Going Underground: The Homeowner’s Guide to Flipping Your Electrical Service
Tired of looking at ugly overhead power lines cutting through your backyard? You are not alone. Many homeowners are choosing to convert their electrical service from overhead to underground. Beyond the immediate boost in curb appeal, burying your power lines protects your home from wind, and fallen branches, drastically reducing storm-related power outages.
If you are ready to make the switch, here is what the process actually looks like.
The Conversion Process in 4 Steps
- Contact Utility Company: The utility provider owns the lines up to your meter. They must approve the plan, mark existing lines, and dictate specific trenching depth and conduit requirements. Good Vibrations Electric will be there every step of the way and coordinate with the utility company directly.
- Hire a Licensed Electrician: You need a pro to install a new, underground-rated meter socket on your home and run the wiring from the house down into the trench. Look no further than Good Vibrations Electric. We have the knowledge and experience to complete this project for you.
- Dig the Trench: Someone needs to dig a trench from the utility pole to your meter box. Your electrician or utility company may handle this, or you can hire a separate contractor to save on labor.
- Permit and Inspection: Before the utility company drops the new lines and hooks up your power, a local city or county inspector must sign off on the electrician’s work. GVE will take care of permitting and facilitating county inspections.
