If you're building your own home, click these links to jump down this page for information on starting your electric service:
Application for service
When you’re ready to make your initial request for service, call our PGE Service Desk at one of the
following phone numbers:
Portland area: 503-736-5450
Marion/Polk/Yamhill counties: 503-463-4348
Our Service Desk hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please allow for a minimum 60-day planning period for scheduling purposes. Be prepared with the following information when requesting service:
- Type of space heating (kW rating if electric).
- Type of water heating (kW rating if electric).
- Size and starting current of heat pump or air conditioner, if either will be installed.
- Square footage of home.
- Size (amperage) of electric service.
- Voltage of service. Normal residential voltage is120/240 volts single phase.
- Number of services requested including separate services needed for house, shop, well, or other buildings.
- Scaled plot plan showing property lines, location of
building(s), location of obstacles to service lines, and preferred location of transformer, service and meter base.
- Date requested for service installation.
- Names of electrician and builder.
- Completed Request for Service Form (PDF*).
Temporary service
For your convenience, PGE makes temporary electric service available for home construction until permanent service is installed. Two options are available:
Enhanced temporary (“Gold”) service
An unmetered service pedestal with 20 amp 120Vand 240V plugs. This is for residential construction use only (not for permanently installed appliances or living quarters), available in underground service areas for a one-time installation fee.
Standard temporary service
A metered service using customer-owned service equipment and requiring an electrical permit. There is an installation fee plus monthly usage billings for this service.
Meter base locations
Permanent meter bases may be installed on the front or side of a house (side locations must be within
10 feet of the front of the house). Other options — such as locating a meter on a post near the transformer or on a separate building — may be discussed with your Service and Design Consultant. All meter base locations need to be approved by PGE.
Transformer locations
Padmount transformers must be located within 15 feet from an all-season paved or rocked driveway, to allow boom truck access for installation or replacement. The location must also be at least ten feet from a combustible structure (this includes a building with metal siding on wood framing) to comply with fire codes.
Our Service and Design Consultants generally attempt to locate transformers close to the meter base to provide the best quality electric service. The transformer location needs to be at final grade and at proper clearance from future developments such as parking pads and shops. Costs for relocating transformers are typically the customer’s responsibility.
Conduit and vault specifications
You are responsible for all specified conduit and vaults, including installation. Conduit is required for most underground PGE conductors. Following is a list of typical conduit specifications:
- Gray-colored, Schedule 40, electrical grade PVC.
- All joints must be glued and a 500 lb-rated pull string installed after the glue has dried.
- Conduit diameter, number of conduits, and trench depth and width are specified for each individual service.
- Minimum conduit depth is 36” for electric lines only; 48” deep if gas, telephone and/or cable television lines are in the same trench.
- Vaults or junction boxes may be required for long service runs or when conductors are spliced. (PGE will provide vault specifications and installation instructions when vaults are required.)
See more information on conduit and vault specifications in our Electric Power Installation Requirements section.
Permits
Local ordinances and state laws require appropriate electrical permits for all construction projects. Before we inspect and connect service, the electric installation must be approved by the city or county inspection authority.
Customers are required to hire PGE-approved contractors to perform all work covered by PGE permits. This is important because in some jurisdictions, PGE obtains the permits for trenching, road bores or installation of vaults within the public right of way. In other jurisdictions, the customer may obtain these permits. PGE-approved contractors are not required for work performed on private property.
Costs for service
Line Extension Cost
This includes PGE service design, inspection, labor and materials to install new, additional or upgraded electric service. We need the load (amount of electricity required for equipment) and plot information to be submitted before this cost can be determined.
Line Extension Allowance
We help cover the cost of connecting you to power by providing a Line Extension Allowance. This is a portion of the cost that is covered at our expense. Your costs are the amount of the Line Extension Cost less the amount of the Line Extension Allowance. The Line Extension Allowance does not apply to trenching costs.
Trenching
This includes your costs for all trenching, pads, vaults, road crossings and conduit. (PGE will specify private contractors for work within the right-of-way when a permit is required. See the information under Permits.)
Miscellaneous costs
These costs include but are not limited to temporary service fees and right-of way permit fees, which will be billed to you when applicable.
The total amount due to PGE will be specified on the Line Extension Cost Agreement, which will be sent to you after the job is designed. This amount must be paid before our PGE crews can be scheduled to begin installation of service.
Design changes
If changes in the design or service agreement are required, please contact us immediately to set up alternative arrangements. Additional charges may result from design changes.
Overhead or underground service?
You may choose whether the new service facilities will be overhead or underground, depending on the zoning requirements and existing PGE facilities at the site. New facilities must be underground in areas zoned for underground utilities or where the existing PGE distribution system is underground. Where building codes allow overhead electric facilities, either overhead or underground facilities may be installed. Factors to consider when choosing between overhead or underground facilities include trenching costs, line extension costs, appearance and future maintenance (such as tree trimming). New line extensions must be either overhead or underground, not a combination of both.
Do I need an easement?
We may require easements for some electric facilities. An easement is required for all PGE facilities that are or will be located on third-party parcels such as a neighbor’s property or when PGE determines an easement to be necessary.
Although a shorter or less expensive route may be possible by connecting to electric facilities on a neighbor’s property, another service route must be used if an easement is not provided. All payments to a third party for required easements are the responsibility of the applicant. Our PGE staff are available to assist you in writing and recording any required easements.
Scheduling service installation
Before scheduling service installation, our PGE service inspectors will check to make sure that all service requirements including electrical, trench and conduit inspections have been completed. All requirements need to be met before PGE inspectors can approve the service.
Installation of service is normally scheduled five to ten working days after all inspections are approved, provided all applicable payments have been made, easements obtained, necessary tree trimming completed, and site access issues resolved (such as driveway installations). This allows time for us to order and receive materials and to schedule needed equipment.
While every effort is made to adhere to published schedules, occasionally our crews must respond to outages or emergencies. Notification will be made as soon as possible if a scheduled crew is delayed or re-scheduled.
More information
For detailed specifications, see our Electric Power Installation Requirements.
If you have any questions, call the office that serves your area:
Portland Office (Portland Metro area)
4328 SE 82nd Ave., Suite 2050
Portland, OR 97266
503-736-5450 (Phone)
503-736-5451 (Fax)
503-736-5452 (Fax)
Salem Office (Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties)
4245 Kale Street NE
Salem, OR 97305
503-463-4348 (Phone)
503-463-4308 (Fax)
*Note: You will need the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view and print PDF files. Visit the Adobe Web site for downloading instructions.
