State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has announced that electricity connections for land plots in Hulhumalé Phase III will be provided once the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) completes the area’s Land Use Plan (LUP), while confirming that property owners in Phase II can now apply directly for electricity connections.
The update follows the transfer of Hulhumalé’s electricity distribution network from HDC to STELCO on 18 June, a move aimed at streamlining utility services and addressing long-standing connection delays.
According to STELCO, landowners and homeowners in Hulhumalé Phase II can now obtain electricity connections by applying directly to the company, following the completion of the network handover.
Before the transfer, electricity generation in Hulhumalé was managed by STELCO, while the installation and maintenance of the distribution network in Phase II remained under HDC. Electrical wiring and service connections for many housing projects were carried out by contractors appointed by HDC, an arrangement that residents said often resulted in delays when applying for new connections or resolving technical issues.
STELCO said the new system is expected to simplify the process for customers and enable faster responses to connection requests and maintenance issues.
However, the company noted that electricity services cannot yet be extended to plots in Hulhumalé Phase III and other newly reclaimed areas, as the Land Use Plan for the area is still being finalised by HDC. STELCO said work on developing the electricity distribution network will begin once the planning process is completed.
The utility provider also said that previous projects involving foreign contractors had presented technical and operational challenges, making it difficult to resolve issues quickly. With STELCO now directly responsible for the network, the company expects service delivery and maintenance to become more efficient.
As part of the transition, HDC has also allocated space in Hulhumalé Phase II for STELCO to establish a new Emergency Response Centre, which is expected to strengthen the company’s ability to respond to outages and other service disruptions.
Hulhumalé continues to be the fastest-growing urban area in the Maldives, driven by major housing developments and a steadily increasing population. To meet rising electricity demand, STELCO has been expanding generation and distribution infrastructure across the island.
Earlier this week, the company announced plans to begin construction of a 70-megawatt medium-speed powerhouse in Hulhumalé Phase II later this year, a project expected to significantly increase electricity generation capacity and support the island’s long-term development.
