Anybody had electrical service installed on an empty property?

[MossRoad]

I'm seeking advice from those who have successfully installed electrical services on empty properties. I'm currently in the process of preparing a vacant lot for construction and would appreciate any guidance on the electrical service installation process. Specifically, I'd like to know about the typical timeline, costs, and potential challenges encountered during this process. Have you had a similar experience? What were some of the key considerations you had to keep in mind? Any recommendations for reliable service providers or tips for streamlining the process would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for sharing your insights!

When we looked at doing that on our vacant property back in the early 90's all we had to do was contact the electric utility and ask them what was required. I believe they called it something like farm service.

We were required to install a breaker panel and meter socket on a pressure treated assembly. We could then either have them set a transformer on the ground at the road and we'd be responsible for running buried lines from the transformer to the meter, or, they would run poles back to the meter and they'd set a transformer up on the last pole next to the meter. Either way was about the same cost at the time.

Plans changed and we did not build, so no need for electricity, so we did not proceed.

I cannot give any idea of what it would cost today.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Just my experience FWIW:

In 2018, I had electric service installed on a vacant lot prior to putting up a barn. Per the local power company requirements here in northeast PA, I build a "power pedestal". I put two treated 4 x 6 posts in the ground 4' apart and screwed pieces of treated 2 x 6 between them to make a panel. I screwed a piece of treated 2 x 12 on top of the posts as a rain shield. To save trenching charges, I installed a 4" conduit to a nearby pole.

I used to work part time for an electrical contractor, so I was comfortable installing the meter base and outdoor rated breaker panel myself. A licensed inspector was required to approve the install. The power company placed a transformer on the pole and pulled the 100 amp service cable in the conduit.

The following year, I put up the barn and ran 4" conduit for the 100 amp service.

The total cost, including the power company charges, was just under $1K. I'm sure these regulations and costs will vary by state and the associated power company.

 

[oosik]

1982 The local power co-op would not begin my power line project until I could show them an approved building permit. Showed them my approved building permit - away they went. One mile of power poles and line. Took them five days.

I have basaltic lava bedrock all the way. Four inch hole drilled to depth. High nitrogen fertilizer and dynamite. Then - WHOOM. A new power pole hole. Total cost in 1982 - $4500. Total cost today - somewhere greater than $21,000.

 

[Runner]

Tell them it's for an electric car charger. They'll probably pay you to install it.

 

[EddieWalker]

Tell them it's for an electric car charger. They'll probably pay you to install it.

Just don't ask the Federal Government to build a EV Charging station!!!!

 

[grsthegreat]

Honestly, this varies by utility and state or county. Check with your local utility.

Some states wont let a homeowner do the work, only licensed contractors. Other states let a monkey do the install as they can care less.

I did work in 4 states, every one was different. Where i live now we have 3 different power providers. Each with their own set of rules.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I'm seeking advice from those who have successfully installed electrical services on empty properties. I'm currently in the process of preparing a vacant lot for construction and would appreciate any guidance on the electrical service installation process. Specifically, I'd like to know about the typical timeline, costs, and potential challenges encountered during this process. Have you had a similar experience? What were some of the key considerations you had to keep in mind? Any recommendations for reliable service providers or tips for streamlining the process would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for sharing your insights!

I'm on Entergy power in Arkansas. For us that would be considered a "temporary service". I just got done building a house and did the same thing. A quick call to Entergy gave me all the info I needed and set up a site meeting with an Entergy engineer. They required us to have some skin in the game so to speak, before they started. They supplied the specs for the temp pole. Once that was installed they required house footers to be poured before they would run the power. That was our "skin in the game". They require that so they can be pretty confident that they will get income from power service, and not just running a line out to somewhere that they will not be able to sell power to. They would run overhead for free and cost was something like $2-$3 a foot underground if I ran the conduit underground or something like $12 a foot if they did it. That was for 400A primary voltage to a pad mount transformer close to the house. So it ended up being permanent to the pad and temp to the temp pole. Then there was a separate cost to run perm power from the pad to the house when it was finished.

Short story is, call your electric supplier. They will be helpful.