West Bank and Gaza

Getting Electricity in

West Bank and Gaza

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: Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECo)
  • City: Ramallah

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 The client obtains a clearance from Jerusalem municipality to apply for electricity

This clearance is needed to apply for electricity. It can be obtained the same day, and is used to show that the customer has paid all financial/tax dues and that the building was constructed according to the rules set in the construction permit.

Agency: Jerusalem Municipality 		1 calendar day no charge
2 The client applies for electricity connection and awaits estimate for connection fees from the Jerusalem Electricity Distribution Company (JDECO)

The following documents are needed along with the application (that can be submitted in person only):
• Building permit and excavation permit;
• Copy of ID card;
• Copy of sell-purchase agreement;
• Number of client’s closest service or of their old service;
• Site plan for the land;
• Requested capacity in kVA;
• Business license of the company;
• Expected loads in the first phase and future developments; and
• Nature and type of the building and construction stages

After the application has been submitted, a number is given so clients can follow up on the status of their application online.

A site inspection is necessary to prepare an estimate for the connection fees.
Once the estimate the client has paid the fees, a contract is signed between the two parties.

The contractor usually hires an electrician registered with Jerusalem Electricity Distribution Company (JDECO) to prepare an electrical scheme for and complete the internal wiring of the warehouse.


Agency: Jerusalem District Electric Company (JDECO) 		14 calendar days ILS 420.0
* 3 The client obtains external inspection from the Jerusalem Electricity Distribution Company (JDECO)



Agency: Jerusalem District Electric Company (JDECO) 		1 calendar day USD 4,400.0
4 The client obtains external connection works and meter installation from the Jerusalem Electricity Distribution Company (JDECO)

After the customer has paid the connection fees, the utility applies for an excavation permit at the municipality. The electricity company also needs to obtain clearances from other utilities and agencies such as water, drainage, telephone, and roads departments.

In this case, a substation is most likely needed. The utility might need to wait some time to obtain the clearances and acquire any material it might not have in stock for an expansion of the network (such as switchgears).

The client is responsible for the internal wiring including circuits and panel board and the company is responsible for the external wiring (including excavation works and layout of cables from the substation to the medium voltage network).


Agency: Jerusalem District Electric Company (JDECO) 		38 calendar days ILS 71,000.0
5 The client awaits and obtains internal inspection and final connection from the Jerusalem Electricity Distribution Company (JDECO)

When the external works have been completed, and after the electrician has finished the internal installation, the electrician (licensed by the utility) needs to submit to the electricity company their electrical plans attesting to the required specifications, and request an inspection of the wiring. In order to obtain a license from the utility the electrician needs to have earned a diploma and had a certain number of years of work experience.

An inspection to assess the internal wiring (including checking of air levels, usage of waterproof material, etc.) is conducted right before electricity is turned on.
Testing is conducted by a different department than the one in charge of the external works in the electrician’s presence.

The electricity is turned upon successful inspection.


Agency: Jerusalem District Electric Company (JDECO) 		7 calendar days ILS 6,000.0
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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