Remote Electrical Connection in Romania: How Long It Takes and What It Costs for the Diaspora
If you own land or a house in Romania but live in Spain, Italy or the UK, the biggest question is usually a practical one: how long will the connection take, and how much will it cost if I never set foot in the country during the process? The honest answer is that the work itself is fast and predictable, the costs are clear up front, and the only variable you cannot fully control is the distribution operator’s own processing time.
This guide breaks down every stage of a 100% remote electrical connection (branșament electric) in Romania, with indicative timelines and indicative prices, so you can plan and budget without surprises.
How the fully remote process works
You stay abroad the whole time. The process rests on three pillars:
- A notarised power of attorney (procură) that you obtain at the Romanian consulate or embassy in your country, or as an apostilled deed signed before a local notary. This authorises us to act on your behalf with the operator.
- Documents sent online — your ID, the land registry extract (extras de carte funciară) and the urban planning certificate (certificat de urbanism).
- Bank transfer payment from your account abroad, with photo and video updates on WhatsApp at every step.
We file the grid-connection dossier, obtain the ATR (connection certificate) from the distribution operator Rețele Electrice România S.A., execute the connection on site, and prepare the DIU (Dosarul Instalației de Utilizare). You can see the complete walkthrough on our electrical connection from abroad page.
The stages and indicative timelines
The end-to-end duration depends mostly on two things: how quickly you can get the power of attorney signed, and how long the operator takes to issue the ATR. The on-site work and our paperwork are the fast parts.
Stage 1 — Power of attorney and documents
You book an appointment at the Romanian consulate (or sign before a local notary with an apostille) and send us your documents online. In practice this is the stage most under your control, and consulate appointment availability is the main thing that sets the pace here.
Stage 2 — Connection dossier and project
Once we have your documents and the procură, our ANRE-certified team prepares the connection dossier and, where required, the technical project. This is internal work on our side and moves quickly.
Stage 3 — ATR from the operator
We submit the dossier to Rețele Electrice România S.A. and follow up until the ATR is issued. This is the stage with the most variability, because the timeline is set by the operator, not by us. We keep you updated on WhatsApp throughout.
Stage 4 — Execution and DIU
After the ATR and the connection contract are in place, we execute the physical connection (the meter, the cabling, the connection point) and prepare the DIU so your installation is documented and ready for energisation. You receive photos and video of the finished work.
Indicative timeline at a glance
| Stage | What happens | Who controls the timing | Indicative duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Procură + documents | Power of attorney signed abroad, documents sent online | You / consulate availability | A few days to a few weeks |
| 2. Dossier + project | We prepare the grid-connection file | Us (fast) | A few days |
| 3. ATR | Operator reviews and issues the connection certificate | Rețele Electrice România S.A. | Weeks (operator-dependent) |
| 4. Execution + DIU | Physical connection and utilisation dossier | Us (scheduled) | Days, once approvals are in |
The realistic total is from a few weeks to a few months, driven almost entirely by Stage 1 (how fast you sign) and Stage 3 (how fast the operator works). Everything we control directly is fast.
How much it costs
Our prices below are indicative and cover labour and materials. They do not include the operator’s separate grid-connection fee, which Rețele Electrice România S.A. sets in the ATR based on your specific situation.
| Service | Indicative price (lei) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-phase connection | from 1.800 | Most homes |
| Three-phase connection | from 2.900 | Higher loads, workshops, heat pumps |
| DIU (utilisation dossier) | 1.200 | Documentation, no labour |
| Connection dossier + project | from 900 | ANRE-certified project where required |
| ATR assistance | from 350 | We handle the operator submission and follow-up |
For the full, up-to-date list see our prices page, and to estimate your own connection based on distance and connection type, use our cost calculator.
A note on what is and is not included
The single biggest source of confusion for owners abroad is the operator’s grid fee. That fee is determined by the operator in your ATR and is paid separately from our service. We always tell you the operator’s amount as soon as it appears in the ATR, so your total budget is transparent before you commit to anything.
Why doing it remotely saves more than a flight
Travelling to Romania to handle a connection in person rarely takes one short trip. Dossiers, signatures, operator queues and execution scheduling almost never line up with a single visit. Handling it remotely means no flights, no time off work, and no waiting around the country between appointments — you simply approve each step on WhatsApp and transfer the agreed amounts from your bank abroad.
What you need to prepare from abroad
To start, have these ready:
- A valid ID (passport or Romanian ID card).
- The land registry extract (extras de carte funciară) for the property.
- The urban planning certificate (certificat de urbanism), if already issued.
- An appointment to sign the power of attorney at the consulate, or a local notary plus apostille.
Send us scans or clear photos online and we will tell you exactly what, if anything, is missing before you book the consulate appointment — so you only go once.
Ready to start without travelling?
Message us on WhatsApp at 0733 097 440 with your property location and what you need connected. We will confirm the stages, the indicative cost, and the documents required for your specific case — all in English, all remotely.