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Getting
mains electricity connected to a property in Portugal
can be a straight forward procedure, though it can also be
a minefield if you do not do the correct research before
buying a property without a mains electricity supply.
Like
some
other European countries Portugal has differing
categories of electricity supply, each with differing
rules governing the connection - Agricultural
Electricity; Building Work Electricity; Domestic
Electricity and Commercial Electricity.
Unfortunately getting a mains electricity supply
connected is not as simple as making a telephone call,
as some websites and estate agents will tell you. Many
people have fallen into this trap of purchasing a
property without a mains electricity supply on the word
of the agent ensuring them it is easy to get connected,
only to find two years later they still have no
electricity supply.
The
Portuguese government, in conjunction with EDP, (Energias
de Portugal), have implemented rules governing the
new connections of mains electricity to private,
habitations as well as commercial properties to ensure
all safety regulations are met.
If a
property (habitation) has never had a mains
electricity supply and is deemed to be in a sub
habitable condition, then the electricity supply will
not be connected until the property matches the correct
criteria.
In the case of ruins
and ruined property, this will mean
submitting a planning application to the local council
to make the structural repairs necessary bringing the
property up to a habitable condition. This includes a
full new electrical system, installation of water inlet
and egress pipes, creation of a septic tank, wiring for
telephone and broadband capabilities and installation of
pipe work for mains gas as well as any structural work
which needs to be carried out.
All of
which collectively must meet the building regulations
standard laid down by the government. Only after
all of this is done, the work approved and the
electricity system has been installed and signed off by
a registered electrician will the electric company give
a connection with a definitive electric metre.
Another
key point to take into consideration is the distance the
nearest electrical post is from the property as this can
be prove costly. Electrical posts are sited 100 metres
apart and although you can get the electric metre sited
at the edge of your boundary bringing the supply to it
can be expensive. To have a post installed by the
electric company will cost around 1,000 euros per post.
If the nearest post is on the opposite side of the road
from your property you will have to have a new post
installed to ensure there is enough clearance room
beneath for high sided vehicles to pass beneath.
However
if a property has already had an electrical supply then
the procedure is much less involved although can
sometimes mean the installation of a new consumer unit
by a registered electrician.
If the
electric supply is current then it is simply a matter of
visiting the main office of EDP (Energias de
Portugal) to sign up to a new contract. You will
need your identity documents and your fiscal card as
well as some proof you are the new owner of the property
(ideally a copy of the Escritura). Then the staff within
the office will create a new contract for you with a
start date for the electricity supply to be changed into
your name. When visiting EDP it is advisable to
read the existing metre as this will speed up the
process.
Once you
have signed the contract you can elect whether to have
the electricity bills paid by direct debit with the
bills being sent to your Portuguese address. However
EDP have also introduced an online billing procedure
which can be useful if your property is a holiday home. |
