Grid connection fee for the electricity network: how much it costs and what it includes in 2026
Many property owners confuse the “grid connection fee” with the price of the electrical connection (bransament), but they are two different things. The grid connection fee is the regulated amount you pay the distribution operator for the actual connection to the grid, whereas the electrical connection itself (design, materials, execution) is the work carried out by an ANRE-certified company. In this article we explain clearly what the grid connection fee consists of in 2026, how it is calculated and what additional costs you need to factor in.
What the grid connection fee actually is
The grid connection fee is the value of the works through which the distribution operator extends and makes available the grid capacity needed for your new consumption point. In the Bucharest, Ilfov and Giurgiu area, the operator is Retele Electrice Romania S.A. (formerly E-Distributie Muntenia / Enel, part of the PPC group).
This fee is not a fixed, “catalogue” amount. It is set individually, based on a technical assessment, and is officially recorded in the Technical Connection Approval (ATR) — the document that confirms the grid can take on the requested power and which includes the technical solution and the corresponding connection fee.
What the grid connection fee consists of
The value of the fee depends on several technical factors and on the solution chosen by the operator. The main components are:
- Approved power — a single-phase electrical connection (bransament) needs a smaller capacity than a three-phase one, so the connection cost is usually lower as well.
- Distance to the existing grid — the farther the consumption point is from the low-voltage grid, the more the extension work costs.
- Technical solution — an overhead connection is usually cheaper than an underground one; sometimes a grid extension or even a transformer station is required.
- Type of consumption point — permanent (home, business) or temporary (construction site setup).
- Grid reinforcement works — if the local grid needs to be strengthened to take on the requested power.
In short: the grid connection fee reflects the operator’s actual effort to bring grid capacity up to your property boundary.
The stages leading up to setting the fee
Before you find out the exact amount, you go through a fairly clear administrative path:
- Submitting the connection request together with the technical documentation (dossier and connection project).
- Issuing of the ATR by the operator, the document in which the connection fee and the technical solution appear.
- Signing the connection contract and paying the fee to the operator.
- Execution of the electrical connection by an ANRE-certified company (design + execution).
- Energisation and signing the supply contract.
Each stage has its own specific documents, and proper handling of the dossier significantly shortens the waiting time. You can find the details about this process on the page dedicated to grid connection for electricity and on the one about the Technical Connection Approval (ATR).
How much it costs, indicatively, in 2026
Important to remember: the grid connection fee owed to the operator is finally set through the ATR and differs from case to case. What we can present on an indicative basis are the costs of the design and execution works carried out by an ANRE-certified company such as SUN WATT.
| Service | Indicative cost (from) |
|---|---|
| Single-phase electrical connection | 1,800 lei |
| Three-phase electrical connection | 2,900 lei |
| Underground electrical connection | 3,500 lei |
| Temporary construction-site connection | 2,200 lei |
| Dossier + connection project | 900 lei |
| ATR assistance | 350 lei |
| Power upgrade (spor de putere) | 350 lei |
| Earthing electrode | 900 lei |
| PRAM checks | 250 lei |
These values are indicative and do not include the grid connection fee itself, which is calculated separately by the operator. For an estimate tailored to your situation, you can use the electrical connection cost calculator or check the prices page.
Grid connection fee vs. the cost of the electrical connection
To avoid confusion, here are the two cost categories you will have:
1. What you pay the operator (Retele Electrice Romania)
- The grid connection fee set through the ATR.
- Any fees for analysing the request and issuing the approval.
2. What you pay the ANRE-certified company
- Preparing the dossier and the connection project.
- The materials and the actual execution of the electrical connection.
- Related works: earthing electrode, PRAM checks, internal installation.
The two components are independent. You may receive a reasonable grid connection fee from the operator, but the execution cost depends on the technical solution and the complexity of the work — for example, an underground electrical connection involves digging and extra materials compared with an overhead one.
How you can reduce the total cost
- Prepare the dossier correctly from the start — a well-drafted project avoids amendments and resubmissions that delay the ATR.
- Choose the right technical solution — for many homes, a single-phase electrical connection covers the requirement; switch to three-phase only if you have appliances that demand it.
- Anticipate future needs — if you are planning a heat pump or a photovoltaic system, it is more economical to size things correctly from the start than to later request a power upgrade.
- Work with an ANRE-certified company — integrated handling of the dossier, project and execution reduces back-and-forth trips and wasted time.
Why SUN WATT
SUN WATT SRL is an ANRE-certified company for both the design and the execution of electrical connections and grid connections, covering Bucharest, Ilfov and Giurgiu, plus DIU (Utilisation Installation Dossier / proof of internal installation) nationwide. We handle the entire path: from preparing the dossier and obtaining the ATR, through to executing the electrical connection and energisation.
If you want to find out what grid connection fee applies to you and how much the complete work costs in your case, call 0733 097 440 or write to us via the contact page. We provide a clear assessment, with no surprises along the way.