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What it costs to get an electricity connection around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
The sun rises behind electricity pylons near Chester, northern England.

Getting electricity connection in a new building or a new factory is not an easy task. It not only involves endless runs to the utility company but also completing various procedures.

Let us have a look at how much it costs, how many days it takes and how many procedures one has to fulfill to obtain electricity connection around the world, including India.

Note: The rankings are based on cost.

Cost

Cost is recorded as a percentage of the economy's income per capita.

All the fees and costs associated with completing the procedures to connect a warehouse to electricity are recorded, including those related to obtaining clearances from government agencies, applying for the connection, receiving inspections of both the site and the internal wiring, purchasing material, getting the actual connection works and paying a security deposit.

Procedure

A procedure is defined as any interaction of the company's employees or its main electrician or electrical engineer (that is, the one who may have done the internal wiring) with external parties such as the electricity distribution utility, electricity supply utilities, government agencies, electrical contractors and electrical firms.

Time

Time is recorded in calendar days. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure with minimum follow-up and no extra payments.

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
A fisherman arranges a fishing net as his wife paddles their boat in the waters of the Periyar River on the outskirts of Kochi, Kerala.

India

Cost: 216.2 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 7

Time: 67 days

World ranking: 54

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
Tropical fish swim in an aquarium in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district.

Japan

Cost: 0.00 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 3

Time: 117 days

World ranking: 1

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
A view of Hong Kong's financial district.

Hong Kong

Cost: 1.7 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 43 days

World ranking: 2

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
Sun reflects off the glass and steel buildings on the Doha skyline.

Qatar

Cost: 4.1 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 3

Time: 90 days

World ranking: 3

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
A gingerbread town, consisting of buildings, boats, bridges and other structures, is seen in Bergen, Norway.

Norway

Cost: 7.1 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 66 days

World ranking: 4

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
A reveller participates in the National Junior Parade in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago

Cost: 7.9 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 5

Time: 61 days

World ranking: 5

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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Sailboats and yachts are seen in front of the Melbourne skyline.

Australia

Cost: 9.2 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 5

Time: 81 days

World ranking: 6

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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People watch a parade celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim in Holon, near Tel Aviv.

Israel

Cost: 12.2 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 6

Time: 132 days

World ranking: 7

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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People look at a geyser in Geysir, Iceland.

Iceland

Cost: 13.6 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 22 days

World ranking: 8

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A Metro runs past Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai.

The United Arab Emirates

Cost: 14.6 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 55 days

World ranking: 9

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A view of high rise buildings in Panama City.

Panama

Cost: 15.4 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 5

Time: 35 days

World ranking: 10

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A Uruguayan gaucho rides a wild horse in Montevideo.

Uruguay

Cost: 15.9 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 48 days

World ranking: 11

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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Brooklyn Bridge, right, and Manhattan Bridge, left, span the East River in Manhattan.

The United States

Cost: 16.8 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 68 days

World ranking: 12

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A view of the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia

Cost: 18.1 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 71 days

World ranking: 13

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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Tango dancers perform in a street in Buenos Aires.

Argentina

Cost: 20.4 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 6

Time: 67 days

World ranking: 14

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A dogsled team carries tourists in northern Sweden.

Sweden

Cost: 20.7 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 3

Time: 52 days

World ranking: 15

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A hotel made to look like 70 Zaanse houses stacked together in the centre of Zaandam, north of Amsterdam.

The Netherlands

Cost: 30.7 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 5

Time: 143 days

World ranking: 16

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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An aerial view of Marina Bay and Singapore's central business district.

Singapore

Cost: 31.1 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 36 days

World ranking: 17

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A child slides in front of the Santa Claus Office in Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi, Finland.

Finland

Cost: 31.7 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 5

Time: 53 days

World ranking: 18

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A general view shows part of central Seoul.

South Korea

Cost: 38.6 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 49 days

World ranking: 19

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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France's tallest skyscraper is seen in the business district of La Defence near Paris.

France

Cost: 40.2 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 5

Time: 123 days

World ranking: 20

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A water taxi in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Brunei Darussalam

Cost: 42.9 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 5

Time: 56 days

World ranking: 21

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A night view of Kuwait City.

Kuwait

Cost: 48.2 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 7

Time: 42 days

World ranking: 22

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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Cars travel past the 'Faces of Berlin' light installation during the Festival of Lights in Berlin.

Germany

Cost: 49.9 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 3

Time: 17 days

World ranking: 23

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A curator walks past displays of Barbie dolls at the Doll Industry Museum in Taishan, Taipei County.

Taiwan

Cost: 52.4 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 4

Time: 23 days

World ranking: 24

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
A man walks past a wall decorated with with comics characters on a street in Lisbon.

Portugal

Cost: 54.6 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 5

Time: 64 days

World ranking: 25

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
Youngsters enjoy a ride on a circular moving swing in an Athens amusement park at sunset.

Greece

Cost: 59.2 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 6

Time: 77 days

World ranking: 26

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 13:50 IST
A youth arranges the jewellery in a gold shop in Mattrah Souq, the oldest market in Oman.

Oman

Cost: 62.5 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 6

Time: 62 days

World ranking: 27

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Here's what it costs to get electricity around the world

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A hot air balloon flies above the city of Geneva.

Switzerland

Cost: 62.7 per cent of income per capita

Procedures: 3

Time: 39 days

World ranking: 28