Applicant Design & Install

What is applicant design?

In California, Applicant Design (AD) is a utility tariff option that allows a customer (the applicant) to hire a qualified third-party contractor to design gas or electric distribution line extensions. Instead of having the utility company perform the design, the applicant elects to use a private, pre-qualified designer.

Compliance

The third-party designer must strictly follow the utility's specific design and construction standards.

Designer Qualifications

Utilities maintain "Applicant Designer Qualification Programs" where external designers must pass exams and meet experience requirements (e.g., minimum design hours) to be considered "Qualified".

Responsibility & Cost

The applicant is responsible for the costs of using a third-party designer. However, the utility typically performs a plan check to ensure the design meets safety and engineering standards before construction begins.

Applicant design resources

• PG&E Electric and Gas Service Requirements (Greenbook) (PDF)
• PG&E Tariffs – Current gas and electric rate schedules, preliminary statements, rules and forms
• Electric Sample Form No. 79-716 General Terms & Conditions for Gas and Electric Extension & Service Construction by Applicant (PDF)
• Electric Sample Form No. 62-0982 Distribution and Service Extension Agreement – Provisions (PDF)

What is an applicant installer?

In California, an Applicant Installer (also referred to as an "Applicant Install" contractor) is a qualified third-party contractor hired by a customer or developer to install gas and electric distribution facilities.

Just as Applicant Design allows a customer to hire their own designer, the Applicant Installation tariff option allows them to use their own licensed and pre-qualified construction crew to build infrastructure that will eventually be owned and operated by a utility like PG&E, SCE or SDG&E.

• Pre-Qualification: As of March 1, 2025, all applicant installers must be officially pre-qualified by the utility. For example, PG&E requires contractors to pass a Safety, Quality and Conduct Assessment (SQCA) managed through third-party vendors like Industrial Training Services (ITS).
• Standard Compliance: All work must strictly conform to the utility's specific construction standards (e.g., the PG&E Greenbook).
• Oversight: While the applicant installer performs the work, the utility company retains the right to inspect and test the facilities before they are energized or pressurized and formally "accepted" into the utility's system.

Applicant install resources

• PG&E Electric and Gas Service Requirements (Greenbook) (PDF)
• PG&E Tariffs – Current gas and electric rate schedules, preliminary statements, rules and forms
• Electric Sample Form No. 79-716 General Terms & Conditions for Gas and Electric Extension & Service Construction by Applicant (PDF)
• Electric Sample Form No. 62-0982 Distribution and Service Extension Agreement – Provisions (PDF)