Existing Electrical Service Chronological Process Guide

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


This page is for customers who know their location has existing electrical service and need a hook up. The table below outlines the steps that need to be taken and shows which step is the responsibility of the customer and which is the responsibility of Sierra Pacific.

Once you have read this page and you want to establish service, you can read the steps required to establish electric service or electric and gas service.

For the design and construction process to flow smoothly both the company and the customer must complete their tasks properly and on time. To avoid delays and possible extra costs, please make sure that your application package is as complete and accurate as possible. It's best to submit your application to us when you apply for your building permit. This is also a good time to contact other utilities (phone and cable TV) and apply for service with them.

Note: Adequate time must be provided in your construction schedule for Sierra's allocation of materials and scheduling of crews and for you to complete your portion of Sierra Pacific Power facilities.

Please keep in mind, a checklist for a successful Electric project includes:

 

Chronological Action Steps Customer Utility

Provides sufficient notice of intent to build, and makes formal application with Utility. Large projects tend to require longer lead times.

Use the appropriate application from the list below to tell us about your basic service needs, such as the electric appliances or equipment that you plan to install, the project's location, construction timing and contact information.

Single Family Residential and Single Phase Commercial
Apartments and Three Phase Commercial
Subdivisions (5 or more units)

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Provides credit or security information.

If you are a new customer to Sierra Pacific Power you may have to provide a deposit to establish new service. If you are an existing customer with good credit history, simply refer to your existing service address when our customer service department contacts you regarding deposits.

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Provides required information including engineering design drawings to begin Utility design stage. These drawings must be submitted at the time application is made and must include:

 

NEW SERVICE APPLICATION PROCESS

Getting your project built means investing time, effort, and the financial resources needed to make it a success. Because power and gas are such integral parts of any development, Sierra Pacific will work closely with you to ensure you have utilities at your facility when you need them. Most of the information you will need before, during and after construction of your gas and electric facilities can be found on Sierra’s Construction Website. Please go to http://www.sierrapacific.com/services/business/new_construction/ any time you have construction design and installation questions, need forms, or need clarification on our processes.

Once you have submitted your project drawings to the City/ County building department for permits it is time to apply for gas and electric service with Sierra. In order to accomplish this you will need to review and provide items listed on the following forms which are also available on our website at: http://www.sierrapacific.com/services/business/new_construction/

  • Residential and/or Commercial Project Submittal Checklists

RESIDENTIAL REQUIRED INFORMATION:

FULL SET OF CIVIL DRAWINGS TO INCLUDE:

SITE PLAN, VICINITY MAP, EASEMENTS, STREET NAMES, LOT NUMBERS/ADDRESSES, ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBERS, BUILDING ENVELOPE, BUILDING FOOTPRINTS, RIGHT-OF-WAY (PARCEL/CENTERLINE), GRADING, SEWER/STORM DRAIN LOCATIONS, DRIVEWAY LOCATIONS, PARCELS, AND SIDEWALKS

STREET IMPROVEMENT SECTION WITH PUE (STREET PROFILE)

UTILITY PLAN:  INCLUDING WATER FACILITIES

PLUMBING PLANS:  GAS METER LOCATION, GAS LOAD

ELECTRICAL PLANS:  PANEL LOCATON/SIZE, VOLTAGE REQUESTED

ARCHITECTURAL:  BUILDING ELEVATIONS, METER LOCATIONS (TOWNHOUSE, APARTMENT, CONDOMINIUM)

LANDSCAPING:  IRRIGATION PLANS, ELECTRIC IRRIGATION METER LOCATION

PHASING REQUIREMENTS

SCALE OF DRAWINGS

PUMP STATIONS OR LIFT STATIONS:  LOCATION, SINGLE PHASE OR 3 PHASE, VOLTAGE AND PANEL SIZE

DISK OF CIVIL DRAWINGS (INCLUDING SITE PLAN)

RIGHT OF WAY DOCUMENTATION

  • County APN
  • Assessor's Map
  • Parcel Map
  • Any existing easements on the parcel
  • Title report on property if available
  • Map of any existing facilities on the propert

                                    COMMERCIAL REQUIRED INFORMATION

FULL SET OF CIVIL DRAWINGS TO INCLUDE:

SITE PLAN, VICINITY MAP, EASEMENTS, APN NUMBER, STREET NAMES, LOT NUMBERS/ADDRESSES, BUILDING ENVELOPE, BUILDING FOOTPRINTS, RIGHT-OF-WAY (PARCEL/CENTERLINE), GRADING, SEWER/STORM DRAIN LOCATIONS, DRIVEWAY LOCATIONS, STREET IMPROVEMENT SECTION WITH PUE, PARCELS, SIDEWALKS

UTILITY PLAN:  PROPOSED LOCATION OF UTILITIES, INCLUDING WATER FACILITIES

MECHANICAL PLAN

PLUMBING PLANS:  TOTAL GAS LOAD AND INDIVIDUAL LOADS PER METER, METER LOCATIONS

ELECTRICAL PLANS:  PANEL SCHEDULES, ONE-LINE, MANUFACTURER’S SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE, TERMINATION CABINET, LOCATION OF SERVICE, VOLTAGE OF EACH PANEL

ARCHITECTURAL:  BUILDING ELEVATIONS, METER LOCATIONS

LANDSCAPING:  IRRIGATION PLANS, ELECTRICAL IRRIGATION METER LOCATION

PHASING REQUIREMENTS

DISK OF CIVIL DRAWINGS (INCLUDING SITE PLAN)

RIGHT OF WAY DOCUMENTATION

  • County APN
  • Assessor's Map
  • Parcel Map
  • Any existing easements on the parcel
  • Title report on property if available
  • Map of any existing facilities on the property

 

X

  

Pays engineering advance so Sierra can begin design

Depending on the scope of your project, an engineering advance may be required. The engineering advance covers our expenses for revisions to, or cancellations of, service requests. When your project is complete, we will either refund the deposit to you or credit it against the job. Project deposits are also required for any preliminary cost estimates that you may request. A breakdown by scope of project can be found on the service application.

