March
2016
Electric Underground Service
Installation Requirements
Builder/Owner/Developer Responsibilities
PSE requires the following conditions to make the worksite construction
ready ahead of scheduled service:
Permits
Electrical permit must be approved and the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
sticker must be affixed on the electric meter base.
Trench Work
The worksite must be prepared to PSE specifications.
o The site must be at final grade or have final grade marked in the area of
construction and trench line route.
For unique site preparation requirements, contact your Project Manager.
o Installation of trench, work pits, sand for bedding and shading, and conduit
must meet PSE specifications.
o Conduit for electric service lines shall be used under all paved surfaces, decks,
rockeries, bulkheads, or obstacles to access the service line.
Gas Service Other Than PSE
If gas service will not be provided by PSE, please consult with the other utility for
any additional clearance requirements. If any clearances conflict with PSE’s
electric service clearances,use the greater of the conflicting distances.
Customer Provided Materials
Builder/Developer must provide:
o Conduit
o 3/8I minimum diameter pull rope
o Backfill
o Shading
Meter Location
An acceptable meter location that allows for required access and clearance shall be provided.
o Acceptable electric meter locations include the front wall of the building facing
typical public access, or the front 1/3 of the side wall.
o PSE electric meters require 18 inches of maintenance clearance on either side of
the electric meter and 36 inches in front of the meter.
Call PSE’s Customer Construction Services: 1-888-321-7779 or visit PSE.com/CustomerConstruction
for questions or information not covered in this handout.
Become familiar with what can delay your project and cause it to be red-tagged:
Construction debris or water in the trench or work pits.
Trenches excavated to the incorrect depth.
Failure to maintain minimum separations between utilities and drainage pipes.
Sand and backfill material are not available, inaccessible, or inadequate.
Meter location is not acceptable or fails to meet minimum clearances.
Permits are not approved or visible.
Conduit color and size are incorrect, or conduit is installed improperly.
Effective on: 03/01/16
Canceling: 03/01/15
Page 1 of 6
Meter Locations and Clearances
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18I
Min
Front Wall
6i Max
4i Min
18I
1i
Walkway
Driveway
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Typical Public Access
3i
Electric Meter
Height
Aboveground
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Front 1/3 of
Side Wall
Front 1/3 of
Side Wall
Any Obstruction
Meters must be located where they can be easily
identified and accessed by PSE.
Meters may be located on the front wall of the house
relative to the driveway, or on the front third of either
side wall relative to the driveway (see diagram above).
Grounding Rod(s)
per NEC
36I Clearance
in Front of Meter
Meters shall not be located outside the shaded area
in the diagram above.
Electric Meter Base Wiring and Service Conduit Placement
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No Customer
Conduit
No Customer
Conduit
Alternate Neutral
Lug Position
No Customer
Conduit
Customer Installed Conduit
PSE's Service Line
Effective on: 03/01/16
Canceling: 03/01/15
Page 2 of 6
No Customer
Conduit
No Customer
Conduit
Preferred Entrance to Panel for Customer Wire
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CAUTION!
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No Customer
Conduit
No Customer Wire in this Area
PSE's service conduit must not enter the center
of the meter base.
Customer Installed Conduit
PSE's Service Line
Trenching for Electric Service Lines in Conduit and Direct‐Buried Installations
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Electric Service Cable Direct‐Buried Installation
Electric Service Cable in Conduit Installation
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Final
Grade
12I Typical
24I Min
(6I Min)
(To Excavated Dirt Pile)
Final
Grade
Backfill for
Conduit
Free of rocks
larger than 8I
in diameter.
24I Min
to
36I Max
Cover *
12I Typical
24I Min
(6I Min)
(To Excavated Dirt Pile)
Final Backfill for
Direct‐Buried
See requirements
below.
24I Min
to
36I Max
Cover *
3I Sand Shading
3I Sand Bedding
Electric Service Cable
Direct‐Buried
Electric Service Cable in Conduit
* Check with local permitting agency for depth of cover requirements for any PSE facility installed
in public right-of-way. 36I cover may be required over PSE facilities.
Backfill Requirements for Direct‐Buried Installations
Sand Bedding: The customer shall provide and install clean sand to a minimum depth of 3I prior to electric service cable installation.
