ESCOM staff will visit your area and premises to confirm the details provided in your application and conduct electricity connection planning before a quotation is prepared for you.

Once you have submitted your application and a thorough site inspection has been conducted, a quotation will be generated upon which your payment will be based. The quotation is valid for 30 days. Details of actual charges will be based on Standard charges per connection or tailor made charges depending upon the scope of work, type of connection and location. Standard charge per single phase and three phase connection may apply in certain areas. Tailor made connection charges will apply where standard charges are not applicable.

Where not clear, please ask our Customer Service staff who will provide you with more information.

New Connection Charges may include the following:

• Customer's capital contribution towards network extension and connection
• Deposit fees. This is a once off refundable payment or guarantee provided by a customer to ESCOM as security for the due payment of electricity accounts.
• Connection fee. This is a standard statutory upfront fee payable by the customer to cover for the administration cost of effecting a final service connection.
• Inspection fee: This is a statutory fee which covers for the cost of carrying out electrical installation tests on the suitability of the wiring.

Payments are only received based on the quotation sent to the customer and if the quotation is within the valid period.

Payments can be made at any Customer Service Office. Upon acceptance of payment, the customer is issued a receipt as proof of payment to be referred to in due course.

Obtain a set of Wiring Forms from ESCOM for your contractor to fill and certify the installation. These forms are to be filled in by a qualified electrical contractor to certify that the wiring of your premises is sound; as well as provide details of the proposed energy requirements and load declaration. The forms are to be submitted back to ESCOM and are required before an inspection is undertaken.

Below is a checklist of all the areas that ESCOM may look for during inspection. Use it to prepare for an inspection:
Things to Avoid

As a customer, you are advised to avoid the following in the process of applying and waiting for a connection:

• Do not make any connections that are not authorized by ESCOM. If found, you will be charged for fraudulent appropriation of power under the Electricity Act of the Laws of Malawi. Connection to your premises may significantly delay if you are discovered to indulge in corrupt practices in relation to your prospective electricity connection.
• Do not give wrong information on the kind of job i.e. standard, non-standard or customized as this would introduce unnecessary delays to the application.
• Do not give another person to fill in this form for you. Customers who engage and entrust another person to transact risk being swindled.
• As a prospective customer, you should not pay anyone any monies for the generation of the quotation.
• You must allow only our employees, contractors and agents to carry out connection work, read or test meters, inspect, maintain, repair or replace our equipment.