Malta

Getting Electricity in

Malta

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 Malta.

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: Enemalta Corporation
  • City: Valletta

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 The client’s engineer sends a letter to the Chairman of Enemalta to inform about the requirements of the new connection

The client’s engineer sends a letter to the Chairman of Enemalta or to Customer care with the requirement of the new connection.
Agency: Enemalta Corporation 		35 calendar days no charge
* 2 Enemalta inspects the site with the client

Enemalta meets with the client or his engineer on the site to determine exactly the cable route from the closest suitable source. This route must pass through public rights of way, which in Malta are almost exclusively public roads. The route distance given by the client may differ from the final determination, because (a) either short cuts through undeveloped land or third party property are chosen by the client, (b) the source, effectively the transformer chosen by the client may not be suitable as it may be a dedicated transformer or a fully loaded one, or (c) the location on the client property of the connection point (usually meter/switch room) is unsuitable.
Once the route is determined the client discusses with Enemalta on the actual load required and future business plans. In the case study, as the required load is at the threshold between LV and MV connection in Malta, a client is likely to choose to install a substation to have a security in case the power load of the warehouse increases.
Once the basic parameters are finalized a formal quotation is prepared. This includes permitting, trenching and road re-instatement for the cable route. These may also be carried out directly by the client to Enemalta’s specifications but most of the time for the connection of a small warehouse Enemalta is in charge of the trenching and subcontracts it.

Agency: Enemalta Corporation 		14 calendar days no charge
3 The clients receives and signs the quote and Enemalta carry out the external connection works

Before the works starts Enemalta needs to obtain a trenching permit and find a contractor to carry out the works. The agency delivering the trenching permit is Transport Malta who consults with all involved stakeholders including MEPA, heritage, local councils, various roads departments, all utility companies including telecom, preparation and approval of work plan, traffic management plan etc. The contractor has to be engaged following a ‘call off’ procedure (similar to a restricted tender) amongst the contractors authorised to carry out such works.
In most cases Enemalta provides the transformer. The client has the option to purchase it through private company, in which case Enemalta gives the specifications of the required transformer.
There are various contractual forms for the property of the transformer. If the transformer is to remain dedicated to the client, Enemalta only requires a title permitting access and use. It is not necessary to transfer the property of the transformer. In the case of a substation which is shared between the client and Enemalta (for general use) then Enemalta requires title on the property and there is a legal mechanism establishing the costs.

Fast track procedures are also available. There is a formal procedure through Malta Enterprise (which has recently been repackaged as ‘Business First’) and an ad hoc procedure where the client explains and justifies the urgency and Enemalta takes whatever steps are possible to accelerate the process from their side. This may be used both at quote stage and for execution of works and may involve carrying out works on overtime and week-ends to shorten the total duration.

Agency: Enemalta Corporation 		90 calendar days EUR 69,100.0
* 4 MEPA inspects the premises of the warehouse to deliver the compliance certificate

The compliance certificate is necessary to apply for electricity.
The architect applies for a compliance certificate to MEPA. It is just a declaration by the architect. The form can be downloaded online but it has to submit it on paper because it is a legal declaration from the architect.
The compliance certificate is only required for the formal application with ARMS. An inspector from MEPA comes to inspect the finished building in 50% of the cases.

Agency: MEPA 		28 calendar days EUR 60.0
5 The client sends a formal application to ARMS and Enemalta comes to install the meter and do the final connection.

A formal form needs to be filled and can be submitted to ARMS during the external connection works. ARMS Ltd is a private limited liability company, set up as a joint venture between the Enemalta Corporation and the Water Services Corporation. ARMS is in charge of the billing of electricity.

The form to request a new electrical connection is available online. It is filled by the electrical engineer of the client and submits on paper to ARMS. The engineer responsible of the internal wiring has to certify that it has been done according to standards. Enemalta sometimes does an inspection of the internal wiring but it is occasionally.

The electricians are licensed by Malta Resources Authority (MRA). MRA is the regulator for water, electricity and oil exploration and falls under the Ministry of Resources and rural affairs.
The MRA regulates electricity tariffs

The documents required for the new connection are:
A copy of the front elevation and the site plan signed by the architect as well as a photo of the façade
A copy of the client electrician’s license
The compliance certificate from MEPA
A copy of identification as well as the company resolution authorizing the applicant to apply on behalf of the company
A document proving ownership of the premise or a guarantee deposit of €466 will be required.

Enemalta installs the meter once the formal application is processed by ARMs and a notification sent by ARMs to Enemalta through the integrated back office software used by Enemalta and ARMs and WSC. Once work is completed, a completion notification is sent by Enemalta to ARMs in the same way through the integrated system.
Smart meters are being installed in Malta. The objective is to have a full coverage of the country by mid 2013.

Agency: Enemalta Corporation 		11 calendar days EUR 900.0
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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