Sand Shading: The customer shall provide additional clean sand in piles that are readily accessible near the trench. This shading sand
is to be installed by the PSE crew after direct-buried electric installation. Enough sand shall be provided so that the installation can be
covered to a depth of 3I.
Final Backfill For Direct Bury: The backfill layer above the sand shading shall be soil that is free from rocks larger than 8I in diameter,
construction debris, glass, sharp rocks, and frozen clods. The standard shading depth shall be per the trench figures shown above.
Customer-owned Facilities included in the trench: Please contact PSE directly for clearance requirements.
Conduit Requirements for Electric Service
PSE recommends the use of conduit for all electric service installations.
o Conduit will be required when the service length is 100 feet or less, or where the service line could become obstructed
and difficult to access, inhibiting direct access to the service line cable for maintenance, repair, or replacement purposes.
PSE will install underground electric service lines in customer provided conduit that runs from the meter riser to the
property line power stub. Customer-provided conduit may be continuous or discontinuous for runs of 100 feet or less.
Customer-provided conduit must be discontinuous for runs in excess of 100 feet.
Electric Meter Base and Conduit Service Riser Installation Requirements
The electric meter base shall be secured to a stud or structural member.
The electric service riser shall be fastened securely to a structural wall using a minimum of two conduit straps.
Reducer couplings shall not be used at the meter base.
The sum total of the degrees of bends in the electric conduit run (including the bend required at the bottom of the meter
base riser) shall not exceed 180_.
o The customer assumes responsibility for damage caused by water entering a customer’s meter base or equipment.
o
o
o
o
Continuous Conduit Size and Dimension Requirements for Electric Services 100 feet or Less
Meter Base
Service Wire
Service Panel Size
Min Lug Size Bottom Knockout
Size
200 Amp Without Heat Pump
4/0
2‐1/2I
1/0 or 4/0
200 Amp With Heat Pump
4/0
2‐1/2I
4/0
320 Amp and Larger
350‐kcmil
3I
4/0 or 350‐kcmil
Conduit Service Riser
Diameter & Type
2‐1/2I Grey Sch 40 PVC
2‐1/2I Grey Sch 40 PVC
3I Grey Sch 40 PVC
Conduit Diameter & Type
2‐1/2I Grey Sch 40 PVC
2‐1/2I Grey Sch 40 PVC
3I Grey Sch 40 PVC
Minimum
Bend Radius
24I
24I
24I
Non‐Continuous Conduit Size and Dimension Requirements for Electric Services Greater Than 100 feet
Meter Base
Service Wire
Service Panel Size
Min Lug Size Bottom Knockout
Size
200 Amp Without Heat Pump
4/0
2‐1/2I
1/0 or 4/0
200 Amp With Heat Pump
4/0
2‐1/2I
4/0
320 Amp and Larger
350‐kcmil
3I
4/0 or 350‐kcmil
Effective on: 03/01/16
Canceling: 03/01/15
Page 4 of 6
Conduit Service Riser
Diameter & Type
2‐1/2I Grey Sch 40 PVC
2‐1/2I Grey Sch 40 PVC
3I Grey Sch 40 PVC
Conduit Diameter & Type
3I Grey Sch 40 PVC
3I Grey Sch 40 PVC
3I Grey Sch 40 PVC
Minimum
Bend Radius
24I
24I
24I
1
3
2
8
7
Meter and Service Connections Work Pit
6
GAS
TV & TEL
POWER
12I Typical
12I Typical
48I
Electric Meter
Gas
Meter
FINISHED WALL
* See Form 3060 for separation requirements
to other utilities.
Work Pit Dimensions
When non‐continuous conduit is installed
*
30I to 48I
(Approx)
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ÇÇ
ÇÇ
ÇÇ
*
12I Min
9
5
4
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Conduit Elbows − Customer Provided. 24I min bend radius. See Conduit
Requirements for Electric Service on Page 4.
Electric Service Conduit − Customer Provided.
Gas Meter − Utility Provided.
5
6
7
6
4
5
3
1
4i Min
2
11
Non‐Continuous Conduit
10
5
Detailed information on choosing between continuous or non‐continuous conduit
options can be found in Chapter 2 of PSE's Single‐Family Residential Handbook.
NOTE: Continuous conduit is
restricted to distances of 100i
or less.