X

 

Obtains all necessary permits from the appropriate inspection authority

Building permits for your construction project are required from the local city or county authority having jurisdiction in your area. It’s a good idea to determine who that authority is and contact them to discuss any permitting required when you make application with the Utility. A list of governmental agencies can be found on the Contacts page.

X

 

Reviews service entrance section drawings for approval

 

X

Determines the service route and engineers the electrical system up to the customer’s meter location

Nevada Public Utility Commission rules state that Sierra Pacific Power must install electric facilities along the shortest, most practical route. If you want another route because of aesthetic or other non-financial reasons, you'll normally pay the extra cost.

If we need to install poles and power lines, we'll need a clear path on your property. You or one of our contractors can trim or remove trees at your expense before construction begins. The path around the power lines will need to stay clear in the future, too, for safety and access so plan ahead. Always think of the size of your trees at maturity, so plant the right tree in the right place. Consult a licensed arborist, a nursery or us for suggestions on appropriate trees.

 

X

Specifies the trench (if applicable) and equipment locations

 

X

Prepares construction design

Nevada Public Utility Commission rules state that Sierra Pacific Power must install electric facilities along the shortest, most practical route. If you want another route because of aesthetic or other non-financial reasons, you'll normally pay the extra cost.

Sierra Pacific Power identifies costs, prepares construction drawings, orders critical materials with long lead-times, and coordinates your service route with other utilities.

Sierra Pacific Power will design the project in accordance with the tariff schedules and Sierra Pacific Power standards and practices, while meeting all governmental requirements.

Sierra Pacific Power will accommodate your design requests whenever possible. Your utility design consultant must approve all design revisions.

Your utility design consultant will provide you with all necessary standards and installation procedures for your portion of the utility construction.

Sierra Pacific Power designs are “preliminary” at this stage and contingent on obtaining government approval, permits and easements, if required.

 

X

Prepares line extension agreement and mails to customer

You will receive a line extension agreement for any facility extension required. Go here to see Rule 9 filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

Once service routes have been established, materials and labor have been estimated, your utility design consultant will prepare the necessary line extension agreement required to serve your project and mail it to you.

You need to execute contracts and advance monies as agreed upon with Sierra Pacific Power’s utility design consultant.

Sierra Pacific Power will handle any refunding of contract advances. We will review contracts on a regular basis for possible refunds.

Line extension contracts are in effect for no longer than five years from the contract execution date.

How quickly you return your signed agreements and any required advances directly affects the timing of your project. We need to receive all contracts, payments, and rights-of-way, before we can schedule your project for construction.

 

X

Provides acceptable easements on his property. Additional easements may be required on adjacent properties

Rights-of-way may be needed for service to your project, depending on the length and location of the service route. If so, you may be asked to contact your neighbors when the rights-of-way are needed from them. Sierra Pacific Power will prepare the appropriate documents and get the needed signatures. For many projects, securing a right-of-way could be the single biggest factor in arranging for the shortest, least expensive route for electric lines to your project. Good relations with your neighbors can help!

Sierra Pacific Power will prepare all easements and required permits needed from federal, state and local agencies. We will also prepare private property easement documents (third party). Executed documents will need to be obtained prior to construction.

Please note that acquisition of Bureau of Land Management, NDOT, and/or UPRR Permits may require up to 18+ months.

X

 

May need to pay a cash advance for Sierra Pacific Power construction. This may or may not be refundable

Per Rule 9 filed with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission the Applicant shall pay to the Utility the full amount of any Advance at the time of execution of the Line Extension Agreement. Rule 9 further explains the components of the advance.

X

 

Signs the necessary agreements and returns them to Utility

X

 

Provides property corners and grade stakes

X

 

Stakes the pole and anchor locations

 

X

Prepares easement documents for pole line extension

 

X

Obtains signed easements from adjacent property owners for pole line extension

X

 

Stakes the trench (if applicable) and equipment locations.

Volume 17 section 3 and section 7

X

 

Calls 1-800-227-2600 to identify any existing underground utilities

Volume 17 section 1

X

 

Provides the trench (if applicable) per Sierra Pacific Power design.

Trenching standards.

X

 

Inspects the trench. Approves if per Sierra Pacific Power design

 

X

Provides conduit, pull tape, equipment pads, and any other required substructures.

View SPPC Standards that apply to your project.

X

 

Inspects conduit and substructures. Approves if per Sierra Pacific Power specs.

Conduit Standards

 

X

Schedules crew(s) for construction of its facilities

 

X

Schedules meter panel inspection with local governing agency.

Provide 48 HR notice. You or your electrician will need to have the appropriate city or county agency with jurisdiction inspect your electric panel prior to any meter set. Sierra will NOT set a meter without receiving approval from the city or county inspector.

X

 

Obtains City or County electrical approval (panel OK)

Inspections on your service panel are required by the state, or by a city or county building department; we must receive approval from that agency before we can set a meter. The address provided to Sierra Pacific Power and the address provided to the building department must match exactly.

Many building departments relay this information to us at the end of each business day. If you call us on the same day of your inspection, we most likely will not have a record of the inspection yet.

X

 

Receives City or County approval

 

X

Permanently marks address on the structure. For the types of markings approved by Sierra Pacific Power, contact your utility design consultant.

X

 

Sets a meter and energizes the service. Only authorized Sierra Pacific Power employees shall energize a service.

View SPPC Standards that apply to your project.

 

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