Singapore

Getting Electricity in

Singapore

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: SP PowerGrid Ltd.
  • City: Singapore

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 The client’s Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) submits application to SP Services Ltd and awaits quotation of connection fees

The customer has to engage and appoint an Electrical Worker licensed (LEW) with the Energy Market Authority (EMA) to design the internal electrical installation, a LEW for the electrical installation works, and a LEW to operate on the installation. The client however, can appoint the same LEW for all three duties.

The licensed electrical worker acts as the client's agent for the connection to the grid system.

There are three classes of LEW, namely licensed electrician (load < 45kVA), licensed electrical technician (load design < 150kVA) and licensed electrical engineer (no limit on load). Based on the case study's electrical load of 140kVA, the customer needs to appoint either a licensed electrical technician or licensed electrical engineer.

SP Services Ltd serves as a one-stop customer centre for electricity connections. SP Services Ltd receives electricity supply applications, receives payment of connection fee, opens electricity account and makes turn-on appointment with the customer.

The appointed LEW submits an application to SP Services Ltd to connect to the grid system, along with 2 copies of the site plan. SP Services Ltd advises the appointed LEW and the client on the approval of the application and provides them with a quotation within 7 calendar days for premises receiving direct service connection from streets mains.

Direct service connection from SP PowerGrid's LV network to the client's installation is available for a small load requirement not exceeding 280kVA (400A) in commercial or industrial areas.

Agency: SP Services Ltd 		9 calendar days no charge
2 The client opens an electricity account, makes connection fee payment to SP Services Ltd and receives external works from SP PowerGrid Ltd

The customer's appointed LEW only liases with one single external party which is SP Services Ltd for opening of account and making payment of connection fee which are done on the same day and same place. External work from SP PowerGrid Ltd commences automatically upon payment of connection fee. No further action is required from the customer.

The documents required for opening of account are:
- Completed and signed application form;
- Copy of business/company registration certificate;
- Copy of NRIC/FIN (National Registration Identity Card/Foregin Identification Number) for the authorised signatory of company representative or a letter of authorisation issued by the company indicating the company representative's name and NRIC/FIN, proof of ownership or tenancy agreement;
- Letter form the Authority (Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore) confirming the official address of the premises; and
- Initial security deposit in cash (which is refundable when the customer terminates the account) or by the form of Banker Gaurantee (BG) at the point of application.

For the warehouse, direct connection is applicable as the applied load is 140kVA.

Upon receipt of connection fee payment by SP Services Ltd, SP PowerGrid Ltd will commence work and inform the appointed LEW and the client of the completion.

The service provided is underground. Thus, an excavation permit is needed before SP PowerGrid Ltd can start laying cables. For pragmatic reasons, SP PowerGrid will only apply for the permit after the client has made the connection fee payment and had their intake point ready for connection.

Agency: SP Services Ltd (works by SP Power Grid Ltd) 		23 calendar days SGD 17,566.1
* 3 The appointed Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) submits and obtains an electrical installation licence from the Energy Market Authority (EMA) on behalf of the customer

The appointed licensed electrical worker (LEW) submits and obtains an electrical installation license from the Energy Market Authority (EMA) on behalf of the customer.

For safety reasons, an electrical installation licence issued by EMA is required for the use or operation of an electrical installation with an approved load exceeding 45kVA in a non-domestic premises.

The customer has to engage and appoint a LEW who will inspect and certify fitness of the electrical installation. Thereafter the LEW will submit an application for the electrical installation license online through the EMA's ELISE portal at www.ema.gov.sg. The license fee of SGD100/= (for a 12-month licence) is to be paid online together with the application. The EMA will check the completeness of the application before issuing the electrical installation license.

Application for license may be submitted well in advance of the electricity supply connection date. The LEW may also arrange for the license commencement date to coincide with the electricity supply connection date.

Upon approval of the license application, connection of electricity supply can be made anytime when the customer's switchgear and service cable are ready.





Agency: Energy Market Authority (EMA) 		2 calendar days SGD 100.0
4 The appointed Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) submits a turn-on appointment application to SP Services Ltd

The documents required for turn-on appointment are:

- Certificate of Complaince (COC) issued by the appointed LEW certifying that the (internal) electrical work is conforming to the requirements of the Electricity Regulations and the relevant Singapore Standard Code of Practice; and
- A copy of valid electrical installation licence obtained from the Energy Market Authority (EMA).

SP Services Ltd process the turn-on appointment application received from the LEW and issues an appointment letter to the LEW for the energisation of the service connection. SP Services Ltd will inform SP PowerGrid Ltd to fix the revenue meter and the date scheduled for the energisation of the service connection.

SP PowerGrid Ltd carries out the fixing of revenue meter one day before the appointment date and energises the service connection on the scheduled appointment date.


Agency: SP Services Ltd 		4 calendar days no charge
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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