Electrical Installation Licences in Singapore

Does your premises need an installation licence?

EMA's licensing scheme covers three situations: a non-domestic electrical installation with an approved load exceeding 45 kVA; any installation used in a hazardous trade, such as businesses handling highly flammable materials or construction work activities, regardless of load; and any supply installation used for non-domestic purposes, again regardless of load. A supply installation is one drawing electricity from generators used solely by the consumer rather than from the national grid.

Premises used exclusively for residential purposes are not covered. If you run an office, shop, restaurant, workshop, warehouse or industrial unit, the question is your approved load — the total electrical load the installation is designed to handle. As a reference point, EMA gives 45 kVA as equivalent to 63 amps three-phase at 400 volts, so many commercial units cross the threshold once heavy air-conditioning, kitchen equipment or machinery is added.

Appointing a Licensed Electrical Worker

The owner or user of a licensable installation must appoint an LEW of the appropriate class to take charge of it. The LEW inspects the installation, confirms it is safe to use, and submits the licence application through EMA's ELISE portal on your behalf. You cannot file the application yourself.

There are three classes of LEW, and the class determines the load they may take charge of. A Licensed Electrician covers installations up to 45 kVA. A Licensed Electrical Technician may install, repair, maintain, operate, inspect and test installations up to 500 kVA, and design and submit plans for installations up to 150 kVA, at operating voltages up to 1,000 volts. A Licensed Electrical Engineer has no load limit, subject to licence conditions.

Jacky Chong holds an Electrical Technician licence (No. 8/34636), which covers the great majority of commercial and strata premises in Singapore. High voltage installations taking supply at 6.6 kV and above fall outside that class and require an appointed Electrical Engineer — we will tell you plainly if your installation is in that category.

Documents required for the application

Your appointed LEW submits the application, but several documents have to come from you. The core requirement is a signed Letter of Appointment (LOA) naming the LEW, together with a valid electricity account with SP Services or an electricity retailer for the installation being licensed.

EMA also asks for single-line drawings of the installation, supporting documents showing who is responsible for maintaining the incoming service cable, and, if you are a tenant, a consent letter from the landlord's LEW confirming the landlord's installation can support your required load. New premises without an official address need a location plan, and supply installations need the technical details of the generators.

Who signs the LOA depends on the applicant. For a company it is a director, secretary or general manager; for a firm, a partner or manager; for a government department or statutory board, an officer of that body. For an MCST it is the chairman, an authorised member, or a duly authorised agent. Where authorised staff sign rather than an officer, a letter of authorisation must be attached at submission.

Fees, timelines and display requirements

EMA's licence fees are $100 for a 12-month electrical installation licence or $50 for a 3-month licence. Supply installation licences are $150 for 12 months or $50 for 3 months, and a replacement licence costs $21.40. These are EMA's fees, separate from the LEW's professional charges.

Where an application is complete and in order, EMA approves it within two to three working days. You and your LEW are both notified by email, and your LEW must download, print and deliver the licence to you within five working days. Once you have it, the licence must be displayed near the main switchboard together with an up-to-date single-line drawing — a common point of failure during checks.

Inspections and renewal

A licensed installation must be inspected and certified fit for operation by your appointed LEW at least once a year. Higher-risk premises need more: construction worksites monthly; trade fairs, mini-fairs and festive lighting daily; multi-tenanted buildings and condominiums at least once every six months. High voltage installations follow a schedule set by the appointed LEW, but never less than annually.

EMA writes to you by post six weeks before the licence expires, enclosing a Letter of Appointment with a renewal reference number. Your LEW uses that reference in ELISE to retrieve the installation particulars, carries out the safety inspection, and submits the renewal on your behalf. CWC tracks renewal dates for the installations we hold appointments on, so the inspection is scheduled before the deadline rather than after a reminder.

If you modify the installation, tell your appointed LEW. You may engage a different LEW for the modification work, but that LEW has to coordinate with your appointed LEW to connect or disconnect supply, and must hand the work over to your appointed LEW for ongoing operation and maintenance.

Common questions

Does my office or shop need an electrical installation licence?

If it is non-domestic and the approved load exceeds 45 kVA, yes. A licence is also required regardless of load if the premises is used for a hazardous trade, or if you operate a supply installation for non-domestic purposes. Premises used exclusively for residential purposes are exempt.

How much is 45 kVA in practical terms?

EMA gives 63 amps three-phase at 400 volts as the equivalent. Approved load refers to the total load the installation is designed to handle, not what you happen to draw on a given day, so check your single-line drawing rather than estimating from your electricity bill.

Can I apply for the installation licence myself?

No. The application must be submitted through EMA's ELISE portal by a Licensed Electrical Worker you have appointed, after they have inspected the installation and confirmed it is safe to use. Your part is the Letter of Appointment and the supporting documents.

How long does approval take?

EMA processes complete applications within two to three working days. Your LEW then has five working days to download, print and deliver the licence to you. The licence must then be displayed near the main switchboard with an updated single-line drawing.

How often must the installation be inspected?

At least once a year for most premises. Multi-tenanted buildings and condominiums require inspection at least once every six months, construction worksites at least monthly, and trade fairs or festive lighting daily.

What size of installation can CWC take charge of?

Jacky Chong holds an EMA Electrical Technician licence (No. 8/34636): installations up to 500 kVA for installation, repair, maintenance, operation, inspection and testing, and up to 150 kVA for design and plan submission, at operating voltages up to 1,000 volts. Installations taking supply at 6.6 kV and above are high voltage and need an appointed Electrical Engineer instead.

What happens when my licence is due for renewal?

EMA notifies you by post six weeks before expiry, enclosing a Letter of Appointment with a renewal reference number. Your appointed LEW uses that reference in ELISE to retrieve the installation particulars, carries out the safety inspection, and submits the renewal on your behalf.