In the United States, at least in New England, to sign up for electrical service, the applicant must either be a US business with an EIN or a private person with a social security number.
What if a foreign entity or company needs electrical service and has neither of those things?
For example, a foreign consulate will need electrical service and for legal reasons will not have an EIN, and of course the ambassador or consular official managing the facility will not have a social security number.
Many utilities, but not all small municipal utility companies like those in Alexander Dunlap's link, will accept an alternate form of identification such as a driver's license number or passport. They may also require a large deposit in such circumstances. The ID and deposit requirements may be defined in state utility regulations or may be a matter of utility policy.
While it's not required, the US State Department encourages foreign consulate to obtain an EIN for exactly these sorts of reasons, so I imagine they'd likely do that, particularly if it's the only way they can get electricity.
