The National Energy Administration ("NEA") has recently formulated and issued the Implementing Opinions on Promoting the Handling of Electricity Business Licensing-related Affairs on a One-time Basis (the "Opinions").
The Opinions explicitly state that, it is important to fully promote the handling of licensing-related affairs on a one-time basis, establish a sound electricity business licensing administration mechanism characterized by the "most streamlined examination and approval formalities, highest efficiency of business processing and best service quality" to make it convenient for the general public and enterprises to handle affairs, prevent clean governance risks during the processing of administrative licensing affairs that relevant functionaries take advantage of the licensing power to seek personal gains, strengthen in-process and ex-post regulation, and create a sound environment for market access. Accordingly, the Opinions outline relevant measures. The first is intensifying the platform development to make it possible to have all affairs handled and processed online. The second is simplifying procedures to handle licensing-related affairs and standardize the examination and approval procedures. The third is vigorously advocating the disclosure of licensing information. The fourth is making inquiries and training available online. The fifth is diversifying regulatory means to tighten the in-process and ex-post regulation. Furthermore, the Opinions stress that the handling of electricity business licensing-related affairs on a one-time basis will take effect in all aspects from the issue date of these Opinions.