Increasing electrical load: what ENSA and Naturgy require
If your remodel adds air conditioners, a water heater or an electric range, your installation and your contract with the utility may fall short. Here's what each utility publishes, with no assumptions. Guide prepared by Gallardía.
Short answer
First identify your utility from your electricity bill. Then follow its procedure: they aren't the same.
ℹ The essentials in 60 seconds
ENSA. If the increase is under 200 amps, a visit to a service center is enough. Above 200 amps, you must submit electrical drawings showing the current and required load. Source: ENSA, residential load increase
Naturgy. Requires approved electrical drawings, a Fire Department electrical permit for the new panel, and a sealed copy of the approved drawings, along with a formal note to their commercial office. Source: Naturgy, load increase
Don't get ahead of yourself. Naturgy explicitly warns against adding load before meeting the requirements. Source: Naturgy, load increase
The municipality counts too. In the district of Panama, work involving electrical installations first requires registering a miscellaneous drawing. Source: City Hall of Panama, FAQ
ENSA and Naturgy side by side
| ENSA (residential) | Naturgy (small business) | |
|---|---|---|
| Published threshold | 200 amps | No threshold published on that page |
| Drawings | Only above 200 A, showing current and required load | Approved electrical drawings and a sealed copy |
| Fire Department | Not mentioned on that page | Electrical permit for the new panel |
| Where to submit | Santa María Business District, PH Ensa, Juan Díaz; or Arco Iris, Av. Randolph, Colón | Formal note to the commercial office |
| Submission hours | Panama: Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Colón: Mon–Fri 7:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Not published on that page |
| Contact | dpp@ensa.com.pa · 340-4736. Follow-up: contactenos@ensa.com.pa · 323-7190 | edemet-edechi@naturgy.com · 800-8346 · 315-7222 |
| Cost and timeline | Neither page publishes the cost or timeline of the process verify | |
⚠ If you're a residential Naturgy customer
Naturgy publishes this procedure under its small-business section. Confirm with their customer service whether it applies the same way to your home. For projects over 500 kW there's a separate manual. Sources: Naturgy, load increase; Naturgy, manual for loads over 500 kW
Steps in order
- Inventory what you're adding: AC units, water heater, stove, pumps. Your electrician converts that into load and amperage.
- Identify your utility from the bill and check its threshold and requirements.
- If drawings are required, they must be prepared and signed by a licensed professional. No public office should accept drawings without that signature. Source: Law 15 of 1959, arts. 4 and 21
- Prior paperwork: registering a miscellaneous drawing with the municipality and, with Naturgy, a Fire Department electrical permit for the new panel. Sources: City Hall, FAQ; Naturgy
- Submit the application to the utility with the documents it requires.
- Only once approved should you connect the new load.
The load gets checked before you buy the equipment
On our remodels we check the installation's capacity before the client buys new AC units or appliances, so the utility's process doesn't hold up the project's delivery.
If you live in an HOA
- A licensed electrician is mandatory. Law 284 prohibits hiring unlicensed personnel for electrical work in horizontal-property buildings. Source: Law 284 of 2022, art. 32, item 8
- Central-service installations are common property, electricity included. If the increase involves the building's feeders or electrical rooms, coordinate with the administration. Source: Law 284 of 2022, art. 16, item 5
- Report the work to the Board of Directors or the administrator. Source: Law 284 of 2022, art. 56, item 12
Common mistakes
- Installing first, filing the paperwork later. Naturgy explicitly advises against this. Source: Naturgy, load increase
- Assuming ENSA and Naturgy ask for the same thing. Their published requirements differ.
- Forgetting the municipality. Electrical work has its own municipal process. Source: City Hall, FAQ
- Hiring someone unlicensed. Prohibited in an HOA. Source: Law 284, art. 32, item 8
Related questions
How much does a load increase cost?
Do I need drawings for a small increase with ENSA?
Who signs the drawings?
Sources
Consulted on September 29, 2026.
Notice. This guide is general information for educational purposes. Utility requirements can change without notice; confirm with ENSA or Naturgy before starting. Verified on September 29, 2026. Prepared by Gallardía (gallardia.lat).
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