ESO does not stop - simplified ESO’s electricity connection conditions lifted Lithuania up to unprecedented heights in the Doing Business rating

After improving the speed and conditions of getting an electricity connection for several years now, the electricity and gas distribution company Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius (ESO) has once again contributed to the growth of the competitiveness rating of the entire Lithuania. The country climbed 11 positions up from the 26^th to the 15^th place in terms of the getting electricity indicator in the Doing Business 2020 ranking published by the World Bank compared to the indicator of 2019 (it was 33^rd in 2017 and 55^th in 2016).

The getting electricity indicator is one of the 10 criteria assessed in determining a country’s progress in the overall Doing Business rating. Another 4 criteria are used to determine the latter indicator, namely, the number of procedures, the time needed to connect to electricity networks, the price of getting electricity, network reliability and transparency.

“One of our main priorities is to pursue that electricity-related services are provided to businesses with the shortest possible period of time and in the most convenient and simple way. This contributes to strengthening Lithuania’s competitive advantage and its appeal to foreign investors, because the duration for getting electricity is a very important criterion for attracting investors. We are pleased to see that our work has once again significantly contributed to Lithuania’s historic rise in the World Bank’s ranking”, says the Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas.

This year, the number of procedures for getting electricity decreased from 4 to 3, having refused the requirement to present a certificate from the National Energy Regulatory Council on the inspection of customer’s internal electricity network, replacing it with a contractor’s statement instead.

“A better “Doing Business” ranking is an appraisal for the entire country and ESO’s contribution in increasing the overall appeal of the country to investors and improving the conditions for business development. We have been working intensively with various authorities coordinating processes, and managed to achieve that a number of lengthy procedures for getting an electricity connection is eliminated or shortened. This made reducing the duration of getting electricity possible. And we will not stop here. We will also seek to optimize other processes that will create preconditions for improving positions in the Doing Business rating next year as well”, says Mindaugas Keizeris, the CEO of ESO.

ESO has also initiated other proposals to further simplify the getting electricity process. One of them is the elimination of the need to complete an application for those willing to get an electricity connection.

Doing Business is the assessment of the business environment carried out by the World Bank. The index analyses the requirements that drive and hinder business development in countries and ranks them. Having summed up all indicators, Lithuania has climbed 3 positions up this year, ranking 11^th out of 190 countries of the world.