Shanghai released an action plan on Aug 24 to shorten power connection times, expand digital services, improve supply reliability, and support greener energy use by enterprises as part of broader efforts to improve the city's business environment.

Speeding up and streamlining power connections

Shanghai will expand its low-voltage "zero investment" connection service to users with a power demand of no more than 200 kilowatts. For eligible low-voltage nonresidential users, the process must be completed within 5 working days if no external power line work is required, or within 15 working days if such work is required.

Power suppliers will identify projects' electricity needs earlier through information sharing between government agencies and power suppliers and offer policy advice, application guidance, and planning for supporting grid infrastructure.

Major national and provincial-level projects will receive fast-track services, streamlined application documentation, and end-to-end support from dedicated personnel. Connection capacity standards will be publicly available.

Expanding one-stop digital services

Applicants for construction projects will be able to apply online for water, electricity, gas, and telecommunications connections, submit materials once, and track progress using a unified service code.

Power suppliers will be able to automatically obtain updated company registration information, reducing the need for repeated document submissions.

Cross-district and cross-province services will also be expanded.

Data sharing involving business licenses, property ownership certificates, project approvals, and planning permits will also be strengthened. Application materials may be reused while they remain valid, and Shanghai will explore a fully online process from initial application through meter installation to final connection.

Digital grid technologies will help identify power supply points, plan power supply routes, and generate power supply plans, while 24-hour artificial intelligence-powered customer service will provide support tailored to different business types and electricity needs.

Strengthening supply reliability

Shanghai will plan and build grid infrastructure ahead of demand and improve the grid's ability to reroute power and automatically recover from faults. Grid planning will be better coordinated with the development of emerging industries such as new energy and electric vehicles.

Power suppliers will provide higher-quality power supply services to high-tech companies that require greater voltage stability. The city will also explore the inclusion of power quality requirements in electricity supply contracts.

Smart inspections, live-line testing, drones, and automated fault diagnosis and self-healing systems will help reduce the frequency, duration, and affected area of outages. Key urban areas and other key areas will gradually adopt planned maintenance designed to cause no noticeable disruption to users.

Excluding outages caused by extreme weather, force majeure events, or external damage, areas that record at least 5 outages per year or 3 within 60 consecutive days will be subject to targeted corrective action. Suppliers will disclose progress in addressing frequent outages.

Supporting greener energy use

Power suppliers will establish service centers dedicated to green electricity and related certificates, providing businesses with policy advice, transaction guidance, and information services.

Power suppliers will offer free electricity monitoring, energy efficiency assessments, and consulting services. In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, suppliers will analyze businesses' energy use and explore the use of AI models to provide energy-saving recommendations.

Power connection procedures for electric vehicle charging facilities will be simplified, with a one-stop application service to be piloted.

Improving transparency and oversight

Businesses will be able to track the progress of connection applications, emergency repairs, and power restoration, while suppliers may issue fault notifications and electrical safety information via mobile applications.

Electricity billing will be further standardized, and disconnections for overdue payments must follow prescribed procedures. Power authorities, regulators, and suppliers will also improve complaint handling and address common problems identified through complaints.

Source: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization