Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

A request for a grid connection generally follows the steps mentioned below. You can check each step in detail here, as well as the documentation required to make the request.
 
You can submit your grid connection request through the Digital Customer Service.
Alternatively, you can do so at an E-REDES Store

Request > Documentation Analysis > Opening of a customer file > Charging of Upfront Fees > Acceptance and Payment of Upfront Fees > Quote Estimate > Acceptance and Payment of Costs > Execution > Conclusion

An enquiry regarding the conditions for the supply of electricity is required in order to assess the grid at the place of installation from a technical point of view. This is to ensure a safe and efficient electrical supply, without any costs to Customers.  
The conditions for the supply of electricity usually follow the steps listed below. You can check each step in detail, such as the documents required for making a request here.

Whenever the desired power supply exceeds 41.40 kVA, an enquiry related to the conditions for grid connection is necessary. Only when such an enquiry is approved by E-REDES, a grid connection request should be submitted.
If the desired power supply is equal to or lower than 41.40 kVA, no enquiry is necessary. However, if a Customer needs evidence of how viable the desired connection is, they may submit a request to enquire the conditions for the electrical supply.
These requests can be made on our website in the area "Contact us / Grid connection and Increased power supply / Submit a request to enquire the conditions for electrical supply" or, alternatively, at any E-REDES store.

An enquiry for grid connection is valid for 365 days from the date the approval notice is sent.

 E-REDES suggests contacting a technician/electrician, registered with the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), to help prepare the necessary documentation for the submission.

The documents required to submit a grid connection request vary according to the type of request. Please check the documents required for each type of request here.

There are certain types of grid connection requests, the steps of which have deadlines governed by the Regulations on Commercial Relations.

1) Upfront Fees
After an enquiry is submitted and assessed, Customers will receive a written communication with the upfront fees. These fees are related to connection services that can include the following actions, under the Regulations on Commercial Relations:

Travel by our staff to the applicable site for assessment of the wiring diagram and point of connection;
Technical inspection;
The following items are also included in our connection services:

• a) Voltage level and point of connection;
• b) Materials that will be used;
• c) Wiring diagram for connection elements;
• d) Connection elements for exclusive use, when the power grid operator is obliged to build these connection elements.
• f) Connection elements for shared use, if applicable;
• h) Reimbursement for the Electrical Substation location, if applicable.

2) Quote estimate
After paying the upfront fees, Customers will receive a communication with the quote estimate for the grid connection within 15 working days.  During this step, if conditions are found for which the Customer or a third party is responsible, which prevent the cost estimate from being prepared, the grid connection request will be placed on hold and communication will be sent to the Customer with the reasons thereof. The period during which the request is pending shall not be taken into account as a deadline.

The following items may be mentioned in the quote estimate:

Shared grid connections: these costs are set out by ERSE, updated annually, and depend exclusively on the desired power output and the voltage level of the connection.

Costs with grid connection elements of exclusive use: these refer to costs incurred only with the connection of the installation in question. These costs will be borne by the Customer up to a length of 30 metres of cable (value defined by ERSE).

Costs with grid connection elements for shared use: these occur when one or more installations are connected and are calculated according to the desired power output, distance, type of connection (overhead or underground) and voltage level.

In the quote estimate sent by E-REDES, there may be up to three infrastructure work options: infrastructure work under the Customer’s responsibility, infrastructure work under E-REDES responsibility or shared infrastructure work, in which the Customer builds the grid connection elements for exclusive use and E-REDES builds the grid connection elements for shared use.

3) Execution of infrastructure projects (if applicable)
After paying for the costs, if the intended option involves using grid connection elements by E-REDES, the following deadlines will be applied:

For new grid connections and increased output in low voltage, the deadline for the execution of the infrastructure project is 30 working days, whenever under E-REDES responsibility, as long as there is no construction of medium voltage elements (such as distribution substations). If medium voltage elements are built, the deadline for execution is 120 working days.
For new grid connections and increased power output in Medium Voltage, the deadline for the execution of the infrastructure project is 120 working days, whenever under E-REDES responsibility.

