NEW MEMBER/LINE EXTENSIONS
If you need electric service at a location that is not currently served, you will need to contact the Engineering department at Sangre De Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA). They can help you through the process of having a new line extension installed.
Costs - The cost of installing a service varies greatly depending on many factors. Type of terrain, soil conditions, rights-of-way, etc. can cause the cost to escalate. Below is an average cost for construction of new power lines.
- Overhead - single phase $40,000 per mile
- Underground - single phase $55,000 per mile
In addition to the cost of the line extension, the line being tapped may be under contract, or have special line extension tap fees associated with it, which requires a portion of that line be paid by the new customer tapping into it. The Engineering department will determine if that condition exist as part of the design process.
Cost of Construction -
Engineering Fee
The prospective consumer shall pay a $250 engineering fee prior to the start of any engineering estimate for staking. This includes estimates for staking for Permanent and Temporary Plant changes.
a) The engineering fee will be credited toward the Costs.
b) If the consumer requests changes to the Association's design after the design is finalized by the Association, the fee will be forfeited to the Association and an additional fee will be required to perform the redesign. The engineering fee for the redesign will be $150.
c) If the work order is closed because the consumer decides not to proceed with the construction due to inactivity for six months from the date of the request for fees and agreement is sent to the consumer, the fee will be forfeited to the Association.
Payment
a) Payment of 50% of the Costs shall be required prior to scheduling construction when the prospective consumer has obtained proof of water, septic, and building permits. At the discretion of the Association, the applicant shall also provide the Association with a promissory note and deed of trust on the property prior to scheduling of construction. Payment of the remaining Costs shall be required upon material completion of the project. The Association shall release the promissory note and deed of trust when final payment is made.
b) If an applicant wishes to expedite construction of a project prior to obtaining water, septic, and building permits, payment of 100% of the Costs shall be required prior to scheduling.
c) All payments referred to in this section are non-refundable.
Scheduling An Appointment - The first step in getting a new service installed is to contact the SDCEA office and schedule an appointment with a staking engineer. When calling to schedule the appointment, the following information will be required:
- Name
- Mailing Address
- Telephone Number
Work
Home
Cellular
Other
- Location of Requested Service (at least one of the following)
Address
Lot number, Subdivision name and filing number if applicable
Legal description; example - NE1/4 SW1/4 Section 31, Township 12 South, Range 79 West of the 6th P.M., Chaffee County, Colorado
Note: Lead times for appointments vary from one to five weeks depending on work load. Please call as early as possible to schedule.
On-Site Meeting - When meeting the staking engineer at the location, the following information will be needed to design the service:
- A copy of the subdivision plat map, if the service is for a new subdivision, or property map indicating utility easements or rights-of-way.
- Electric Service Requirements
- Size
- 100 Amp.
- 200 Amp.
- Other
- Type
- Meter on house (supplied by SDCEA, installed by electrician)
- Meter on pole (supplied and installed by SDCEA)
- Meter on pedestal (supplied and installed by SDCEA - underground only)
- Location Of Service
- Near house
- On property line
- On house
- Near road
- Electrical requirements of any of the following appliances
- Jacuzzi/Hot Tub
- Kiln
- Heating (Very important to know electric heater sizes and if Time of Use rate will apply.)
- Air-conditioner units (3-ton or greater)
- Heavy machinery; such as electric motors greater than 5 HP, arc welder, etc.
- Location of proposed residence and other planned structures on property
- Construction permits - required if a portion of the job cost is to go on contract.
- Building permit
- Septic or sewer permit
- Well or water tap permit
- Type of Construction Requested
- Overhead
- Underground
- Combination of overhead and underground
Note: Design of the service takes from one to two weeks depending on the scope of the job and workload. That time can be longer if easements are required to be obtained, state highway or railroad crossing permits are required, or if BLM, Forest Service or state land rights-of-way will be required.
Construction of Service - Once the job has been designed, all necessary paperwork completed and required payment received, the job is released to the Operations department and scheduled for construction. The lead time once received by Operations can vary from one to eight weeks depending on seasonal conditions and work load. Normal winter conditions prohibit the installation of underground cable from November 5 to April 15 due to ground frost. Those dates also vary greatly based on several factors: elevation, winter temperatures, ground moisture content, snow cover, slope of terrain, and shaded areas.
Electrical Inspection - An inspection by the Sate Electrical Inspector is required before SDCEA can install a meter in the new service. Contact the State Electrical Inspector's office in the appropriate county where new service has been requested (Lake, Chaffee, Fremont, Custer or Saguache).