6
4
3
2
1
Continuous Conduit
Non‐Continuous and Continuous Conduit Options
11 Electric Meter − Utility Provided.
10 1/2 Yard Bedding and Shading Sand − Sand shall be provided on-site by the
customer and placed within hand-shoveling distance to the work pit for bedding
and shading of direct-buried facilities. A larger work pit may require more sand
(see backfill requirements on Page 4). Sand shall be washed, clean, and
free of debris or rocks larger than 1/4I. For non-continuous installations only.
Work Pit − See work pit dimensions detail on this page.
Conduit Straps (2 Minimum) − Customer Provided.
4
9
Conduit Service Riser − Customer Provided.
3
Finish Grade − Finish grade shall be clearly marked.
3/8I Pull Rope − For runs over 60i.
2
8
Electric Meter Base − Customer Provided, and secured to stud
or structural member.
1
Work Pit Legend
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Effective on: 03/01/16
Canceling: 03/01/15
Page 3 of 6
Property Line/Intersection Point Work Pit
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3
A
5
28I to 32I Min Deep
(24I Min Cover)
2
Work Pit Legend
1
2
Electric Service Conduit − Customer Provided.
3
3/4 Yard Bedding and Shading Sand − Sand shall be provided
on-site by the customer and placed within hand-shoveling
distance to the work pit for bedding and shading of direct-buried
facilities. A larger work pit may require more sand (see backfill
requirements in this handout). Sand shall be washed, clean, and
free of debris or rocks larger than 1/4I.
4
Gas Service and Conduit
5
Electric Stub Marker − Utility Provided.
6
Gas Stub Marker − Utility Provided.
7
CATV/TEL
4
A
1
7
6
Pipes and
Wires
Utility Installed
3/8I Pull Rope − For runs over 60i for electric.
Section A-A
Electric and Joint Utility
Work Pit Dimensions
Electric and Joint Utility
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A
12I
POWER
48I
(Approx)
4I
TV & TEL
GAS
12I Min.
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6
48I
(Approx)
Trench to
Building
5
Final Grade
7
A
Electric
Service
Service Intercept Locations
When the Electric Service Trench
Terminates at a Utility Pole:
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RRRRRRR
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PSE Transformer
at Top of Pole
PEDESTAL
PADMOUNT TRANSFORMER
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HANDHOLE
STUBOUT
If you have questions regarding the location or intercept requirements
for your electric service, contact Customer Construction Services or
your Project Manager.
Road
Side
Field
Side
Quadrant 1 Quadrant 2
Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4
5I Min
Utility Pole
Riser Conduit
(PSE Provided)
PSE‐
Provided
Standoff
Bracket &
Conduit
Dig the trench to the quadrant of the pole that is
beneath the existing transformer.
If possible, the trench should end on the quadrant of
the pole that is most protected from vehicular traffic.
Stop the conduit 4 feet from the pole in the work pit
with the pole butt exposed.
Effective on: 03/01/16
Canceling: 03/01/15
Page 5 of 6
Temporary Electric Service Requirements
1
Top of meter base shall not
be above top of structure
8
Items Owned and Installed by Customer
3
2
6i Maximum
5i Preferred
4i Minimum
5i
Max.
1
4I x 4I x 10i continuous single structure
2
2I x 4I bracing (post should be braced from two directions)
3
Meter socket and distribution panel (up to 200 A, 120/240 V)
4
Ground wire, according to the NEC
5
6
Ground rod(s), according to the NEC
Service entrance conductors in accordance with NEC
Items Owned and Installed by PSE
4
7
Transformer, handhole, pedestal, or stubout
8
Meter
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7
2i Min Cover
3i Min
5
6
NOTE: Trench and backfill from meter base to transformer, handhole, pedestal, or stubout is customer provided.
Customer Post,
Meter Base,
and Panel
PSE Stubout
6i Maximum
5i Preferred
4i Minimum
Stubout conduit covering the
temporary connection
NOTE: 4ix4i work pit required to allow
working room for the tools necessary to
connect temporary service
26I
Customer owned temporary
service conductors
4i
4i
PSE Conductor
View a video for the proper preparation of temporary power and installation requirements at this site:
http://PSE.com/ServiceRequirementVideos
Effective on: 03/01/16
Canceling: 03/01/15
Page 6 of 6
E2016 Puget Sound Energy
6080 03/16