New Construction Frequently Asked Questions

Electric Service | Gas Service | Electric & Gas | Forms/Applications | Contacts

 

Q.  When will my service be installed?

Q.  Why does it take four to six weeks to schedule my work order?

Q.  When can Sierra Pacific Power provide construction power to my site?

Q.  When do you require an easement for your facilities?

Q.  Who is responsible for tree trimming on my property and adjacent property that you may need to cross with your power lines?

Q.  How can I get an updated list of Sierra Pacific Power approved meter cans?

Q.  How can I get a copy of Sierra Pacific Power Electric Service Requirements Manual for my reference?

Q.  How many points of service can I have on a building?

Q.  What clearance/attachment height is required on a construction temporary pole?

Q.  When do I have to have the city/county inspect my work?

Q.  What voltages are available?

Q.  How do I schedule a disconnect / reconnect appointment? If I'm a licensed electrical contractor, can I do it myself?

Q. How do I arrange for natural gas service for construction heat?

Q. How long does it take to have a service and meter installed?

Q.  What site requirements need to be met for service piping and meter set-up?

Q.  What pressure can I get?

Q.  How do I initiate a service request with Sierra Pacific Power?

Q.  What information is required to request service?

Q.  What happens after I submit the electric service application?

Q.  How much notice is needed to install new electric service from the street to the home or business?

Q.  How soon should I notify Sierra Pacific Power of my intention to upgrade/relocate my service?

Q.  What information do I need to check the status of a work (service) request? 

Q.  How can I find out more information about Sierra Pacific Power's metering requirements? 

Q.  When should I apply for gas service?

Q.  Is there a cost for a gas service?

Q.  Do I have to submit a deposit?

Q.  Where can I learn about construction specifications, or other Sierra Pacific Power gas service policies?

Q.  Does Sierra Pacific Power sell gas equipment?

Q.  Does Sierra Pacific Power remove oil tanks?

Q.  When are easements required?

Q.  When should I contact Dig Safe?

Q.  When will my service be installed?

A.  The service order will be released for installation once Sierra Pacific Power is notified that:

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Q.  Why does it take four to six weeks to schedule my work order?

A.  In order to maximize production and efficiency, Sierra Pacific Power crews are scheduled four weeks in advance of the construction start date of the work order. Material is ordered and issued two weeks prior to the construction start date.

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Q.  When can Sierra Pacific Power provide construction power to my site?

A.  Temporary construction service will be supplied only if the company has readily available capacity and a transformer or box close to the property. Before supplying temporary service, the company may require the customer to bear the cost of installing and removing the necessary service facilities.

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Q. When do you require an easement for your facilities?

A.  Almost all the time when installing primary voltage overhead or underground electric facilities on private or common property.

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Q. Who is responsible for tree trimming on my property and adjacent property that you may need to cross with your power lines?

A.  Sierra Pacific Power will trim the right of way and maintain existing overhead lines. Customers are responsible for clearing the easement on their property and obtaining the right to clear the adjacent property (if required) for the initial installation of facilities.

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Q. How can I get an updated list of Sierra Pacific Power approved meter cans?

A.  Sierra Pacific Power has an electronic copy of Sierra Pacific Power Company Approved Metering Equipment available for viewing and downloading.  If you have additional questions, call the Sierra Pacific Power Electric Meter Shop and ask for the Metering Engineer at (775) 834-7288.

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Q. How can I get a copy of Sierra Pacific Power Electric Service Requirements Manual for my reference?

A.  Sierra Pacific Power has an electronic copy of Volume 17 covering electric installation requirements available for viewing and downloading.

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Q. How many points of service can I have on a building?

A. Sierra Pacific Power standard practice is to provide a single voltage to a single premise.

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Q.  What clearance / attachment height is required on a construction temporary pole?

A.  The minimum attachment height for an overhead temporary pole is 16 feet in Nevada 18 feet in California. See Volume 17.

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Q. When do I have to have the city/county inspect my work?

A.  Anytime an electrical contractor works on your electric facilities or new electric facilities are installed.

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Q. What voltages are available?

A.  Please refer to electric service upgrades, relocations and voltages.

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Q. How do I schedule a disconnect/reconnect appointment? If I'm a licensed electrical contractor, can I do it myself?

A. Call the Service Center Foreman at 775-834-7532 at least one week in advance to schedule a disconnect / reconnect appointment or call the Contractor Hotline at (775) 834-5590.

Electrical contractors are not allowed to reconnect the service; this must be performed by Sierra Pacific Power after the electrical inspection (if required by the inspecting authority).

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Q. How do I arrange for natural gas service for construction heat?

A.    Arranging for a service is simple,

1. Contact your local Sierra Pacific Power office to determine of gas is available in your area.

2. After the high pressure test and Manometer test have been completed by your plumber on the house line, and the City/County inspection has been called into Sierra Pacific Power, your meter will be set. To check on the status of your meter set, please contact the Sierra Pacific Power Contractor Hot Line at: 775-834-5590.

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Q. How long does it take to have a service and meter installed?
A.    A typical service order should be placed 4-6 weeks before natural gas is required at the site, assuming the gas main has already been installed. Larger load requirements may necessitate a longer lead-time in order to procure suitable metering equipment. As much lead time as possible is appreciated, so please incorporate this into your work plan schedule.