Notes:

• Enquiries regarding grid connection conditions, grid changes, moving an electricity meter to a new place and one-off connections are not covered by regulated deadlines at any stage of the process.
• The fees presented by E-REDES (Grid Connection Services, Shared Grid Connections, Exclusive Use Elements and Shared Use Elements) are set out by ERSE and updated annually, and do not include the cost of drawing up the electrical design, which shall be provided by the person requesting the grid connection, if applicable.

When you make a power connection request, you must support the initial process charges so that it advances:

INITIAL CHARGES FOR THE POWER CONNECTION PROCESS

Cost of connection Services

These services may include:

the   Travel to the site to assess the tracing, connection point and power reception;

the   Studies for the elaboration of bonding conditions;

the   Preparation of budget network connection;

the   Monitoring, supervision and reception of the work.

These costs are fixed by the energy services regulatory body and updated annually. They do not include the cost of drawing up the electricity project, which is the responsibility of those who request the connection when necessary.

Co-participation in power network

These costs are fixed by the energy services regulatory entity, updated annually, and depend solely on the requested power.

You can simulate the cost of the network connection budget via this link or refer to the links Manual 

After this payment you will receive your budget within 15 working days.

POWER CONNECTION BUDGET

The budget of E-REDES will present the conditions of connection, the deadlines for execution, the information on the dimensions and technical characteristics of the connection and characterization of the materials to be used.

In this budget you will be aware of the possible connection options and the costs to support:

       Costs with exclusive-use power network elements

They relate to costs incurred only with the connection of the premise concerned. 

These costs will be borne by the requester up to the length of 30 meters of cable.

It is the responsibility of those who request the power connection for the execution of the network elements of exclusive use, using technicians or companies with competences for this purpose.

       Costs with shared-use power network elements, if applicable 

This type of cost occurs when there is the connection of one or more facilities and is calculated according to the requested power, distance and connection typology (aerial or underground).

These prices are defined by the Energy Services regulatory body and updated annually.

       Other charges, if applicable:

the   Licensing fees for connection elements to be built;

the   Values arising from the issuance of opinions, licenses or guarantees that are necessary for the same purpose;

the   Compensation of land owners traversed by the lines;

the   Fees for permits for road crossings, railroad.

These charges may not be part of the initial budget and be billed later, before the end of the work. 

Note: We advise that the budget initially presented by E-REDES may be altered in particular in cases where the originally planned network layout has to be revised by facts not attributable to E-REDES. 

 For new grid connections and increased power output in Low Voltage or Medium Voltage, after upfront fees have been paid, using your online banking reference number shown in the communication sent to the Customer, E-REDES must send the Customer a quote estimate for the connection within a maximum of 15 working days.

During this phase, if situations arise for which the Customer or a third party is responsible that prevent the grid connection request from being processed, the request will be placed on hold and a communication will be sent with the reasons thereof.

The period during which the grid connection request is pending shall not be taken into account regarding the deadline.

The budget for the grid connection request includes the technical information, the sketch, the deadline for the execution of the work (if there is work). In the budget communication, the ATM reference is also made available to pay the budget, according to the construction option and payment method desired.

The following items may be mentioned in the budget:

Network sharing: these costs are fixed by the Energy Services Regulatory Entity (ERSE), updated annually, and depend exclusively on the requested power and the voltage level of the connection.

Costs with network elements for exclusive use: these refer to costs incurred only with the connection of the installation in question. These costs will be borne by the Customer up to a length of 30 metres of cable (value defined by ERSE).

Costs with network elements for shared use: these costs occur when one or more installations are connected and are calculated according to the requested power, the distance, the type of connection (aerial or underground) and the voltage level.

In the budget sent by E-REDES there may be up to three construction options: construction under the Customer's responsibility, construction under E-REDES' responsibility or shared construction, in which typically the Customer builds the elements for exclusive use and E-REDES builds the elements for shared use.

