FAQ
TL;DR: Upgrading a rural Polish home from 1-phase to 3-phase typically costs 98 – 150 PLN per added kW, "25 A is just a subsistence minimum" [Elektroda, kkas12, post #11468592], and 90 % of connection rebuilding is paid by the utility [Elektroda, INTOUCH, post #11463324]
Why it matters: Budgeting and sizing now prevents expensive rewiring later.
Quick Facts
• Map for design: ~500 PLN from district geodesy office [Elektroda, INTOUCH, post #11463324]
• Group V connection fee: 98 PLN/kW overhead, 124 PLN/kW cable +23 % VAT (*Energa cost table*)
• Typical extra-power charge seen in forum: 150 PLN/kW [Elektroda, ADAM445, post #11468559]
• 25 A pre-meter fuse ≈ 17 kW, 32 A ≈ 21 kW [Elektroda, kkas12, post #11468592]
• 90 % of physical connection cost borne by utility [Elektroda, INTOUCH, post #11463324]
Can a licensed electrician do the conversion, or must I hire a company?
Any electrician with valid SEP E+ D licences may legally rebuild the domestic installation. The utility only requires a signed inspection report with the installer’s stamp [Elektroda, ADAM445, post #11463676] A company offers paperwork support, but technical competence depends on the person, not the logo. Ask for references and certificates before signing [Elektroda, INTOUCH, post #11463324]
What documents must I submit to Energa for a three-phase upgrade?
You file: 1. Ownership deed or notarised power-of-attorney if the plot is in a parent’s name [Elektroda, INTOUCH, post #11463324] 2. Geodetic map for design purposes. 3. Completed connection-capacity application. After approval, you sign the connection contract and pay the power fee [Elektroda, mar_cik, post #11464760]
Where do I get the geodetic map and how much does it cost?
Request a “mapa do celów projektowych” from the county geodesy office. Forum users paid about 500 PLN in 2012 [Elektroda, INTOUCH, post #11463324] Prices vary by region and size; verify locally.
Which connection group covers my 13-14 kW single-family house?
A 1 kV or lower supply under 40 kW belongs to Group V [Elektroda, mar_cik, post #11467787]
How much will I pay per extra kilowatt?
Energa lists 98 PLN/kW (overhead) or 124 PLN/kW (cable) plus 23 % VAT for Group V (Energa cost table). Forum members report actual invoices of 114 – 150 PLN/kW, depending on region and year [Elektroda, stacho60, #11469135; ADAM445, #11468559].
When is the fee due?
You pay the connection-power fee before the utility schedules meter replacement. No payment, no work [Elektroda, ADAM445, post #11463965]
Why choose 32 A protection if 25 A seems enough?
25 A fuses meet only minimal selectivity with 16 A socket breakers. "32 A future-proofs the house for the price of two or three hundred zlotys" [Elektroda, mar_cik, post #11467787] 32 A equates to about 21 kW and avoids another connection-fee cycle later [Elektroda, kkas12, post #11468592]
What cable size should I lay from pole or meter to the house?
Install YAKY 4×35 mm² (overhead) or YKY 5×10 mm² (underground) so future upgrades to 32 A or 40 A need no replacement [Elektroda, kkas12, #11468592; masonry, #11468882].
Do I need to notify the County Office of installation reconstruction?
Polish Construction Law treats a single- to three-phase change with higher capacity as "reconstruction" that must be reported to the County Office [Elektroda, INTOUCH, post #11465875] Utilities often file this when they adapt the service line [Elektroda, andrefff, post #11465925]
Who pays for the connection and who pays for the in-house wiring project?
Utility pays for service redesign and physical work up to the ownership point; the customer pays a flat power fee plus the interior installation design and labour [Elektroda, INTOUCH, #11463564; mar_cik, #11464148].
How do I calculate my requested connected load?
List simultaneous device ratings, divide single-phase appliances among three phases, add a 20 % reserve, then round to nearest kW. Example: 6 kW welder + 2 kW compressor + 2 kW saw ≈ 10 kW; ask for 14 kW to include lighting and margin.
3-step How-To: upgrading with Energa
- Submit ownership deed, map, and capacity application to Energa.
- Sign the connection contract, pay the per-kW fee, and receive technical conditions.
- Hire a licensed electrician to install WLZ, protections, and issue the compliance report; Energa then mounts the new three-phase meter [Elektroda, ADAM445, post #11463676]
What happens if I load only one phase heavily?
Uneven loading can trip the 3-phase breaker; users reported single-phase overloads that "crash" the pre-meter protection [Elektroda, INTOUCH, post #11463751] Balance large appliances across phases to avoid nuisance outages.
How long does the paperwork usually take?
One forum user received Energa’s decision in about one month [Elektroda, ADAM445, post #11463676] Complex rural upgrades can stretch longer if land-access permits are needed.
Edge case: Can the meter stay inside the house?
Yes, if the existing service route meets today’s standards, Energa can leave the meter indoors. Recent policies, however, often move meters to the plot edge for easier access [Elektroda, zbich70, post #11468985]