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Q. What site requirements need to be met for service piping and
 meter set-up?

A.    The following requirements help Sierra Pacific Power assure that the service piping and meter set-up are not put at risk during the ongoing construction activities on your site:

Soil is compacted to within 6" of final grade

Service path and meter location are clearly marked and free of obstructions

Construction activities do not jeopardize the safety of the meter set-up

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Q.  What pressure can I get?

A.    Standard delivery pressure is 7" w.c., however, you can request a different pressure on the RFA up to 10 psig. Pressure requirements above 10 psig may be considered but will require Sierra Pacific Power Gas engineering design approval.

Q. How do I initiate a service request with Sierra Pacific Power?
Contact Sierra Pacific Power toll-free within Nevada at 1-888-633-3797 with your request to install new electric or gas service, or to increase or relocate your existing electric or gas service.

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Q. What information is required to request service?

A. Full address (street number and name) of project's location

Company name (if applicable)

Contact name

Phone number(s) where the contact(s) can be reached

Name of development and lot number (developers only)

Type of service requested (new, increased, relocated, or temporary service)

Target completion date for service

Copy of your site plans (minimum scale of 100 feet = 1 inch)

Written approval by the authority having jurisdiction (i.e., federal, state or city)

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Q. What happens after I submit the electric service application?

A. Your job will be assigned to an Sierra Pacific Power Utility Design Coordinator who will contact you about your job. You may have to supply additional information to ensure we are able to provide you with the type of service you are requesting. The Sierra Pacific Power Utility Design Coordinator will provide you with a job tracking number commonly referred to as a work request number. This number is our primary mechanism for tracking the status of your project. Please refer to this number when making inquiries about your project.

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Q. How much notice is needed to install new electric service from the street to the home or business?

A. Provided all service requirements have been met, Sierra Pacific Power's commitment is to install electric service within 5 business days after receiving final approval from the city or town-wiring inspector.

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Q. How soon should I notify Sierra Pacific Power of my intention to upgrade/relocate my service?

A. Application of any new service, temporary service, or the addition or alteration to an existing service should be made (preferably in writing) as far in advance as possible. This is to allow time for engineering, ordering of materials, obtaining the necessary easements or grants of location (if required), and the scheduling of public hearings by the appropriate governmental agency and for scheduling and performing the construction work itself. Sierra Pacific Power must obtain written permission from the governmental agency or property owner before construction can begin. A plot plan indicating the location of building(s) or addition(s) and proposed service location should be included along with new electric load data.

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Q. What information do I need to check the status of a work (service) request? 

A. When calling your Sierra Pacific Power Utility Design Coordinator assigned to your particular job, please be ready to provide the work request number, the address of the job, and if applicable, the date the final wiring inspection occurred. 

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Q. How can I find out more information about Sierra Pacific Power's metering requirements? 

A. You can find all information about Sierra Pacific Power's metering requirements by referring to the Electric and Gas service and Metering section.

Q. When should I apply for gas service?

A. An application for new or additional gas service, or an alteration to an existing service, should be made as far in advance as possible to ensure adequate time for engineering and construction details to be arranged. 

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Q. Is there a cost for a gas service?

A. For most residential customers located on a gas main, up to 75 feet of service line is provided at no charge. Feel free to contact your sales Utility Design Coordinator for more information.

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Q. Do I have to submit a deposit?

A. non-residential customers will be asked for a deposit if any of the following exist:

New account with Sierra Pacific Power

Revised service due to increased load

Bills more than 45 days past due twice in the last 18 months

Accounts with a previous service shutoff for non-payment.

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Q. Where can I learn about construction specifications, or other Sierra Pacific Power gas service policies?

A. Right here on our web site. Simply download the Gas Service Requirements (PDF) information.

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Q. Does Sierra Pacific Power sell gas equipment?

A. No. Equipment is available through various local vendors.

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Q. Does Sierra Pacific Power remove oil tanks?

A. No. Removal of existing oil tanks can be arranged through your local governing agency having jurisdiction.

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Q. When are easements required?

A, In the event Sierra Pacific Power must extend a gas main or gas service line through private property, the owner must supply an easement to Sierra Pacific Power without charge to Sierra Pacific Power, to allow the line to be installed. The purpose of the easement is to obtain legal permission from an owner to allow Sierra Pacific Power to install and service our facilities.

Builders must also supply easements for common driveways within their developments or in any case where the property on which the gas line is located will eventually belong to more than one owner. The easement must be recorded and filed by the customer with the appropriate Registry of Deeds. The customer must provide a copy of both the legal description along with the appropriate site plan to Sierra Pacific Power before installation of the gas line begins.

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Q. When should I contact Call Before You Dig?

A. Whether you’re excavating, planting a new tree or putting on an addition, be sure to call 811 the new nationwide phone number to call to before you dig to locate utility lines. Learn more at the 811 website.

However, 811 may not yet be fully functional in all areas. If so, call 1-800-227-2600. before your dig.

This system was created to promote public safety, avoid costly damage to underground facilities, and reduce cost and time of notifications. Both federal and state laws require contractors and homeowners to notify the appropriate utility companies before excavating. Dig Safe simplifies this process by requiring only one phone call.

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