Getting New Home Electricity Service
If you are building a new home electricity service is something that you will need to inquire about through your local power company.
If you reside in an area that is deregulated then you can contact the Public Utilities Commission for your state. There you will find a complete list of the various providers that are licensed and able to serve your particular address. If you live in an area that is regulated then you can still contact the PUC or Public Utilities Commission to find out which power provider is designated to deliver your home electricity. Because of the regulated energy, this will not leave you a choice. You will only have choices if you reside in a deregulated state. Then you can comparison shop among those that are available to find the best rates. In a deregulated area, the only companies that are exempt from this are those that are municipally owned or a cooperative that is membership owned.
If you undergoing new construction then you will need to find out all of the appropriate paperwork that you will need before you contact your power company to schedule installation of home electricity. You will be responsible for arranging to have line ran from your pole to your home and you will more than likely be billed for the amount of power line that is necessary. You will also have to make sure that you have all of the proper permits, zoning permits and inspections prior to the power company arriving. Knowing these things can make this a very smooth transition.
Your meter is essential because it records your usage. This usage is translated back to the power company and then your monthly statement is billed to your account. You are billed by the kilowatts of power that you use, but you are also billed for other things that you may not have thought of, such as all of the overhead that is necessary to keep your power company up and running efficiently. Since you only pay the same rate that it costs for the utility to produce the power, the other costs are covered in the fees that you see on your statement each month.
After you have your pole and wiring installed, your field engineer will do an inspection and deem your dwelling ready to be connected to home electricity.
Your standard residential voltage is 110 and 220 volts. This is the voltage that is required to power appliances such as your range, oven, refrigerator, television and all of the other things in your home. Should you need to have a higher voltage installed for a garage or other type of building that you may use for work, you should call ahead and get instructions on what you need to do and how to go about scheduling this through your power company.
While they are at your residence they can also offer helpful tips on how to avoid overhead power lines when you are working outside and what to do in the event that you spot a downed line. They can help you with conservation tips that will help you save money as well.
If you are thinking about switching from your electric company to a new electricity supplier or