In another innovative step to cut red tape and make City services easier to access through online innovation, the City’s new Energy Services Application for new or modified electricity supply has gone live.
The new platform can be used to apply for electricity services such as a new supply, additional meter, replacement or upgrading of existing meters among others. Visit the platform for more information and the How-To-Guide: https://bit.ly/CCT_EnergyServicesOnline
Speaking at the launch event with private sector stakeholders and the internal development teams, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg lauded the leap taken to realise the City’s commitment to making electricity services better and easier to access for residents and businesses. The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, outlined the achievements made of the City’s focus on enhancing the ease of doing business by cutting red tape to boost economic growth.
‘In 2024, we launched the online application platform for solar PV and it has been a big success, drastically cutting down the turnaround time for applications. Our new Energy Services Application portal also aims to reduce turnaround times; increase transparency and automate quotations.
‘Over the years, the process of applying for new or modified electricity connections has been administratively intensive, often involving paperwork and in some cases, extended waiting periods.
‘Since the start of the current administration, the City has been laser-focused on adapting modern digital and online solutions to not only significantly improve customer service experience, but to also ensure that energy service connections are approved in record time. We’ve increased our internal capacity to process more applications which enables businesses to take on more clients and make their City-approved service connections faster than ever before.
‘One of the key deliverables of our Energy Mayoral Priority Programme speaks to the development of a modernised, future-fit, energy utility. The digitisation of our services, in part fulfils that broader vision through innovative and smarter service delivery instruments that can only be improved on and made even better in years to come. As we continue to develop more service offerings precipitated by market shifts and reforms in the energy space, the Energy Directorate will continue to do more and inspire hope for future generations as well as create a business friendly environment through which we can all benefit,’ said Alderman Limberg.
Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Index: Cutting Red Tape, Boosting Growth
‘We developed Cape Town’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Index because we want businesses to grow, create jobs, and drive our economy forward: that means cutting unnecessary delays, digitising services, and making City processes work better.
‘We’ve made massive strides in key areas:
- Wayleaves: We cut processing times from over a month to just four to eight days.
- Water connections: We slashed processing times by 45%, what used to take weeks is now done in five days or less.
- Rates Clearance Certificates: Getting a clearance certificate to sell a property used to take 23 days, now it’s just 11. The actual City processing time is only two days.
- The new Energy Services Application is another game-changer.
‘We’re not just talking about cutting red tape, we’re doing it. Faster approvals, better services, more efficiency. Because when businesses thrive, Cape Town thrives,’ said Alderman Vos.
More about the Index
It measures ten key areas that businesses deal with daily:
- Transferring public land
- Getting land-use rights
- Building plan approvals
- Wayleaves (permits for underground cables and pipelines)
- Getting electricity connections
- Connecting to the water network
- Obtaining a revenue (rates) clearance certificate
- Getting a business license
- Securing an informal trading permit
- Digitisation of City services
Energy Services Application
To submit an application, you will need to be registered on e-Services; the City’s digital portal where you can check your accounts, renew your vehicle licence and apply for energy-related services. This is best done on a laptop or desktop.
Here’s how to register for e-Services:
Go to www.capetown.gov.za/eservices
