Utility Coordination
Electrical Service Work with a Clear Utility Plan
Changing a service, relocating a meter or adding a major load can involve both property work and utility work. YKCA helps organize the electrical scope, project information and handoffs so those responsibilities are clear.
What & Why
The electrician and utility have different parts of the job.
A new panel does not by itself establish that the utility can supply the proposed load. Begin with the existing service arrangement, the planned equipment and the serving utility. Describe any relocation, trenching or temporary power needs early.
For PG&E projects, Building and Renovation Services provides an application and project-management process. The project team should track the application number, open design questions and required releases alongside the local permit. A submitted application is not a construction appointment.
Useful information for the first conversation
Project type
New service, added load, meter move or replacement
Existing utility record
Application number and assigned contact, if any
Property information
Site plan, access and proposed equipment location
Schedule constraints
Occupancy, business hours and acceptable outage periods
Project Scope
Define the work and the handoff.
The written scope should identify equipment, responsibilities and the conditions that affect completion.
Define the requested change
Translate the equipment plan into an electrical scope and identify what is being requested from the utility.
Prepare project information
Gather load information, service details and drawings needed for the application. Identify missing decisions before submission.
Track design questions
Keep utility comments and requested revisions with the project documents. Name the person responsible for each response.
Separate property and utility work
Identify who handles trenching, structures, service equipment and utility-owned facilities, including restoration of disturbed areas.
Coordinate the outage
Plan around utility scheduling, inspection releases and site readiness. Communicate the confirmed outage arrangement to affected occupants.
Close out the records
Collect inspection records and utility completion information. Distinguish work completed on the property from steps still awaiting the utility.
Project concepts
See the possibilities for your space
Drag the divider to compare before and after, or open a comparison for a closer look.
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Before You Choose
Four milestones to track separately.
Use these distinctions to review the proposal and identify what still needs a decision.
| Planning item | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Application submitted | Receipt and project number, with an owner for follow-up. |
| Design resolved | Required work, responsibility and outstanding conditions are documented. |
| Site ready | Electrical work and required inspection or clearance are ready for the agreed sequence. |
| Utility work completed | The actual connection or service change is confirmed in the project record. |
Estimate Planning
What shapes the project estimate?
Compare the same scope, identify exclusions and keep unresolved work visible before authorizing construction.
- Application support and preparation of electrical documents
- Service relocation, trenching and site access
- Utility requirements identified during project review
- Outage coordination and restoration of disturbed areas
FAQ
Utility Coordination: questions before work begins.
Does YKCA set the utility completion date?
The utility controls its review and scheduling. The contractor can prepare information, respond to comments and make the site ready. Keep proposed dates separate from utility-confirmed appointments.
Do I apply before buying the new service equipment?
Generally, yes. Establish the utility’s project requirements and coordinate equipment selection before final purchase. Verify the exact model, metering arrangement, location and approved alternatives with the project team. A readily available panel is not automatically suitable for the proposed service.
Is a building permit the same as utility approval?
No. Track local permitting and the utility project separately. Determine which inspection releases or documents the utility needs before connection.
Can you help with a project that is already open?
Begin by reviewing the existing application, accepted documents, open comments, installed work, and authorized contacts. A recovery plan should preserve valid prior approvals while identifying corrections and unfinished responsibilities. Changing contractors does not by itself establish a new utility completion date.
Will the power be off for only one day?
A one-day labor estimate does not guarantee same-day power restoration. Confirm contractor readiness, inspection release, PG&E authorization and reconnection scheduling before disconnection. Assign the handoffs and plan for essential needs if a dependency fails.
Related electrical services
Technical references · reviewed October 3, 2026
Your Next Step
Discuss your utility coordination project.
Share the property, existing equipment and the result you need. We can define the next practical step.
