Anybody had electrical service installed on an empty property?

[PILOON]

I guess a lot depends on the supplier.
My friend has built a commercial facility and contracts were signed in May.
Hydro was advised at that time by the electrical contractor.
We are now in December and he still has no hydro power and is using a temporary hookup from his neighbor.

He also is having same problem with the natural gas folks.
Poor guys are so overworked.

 

[MossRoad]

When we looked at running electricity to our property with intentions to build a barn before the house, the power company suggested a farm hookup. They gave us all the specs for the wooden structure for a meter, panel, ground rod, etc.... the number of poles or underground, etc... with the intentions of running power from the hwy to the farm panel. Then we could feed the barn from the panel and the eventual house from the panel.

Anyhow, the best thing to do is start at the power company before looking at government required permits, etc... the power company should know what you need and tell you what permits to get, etc...

 

[buickanddeere]

In Ontario construction services are common .

 

[gary49]

I agree with MossRoad that you should consider a farm panel. You don't tell us the eventual extent of your plans, but if you are thinking you will build a house at some point, you could set a meter and panel on a treated wood pedestal, I like to use two 4X4's set in the ground with 2X8 or more boards nailed or screwed to them to create a surface to mount the equipment. I don't like plywood so much because it eventually delaminates. A good choice for the panel would be one designed to serve a mobile home, which has a 200 amp main breaker which feeds lugs at the bottom of the panel for service to the house , but also has 8 additional breaker spaces to feed outbuildings or whatever. So, if your house will have average electrical needs and your barn and say shop aren't too energy hungry, that might be all you need. If your plans are more elaborate with a large barn and shop, just do two panels for a 400 amp service. For the barn, you can just use two of the breakers spaces to mount a 100 amp breaker to serve the barn. The lugs at the bottom of the panel wouldn't be used until you build the house. You don't say whether the nearby transformer is on a pole or is pad mounted, but Dominion in Virginia typically will run the service for a residence underground for free, whether it's from the pole, or from the pad. You could also just have a overhead service drop to a pole, but it would be a private pole, you'd have to set it.
I'm not sure what Domnion would do with a barn coming first, but it's worth asking. You will need a permit for the service, and the panel in the barn if you set up a farm panel as suggested, but the wiring in the barn won't need inspections, at least that's the way it works in Albemarle County. As far as talking to your local inspections department goes, one good rule is to not tell them anything they don't ask for, that'll avoid a fair amount of trouble. The other rule is to avoid arguments, they get to interpret the code and they can screw you up if you get on the wrong side of them. I've generally found inspection departments to be willing to help you if you ask questions and don't try to put something over on them. Usually, non commercial site plans don't have to be fancy, you should be able to stake out what you want to do, measure to the property lines reasonably accurately, and draw something up. You can ask them for some guidance on what they want. Good luck with the project!

 

[s219]

Thanks for the info and suggestions everyone, it's very helpful. Farm panel sounds like what I want.

The existing transformer is on the ground, and at the property line between this empty property and the one next door where we live (I had to pay for the transformer back in 2012).

 

[PILOON]

In my area temporary panels have become cost prohibitive as our hydro wants a fortune (ie +/- $3k) to do so.
A friend is has almost completed a $900K project that started in June and is still waiting for hydro to hook him up, meanwhile he is connected to the neighbor via a HD extension.
They quoted early November and as of yesterday no signs of hydro crews.

Fortunately his entire project is a LED installed so the drain is acceptable.
Meanwhile we had some welding to do and with the voltage drop striking an ark was a challenge. (I measured 80 (something) where it should have been 120.

 

[buickanddeere]

TTH26DR Panel/Link - Reliance Controls Corporation

Something similar to this can be handy now and in the future .

 

[Imold]

I need power on my 12 acres and the power company said they would put a transformer 350 feet onto my property for 1800.00 and then I would need a electrician to put up a 100 amp service with a 30 amp RV hookup and 2 15 amp and 2 20 amp plugin’s. Eventually I will put a home on the property.

I was also told a electrician could do it for less money then the power company then all I would need to do is have the power company just hook the power up to the power pole.

 

[kirkawilson]

Currently adding power to my 26 acres of hunting/haying land. Have a no-wall pole barn with a small camper underneath. Found local fellow to dig septic (personal dump station for $1700) and now adding underground power from street to barn ~375 feet. Above ground was free and underground was $5000, with utility company paying $4500...well worth my cost of $500 for underground. Costing about $350 to run secondary from transformer to temporary pole and then about 50' underground from temp pole to the barn. Did not want new transformer to close to barn. Dug the 50' ditch with 3-pt sub-soiler on tractor and shovels. If weather behaves, utility company should finish next week and should have power to camper by the weekend. Outdoor outlets from secondary are 30 amp RV outlet and 2 duplex 20-amp plugs. Should do me fine for a while.

 

[geteh]

I plan to build a barn on my empty property in the next year or two, but right now I'd like electrical power to run tools and there is a transformer right there on the property line just ripe to tap into. Generally the local power company (Dominion Power) wants to see an approved site plan (with structures) and a building permit before they install service for new construction. But there have got to be situations where people have electrical service installed to a property without any construction or structures. I am wondering if anyone has gone through this with their local electrical company and have any insight to share.

What I am finding with LADWP and my county building/zoning departments is that what you can do is highly dependent on how you approach them and what you say.

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!