The budget sent by E-REDES may contain up to 3 construction options: construction under the Customer's responsibility, construction under E-REDES' responsibility or shared construction, in which typically the Customer builds the elements for exclusive use and E-REDES builds the elements for shared use.
After choosing the desired option, the Customer must pay for it using the respective entity and ATM reference.

If the option chosen involves the construction of connecting elements by the Customer, the Customer must consult the list of entities authorized to perform work on the E-REDES distribution network and choose a recognized entity to perform the desired work.  See the list of authorized entities here.

Next, you must send the following documentation to E-REDES, through the "Contact Us / Grid Connections and Power Increases" area, or alternatively deliver it to one of the E-REDES Service Points:

• Notice document of the beginning of the works, where the Customer's identification, the number of the grid connection request in question, the responsible technician (registered at DGEG) must be included;
• Schedule of the work, indicating the date foreseen for the beginning of the work, the deadline, and the end date of the work.
• After validation of the referred documents by E-REDES, a communication is sent to the Customer with the information that he may start the execution of the work.

 In a grid connection process, there may be pending issues in the following steps of the process: Study and analysis of initial conditions, quote estimate, authorisation of the project, project execution and acceptance of the completed work. The customer and/or third parties can be responsible for these pending issues.
Whenever a request for grid connection is on hold, Customers are informed of the reasons thereof and the action to be taken to settle them, in case of the Customer's responsibility. Once the reasons for the pending request has been resolved, Customers can submit the respective evidence through the "Contact Us / Grid Connections and Increased Power Supply / I want to add information to my request" area or, alternatively, submit the evidence at an E-REDES store.
Whenever a grid connection request is on hold, the days on which it is active shall not be taken into account for deadline purposes.

Whenever Customers are responsible for a project, they must turn to a third party (contractor) authorised to carry out work on the E-REDES distribution grid. See the list of authorised entities here.
Whenever only elements for exclusive use should be built, the Customer must respond for their implementation. The above-mentioned third parties must carry out this work.

After completion of the work under your responsibility, the Customer must send to E-REDES, through the area "Contact Us / Grid Connections and Power Increases / I want to add information to my request", or alternatively deliver at one of the E-REDES Service Points, the following documentation:

• Delivery Note
• Measurement map / quantities
• Photographic evidence of the execution of the extension line

After validation of the documents mentioned by E-REDES, the request is closed and a communication is sent to the Customer with the Delivery Point Code assigned to his installation.

If the application for connection to the network has an execution time of more than 20 days and the acceptance of the budget has occurred less than 5 days, it is possible.

In all other cases, there is no such possibility.

- The completion of the network connection works;

- Payment of the costs associated with the application for connection;

- The certification of the installation by the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), under the conditions of the Dec. Law 96/2017;

- The electric power supply contract with an energy trader.

The Supply Point Code (CPE) is a unique key that identifies the installation and is sent to the Customer after the electrical supply connection request is concluded.
If you only wish to sign up for a new contract, you can request this code through the area "Contact us / My installation data / I wish to sign up for a new contract and need to know my CPE" on our website or by calling our Consumer Helpline - 218 100 100 (8 AM – 10 PM, working days, national landline call costs).

If the power to be contracted is lower than the installation's maximum admissible power, the customer must request an increase in contracted power from their supplier.

In situations where the power to be contracted is higher than the installation's maximum admissible power, the customer must request a power increase through the Digital Counter on our website.

See the documents required to request a power increase here.

After submitting the request for power increase, the Customer receives a communication with the initial charges (Connection Services), as defined in the Commercial Relations Regulations.

When the Customer pays the initial charges, E-REDES analyses the connection conditions of the installation and, within 15 working days, excluding pending issues, sends an estimate communication to the Customer.

