Setting Up Home Electricity in Saudi Arabia Guide

Oct 21, 2026•3 min read

Getting power connected is one of the first practical steps when you move into a new home or finish building one in Saudi Arabia. The process is handled through the Saudi Electricity Company, and while it is largely digital today, the connection you receive depends on your building permit, a technical certificate, and the capacity of your main breaker. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through where to apply, what you need to prepare, how the cost is calculated, and how long each type of connection usually takes.

Where to Apply

You can submit a request for a permanent electricity connection through any of the following official channels:

The Saudi Electricity Company website
The Balady platform
The MODON platform (typically used for industrial and licensed business zones)

During the request you will choose the establishment type — residential or commercial — so make sure you select the option that matches how the property will actually be used.

Documents and Technical Requirements

Two items form the backbone of any permanent connection request:

A valid building permit for the property.
A Coordination Certificate, which is the technical document that specifies the meter locations, the building's electrical loads, the number of units, the breaker capacity, and the cable sizes.

The Coordination Certificate matters because the breaker capacity it records is exactly what determines how much your connection will cost. It is worth having your electrical contractor confirm these figures before you apply, since they define both your pricing tier and the scope of work.

How the Connection Cost Is Calculated

The connection fee is based on your breaker capacity, measured in kVA, with a set price per kVA for each band:

More than 1 up to 30 kVA: SAR 60 per kVA
More than 30 up to 60 kVA: SAR 95 per kVA
More than 60 up to 120 kVA: SAR 120 per kVA
More than 120 up to 500 kVA: SAR 175 per kVA
More than 500 up to 4,000 kVA: SAR 250 per kVA

To estimate your cost, multiply your breaker capacity by the per-kVA rate for the band it falls into. Most standard homes sit comfortably in the lower bands, while larger villas, compounds, and commercial premises move into the higher tiers.

Timelines: What to Expect After Payment

Once payment is completed, the delivery time depends on the type of service and the voltage level involved:

Normal service delivery or modification: about 10 working days.
Low-voltage connection requests: generally around 20 working days.
Medium-voltage requests, or low-voltage requests that require medium-voltage work: up to 60 working days.

If your project requires network-side work at medium voltage, plan ahead and factor the longer window into your moving or construction schedule.

Service Standards and Compensation

The service operates under defined standards, and where an applicant qualifies under those standards, a compensation amount of SAR 400 may apply. If you believe you are entitled to it, keep your application and payment records and follow up through the same official channel you used to apply.

Practical Tips Before You Apply

Confirm your breaker capacity with your contractor first — it drives both the price and the connection type.
Choose residential or commercial carefully, as this affects how your request is processed.
Keep digital copies of your building permit and Coordination Certificate ready to upload.
For any exact current figures, validity periods, or step-by-step status, confirm directly on the official Saudi Electricity Company portal.

With the right documents prepared and the correct capacity confirmed, setting up your home electricity is a straightforward, mostly online process. Plan around the working-day timelines above, and you'll have power connected without unnecessary delays.

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