How much power does a shop have? Amps, 3-phase and TNB lead times

A shoplot's supply is either single phase or 3-phase. Under TNB's handbook, single phase covers loads up to 12 kVA, and 3-phase from the existing low-voltage network covers non-domestic loads above that up to 100 kVA, subject to a TNB study; TNB's whole-current 3-phase meters go up to 100A. Above 100A per phase you need current transformer (CT) metering and an electrical consultant engineer, and from about 100 kVA TNB may require a feeder pillar or a substation. TNB's typical lead times are under 3 months without a substation and 3 to 12 months with one (TNB Electricity Supply Application Handbook, ESAH 3.1).

The services checklist for restaurants is in exhaust, 3-phase power and water. This article is only about power.

There is no single number. Older intermediate units may still be single phase; units that have housed F&B, clinics or convenience stores are usually 3-phase. For planning, TNB's handbook gives reference demand for shop-houses of 15 to 25 kW for a double-storey shop-house in urban areas, against 5 to 15 kW for single-storey ones (TNB Electricity Supply Application Handbook, ESAH 3.1). Do not rely on the reference: check the unit.

• Photograph the meter board and the main switch. The rating is printed on the switch.
• Count the live wires coming in: one for single phase, three for 3-phase.
• Ask the landlord for the last electricity bill, which shows the tariff and account.

On a 3-phase 400V supply, capacity in kVA is roughly 0.69 times the amps. The table is arithmetic for orientation; your electrician will size it properly.

• To 100A: usually the simplest upgrade, within the "up to 100A" category, handled by a registered electrical contractor and TNB's normal application process.
• To 200A: above 100A per phase, so a registered electrical consultant engineer submits the application and you provide a CT metering panel (TNB provides the low-voltage CTs). Above 100 kVA, TNB may supply from a feeder pillar or a substation after its system study.
• To 400A: the same route, at a load where a feeder pillar or substation is more likely. Above 350 kVA, a new substation is required.

Whether the street can carry the load is TNB's decision, not the landlord's. Ask your consultant to check with TNB before you sign.

These assume no delay in council approvals (TNB Electricity Supply Application Handbook, ESAH 3.1). Add your own time for the contractor, the consultant's drawings and internal wiring. Plan the fit-out programme around this.

It is negotiable; there is no standard rule. The upgrade stays with the building and raises the unit's value for future F&B tenants, which is why some landlords contribute or pay. Our landlord guide on whether to renovate before renting out explains why ready services let faster. Whatever you agree, write it down:

• Who applies and who pays the contractor, consultant and TNB charges
• Whether the rent-free period covers the wait
• That the upgraded supply stays with the unit and is not a reinstatement item
• What happens if TNB refuses or delays

See tenancy clauses to check and rent-free periods.

Usually yes. Moving from single phase to 3-phase within 100A stays in the simpler category, and many shoplots already have 3-phase available on the street. First check whether you need it: a small cafe that is mostly coffee and drinks may fit within single phase if the espresso machine, chillers and air-conditioning are chosen for it. A cafe with ovens, cooking and large air-conditioning usually needs 3-phase.

1. List every appliance with its rated power in kW from the nameplate or spec sheet.
2. Add lighting, air-conditioning, chillers, freezers and exhaust fans.
3. Ask your electrician to apply a diversity factor, because not everything runs at full load at once.
4. Compare the result with the supply, leaving headroom for growth.

A hypothetical example: espresso machine 5 kW, two ovens 12 kW, chillers 3 kW, air-conditioning 10 kW, lights and others 3 kW, about 33 kW connected. That is above the 12 kVA single-phase ceiling, so 3-phase is needed, but well inside 100A 3-phase. Use your own equipment figures.

Tell us your equipment list on the tenants page, and MCE will screen units for power before you view. For gas and exhaust, see heavy vs light cooking.

This is general information, not engineering advice. Confirm with a registered electrical contractor or consultant and TNB.

Written by Tok Ginstee (REN 37505), CID Realtors Sdn Bhd (E (1) 1855). Updated November 2026.