This budget notification contains the network co-participation value, in €/kVA, in accordance with the Commercial Relations Regulation, corresponding to the difference between the required requested power value and the current requested power of the installation. The budget communication may also foresee the need for the construction of connection elements whenever the mains supplying the installation does not support the new desired power value.

In addition to the power increase process with E-REDES, the customer must ensure that the installation is certified for the new power value. If it is necessary to certify the installation(s), the customer must use an electrical installation inspector recognized by the General Directorate of Energy and Geology (DGEG).

 A temporary power distribution should last as strictly necessary for the event in question and is typically intended for circuses, fairgrounds, festivals, outdoor shows and similar events.
Check the documents needed to request a temporary power distribution here.

Requests for temporary power distribution should preferably be made 15 working days before the event's scheduled date.

The maximum length of time for temporary power distribution is determined by an authorisation issued by the relevant administrative authority (e.g. City Council).
You can check the mandatory requirements for a temporary power distribution here.

To make this request, please note that the power required to carry out the infrastructure work cannot be greater than the power required for the definitive installation, and the power supply system (overhead/underground) must be the same.

The Customer must request a definitive grid connection request through the Digital Customer Service on our website.
If these two conditions are not met, two separate requests must be opened: a request for temporary grid connection regarding infrastructure works and another request according to the desired definitive installation (e.g. single-family home grid connection request).

Check the documents required to request a definitive grid connection request here.

After submitting this request, Customers receive a communication with the upfront fees (Grid Connection Services), in accordance with the Regulation on Commercial Relations. Once these fees have been paid, the technical conditions for grid connection are analysed and a quote estimate is sent to the Customer. In the quote estimate sent by E-REDES, there may be up to three infrastructure work options: infrastructure work under the Customer’s responsibility, infrastructure work under E-REDES responsibility or shared infrastructure work, in which the Customer builds the grid connection elements for exclusive use and E-REDES builds the grid connection elements for shared use.

When the request is completed, Customers receives a communication containing the Supply Point Code (CPE) assigned to the installation. This CPE is unique and must be used to sign up for a contract with your electricity supplier. Once the work is completed, the installation must be certified by an electrical installation inspection entity accredited by the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG). Once the installation has been certified, your contract with the electricity supplier is deemed final.

 A temporary power distribution should last as strictly necessary for the event in question, and is typically intended for circuses, fairgrounds, festivals, outdoor shows and similar events. 
Check the documents needed to request a temporary power distribution here.

Requests for temporary power distribution should preferably be made 15 working days prior to the event's scheduled date.

The maximum length of time for a temporary power distribution is determined by an authorisation issued by the relevant administrative authority (e.g. City Council). 
You can check the mandatory requirements for a temporary power distribution here.
 

Make your request using the form "Talk to Us / Network and Pole Divertions". Alternatively, you can contact us through 808 100 100 (8h-22h, weekdays, local call cost) or go to one of our service points.

Yes, you can. You can make a request to change the location of your electricity meter through the Digital Customer Service on our website. This request generally follows the steps indicated below. You can check each step in detail, as well as the documentation required to make the request here.

Without prejudice to owners obtaining this information, or the technicians responsible on their behalf, from the E-REDES, the DGEG has made available directly through the SIRESP website the consultation of the maximum admissible powers and the input types of the electrical installations connected to the E-REDES through the option "NIP Consultation", available in the main menu of the SIRESP, after the due registration of the responsible technician".

In addition to the NIP, you will also need the CPE of the facility or facilities you want to obtain information. For more info about this topic you may consult  SRIESP.

We also inform that in the case of the remaining network operators, the DGEG does not yet make this service available.

Yes, anyone can request it as long as a written authorisation to a third party is presented. The authorisation form can be downloaded here. 

Schedule your technical visit through the “Contact Us / Technical Visits / I want to schedule / reschedule a technical visit” section.

Alternatively, you can contact us through our Customer Support Line – 218 100 100 (8 a.m. – 10 p.m., business days, national landline call charge), or visit one of our service points.