Shanghai has implemented revised measures to further improve the efficiency and quality of electric power access services for non-residential customers.

These measures are in effect from Dec 31, 2024 to Dec 30, 2029.

I. Eligible entities

The measures apply to enterprises that benefit from the "three zeros" services — zero on-site applications, zero in-person handling for approvals and zero investments in outdoor electric wiring construction — when applying for new installations, capacity expansions and other power services for capacities below 160 kilowatts and voltages under 380 volts.

When conditions permit, the measures may also serve as a reference for implementing power access projects for 10-kilovolt users.

II. Goals

Power grid operators shall process power access applications promptly. In principle, the entire process — from applying for electricity to installing ammeters — should be completed within 10 days, with administrative reviews and approvals not exceeding two days.

Electricity users shall bear no cost for outdoor electric wiring construction. Power supply services shall be reliable and continuously improving.

III. Main procedures

1. Application and project design (time limit: four days)

(1) Prompt handling of applications

After applications for power access are submitted to the power grid operators, these applications shall be addressed within one day.

This procedure shall adopt a "one-stop services and one-certificate acceptance" approach at service windows — offering both online processing and door-to-door services by appointment. For the eligible low-voltage customers aforementioned, the entire procedure can be handled online.

Contracts shall be signed during the application stage to further streamline the process.

Application materials shall be simplified to three items: the form of the application for power access, valid identification of electricity users, and proof of property ownership of the premises needing power access.

(2) Power supply planning and outdoor electric wiring design

The power grid enterprises shall supervise and cooperate with units responsible for the outdoor electric wiring design to optimize route selection and power supply plans.

They shall also solicit opinions from units in charge of water, gas and communications involved in the wiring.

The entire route selection and wiring design shall be completed within three days.

In case of a potential contradiction or problems related to the wiring construction, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources shall coordinate parties concerned in advance.

2. Administrative examinations and approvals (time limit: two days)

When an outdoor electric wiring construction project involves road excavation, an administrative permit for planning, road excavation and road occupation must be obtained.

When the project relates to landscaping, approval for temporary occupation of urban green spaces must be obtained.

When it needs no road excavation but outdoor construction, a road occupation permit shall be obtained.

The examinations and approvals procedure shall adopt the notification-commitment system. Departments responsible for examinations and approvals shall make a decision on an approval or disapproval within two days.

For complex projects affecting road traffic safety or infrastructure, the original examinations and approvals procedure can be followed.

(1) Communications ahead of time

The power grid operators shall communicate with relevant departments in advance during the route selection and wiring design stage. Each department responsible for examinations and approvals shall take proactive steps for their timely coordination.

Each of the said departments shall provide a sample of the letter of notification and commitment through the Government Online-Offline Shanghai — Shanghai's official e-governance platform — and its official portal. It will clarify approvals conditions, technical requirements, cost standards, the names of materials to be submitted and the way and the deadline for materials submission via a negative list, standard specifications or other forms.

(2) Examinations and approvals through the notification-commitment system

The power grid enterprises shall simultaneously submit the letter of notification and commitment to the departments of planning and natural resources, transport, landscaping, public security and other concerned departments, making a commitment that they can meet notified conditions, standards and technical requirements for administrative examinations and approvals.

They shall also hand in application materials for permits for planning, road excavations, relocation of landscaping resources and traffic organization.

Departments responsible for examinations and approvals shall not impose additional preconditions — such as inclusion in their monthly examination and approval plans — on the said enterprises' submission of the letter of notification and commitment.

The said enterprises shall detail pipeline information through the Shanghai underground pipeline supervision and management information platform.

Receiving and reviewing relevant materials, the aforementioned departments shall make a decision on an approval or disapproval promptly. When an on-site decision can be made immediately, it shall be made on-site.

For projects involving road restorations and compensations for landscaping, a "construction first, payment later" approach shall be adopted — payments shall not be a precondition for approvals — the said enterprises can make a commitment to complete the payment within the specified time.

(3) Supervision during and after approvals

Departments responsible for examinations and approvals shall shift their focus from pre-approval to supervision during and after approvals. Within two months after making the decision for approval, these departments shall verify whether the power grid enterprises’ commitments are truthful or not.

As for the original examinations and approvals procedure, relevant supervision departments shall continue to perform their tasks as per the original division of responsibilities.

Once the commitments are found to be unfulfilled, or if the said enterprises fail to make rectification before the deadline or the rectification fails to match conditions, the administrative permit obtained shall be revoked and administrative penalties shall be imposed in accordance with relevant regulations.

Any credit-breaking information shall be included in Shanghai's public credit information service platform.

3. Outdoor electric wiring construction (time limit: four days)

The power grid operators shall complete the outdoor electric wiring construction project within four days after obtaining the road occupation and excavation permit.

The construction schedule shall be planned as per countdown to the deadline, specifying key time points and responsible people.

The aforementioned enterprises shall cut down the time limit for the procurement of materials and project services, improve the level of materials standardization and typical designs standardization, and unify technical standards and design norms to ensure their seamless interchangeability.

New techniques, such as live-wire operations, shall be promoted to render the power supply plan more flexible, and ensure a timely, uninterrupted power supply for users.

 

Source: Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission

Note: The English version of these measures is for reference only; the official Chinese document shall prevail.