Maldives

Getting Electricity in

Maldives

Listed below are the procedures, time and cost required for a business to obtain an electricity connection for a newly constructed building.

The information appearing on this page 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 183 economies. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2011.

  • Name of Utility: State Electric Co. Ltd
  • City: Malé

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Get Load Calculation of the premise with LV panel drawings approved by Maldives Energy Authority

The process of getting the drawings approved by MEA is that the customer has to submit the detail LV panel drawings and the load calculation to MEA with a letter asking to approve the drawings. The approval process normally takes 2-4 working days and is free of charge. This is a requirement to be provided alongwith the application form for electricity.

Agency: Maldives Energy Authority 		3 calendar days no charge
2 Apply and receive electrical installation testing application signed by utility engineer

The form for electrical installation testing application is available on the STELCO website. The electrical installation testing certification is done solely by STELCO engineers.

Agency: STELCO 		9 calendar days MVR 100.0
3 Submit application to STELCO and await site visit

The following documents need to be attached to application form:
Installation testing application signed by a licensed electrical practioner. Electricity Connection Application signed by the owner, together with his national ID card (if not owner then please provide a valid power of attorney and original national ID card), Registration documents of the plot issued by Male' Municipality, Load Calculation of the premise with LV panel drawings which are both approved by Maldives Energy Authority.

Agency: STELCO 		7 calendar days no charge
4 Customer purchases materials (LV panels)

Customer has to purchase the LV panel (meter is included in the panel). Customer may also buy the cables, but utility also sells that, and customer can either pay utility for it or someone else.

Agency: Customer 		45 calendar days MVR 60,000.0
5 Request and receive LV Panel testing from STELCO

The LV panel and meter has to be tested by STELCO, before they conduct external connection works.

Agency: STELCO 		7 calendar days no charge
6 STELCO conducts external connection works, meter installation and turns on electricity

In Male there is no specific location for warehouses hence it is difficult to point out a specific place where warehouses are clustered.10m is very unrealistic for Male, usually it will be approximately 200m. The meter is installed and tested (no separate procedure as the customer is not involved). Electricity is turned on by the utility automatically after all external connection works are complete.

Agency: STELCO 		30 calendar days MVR 350,000.0
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