EDL

The meter can be installed by an electrical contractor but it must be bought and registered with EDL. The meter is registered when it is bought at the utility.
Agency: EDL 		1 calendar day LAK 2,500,000.0
5 Obtain an external and internal inspections by EDL and electricity starts flowing

After the external connection works are completed by the electrical contractor there is an external inspection by EDL.

EDL also inspects the internal wiring when all installation works are finished. During the inspection a representative of the construction company/electrical contractor has to be present.

After the electrical installation is approved, the electricity can be supplied instantly.

Agency: EDL 		7 calendar days LAK 1,000,000.0
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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