Underground Residential Services:
Building a new home? Here are a few things you need to know and do.

Residential Service Application

Each new service requires an electrical permit. Permits are available through City Hall at the Planning, Building and Engineering Department. Each customer (or the person responsible for paying the utility bill) is required to "sign-on" at Utility Billing at City Hall for their Temporary Service. Arrangements are then made to have power hooked up to the home owner's or their electrician's temporary electrical service box.

Submersible Box or Stub Depending on the residential building lot the new home will be constructed on, the permanent electrical service may be from a submersible box or a stub.

For those residential lots serviced by a submersible box, the Electric Department will arrange to dig the trench and lay the electric cable after the backfill has been set around the house foundation. The meter location also needs to be marked on the house. The electric meter should be on the same side of the home as the electric services come into the property. The meter socket should be placed from the corner up to 2 (two) meters along the side wall or half way across the back with no interference from a deck.

For residential lots serviced from a stub, the procedure is slightly different than from a submersible box. The temporary electric service box utilizes the electric service cable at the stub. The home will need to be completely wired, with electrical outlets inside, prior to the Electric Department digging a trench and laying the electric service cable.

Final permanent electric service is hooked up once the electric permit has been released and the service is paid.

Overhead Service Areas:
For those customers , who are building homes in areas serviced by overhead power lines but wishing to install an underground service to their home, are required to dig their own trench. The Electric Department will install the electric service cable and perform the permanent connection. Meter placement on the home shall be from the corner up to 2 (two) meters along the side wall or half way across the back, with no interference from a deck.

Residential lots in Dunmore and on City View Drive are classified as this service area type. Please supply us with a copy of the site plan for your home prior to digging the trench.

Commercial Service Requests Please contact our Electric Engineering section at 403.529.8257 to discuss electrical design and servicing needs.

Commercial Service Application form

For more information or questions regarding Residential Services, you can reach us at elecdist@medicinehat.ca or by calling Customer Service at 403.529.8270.

Send general comments to: electric_dept@medicinehat.ca