PG&E has several common customer project processes, including New Business, Applicant Design, and Express Connect. The following process journey maps provide an overarching view of project phases, including phase activities, roles and responsibilities, and average timelines.
Are you working on a building or renovation project? PG&E can help if you're:
- Starting a new service
- Relocating or changing an existing service
- Needing temporary power for your property
- Adding a large electric load to your home (such as an Electric Vehicle (EV) or electric water heater)
Explore our online tools and resources to help you through the process.
Application Resources
Find tools and resources to help you with the gas or electric services project application process.
Project Resources
PG&E's Building & Renovation project guides, Greenbook and FAQs walk you through your gas and/or electric services installation.
Manage your project online
Your Projects is our online project management tool. Easily submit, track, and manage applications for gas and electric services.
- Project process journey maps
- Contact PG&E
- Rates, payments, and contracts
- Commonly used terms
This journey map details the phases and activities for customers who are going through the local service planning project process.
Types of projects for which this journey map would apply could include:
- New residential electric (overhead and underground)
- Residential Panel upgrade (electric) including any added load (e.g., EV charging)
- Residential like-for-like electric panel upgrade
- Residential add meter (e.g., for an accessory dwelling unit ADU)
- Gas residential meter upgrade
- Meter set
- New underground service - Commercial
- New overhead service - Agriculture
- Temporary power
- Disconnect-Reconnect
This journey map details the phases and activities for customers who are going through the Express Connect project process.
Note: If load calculations are required during the Application & Intake phase, these calculations must pass to remain in the Express Connect process.
Types of projects for which this journey map would apply could include:
- Residential Only (up to 320amps)
- Panel change/upgrade/added load
- Overhead relocation
- New overhead electric service
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - adding a meter and/or service
- Added load applications only, no panel work done
- Disconnect/reconnect for maintenance when a 2-man crew is needed
- Residential & Commercial
- Gas meter upgrades (.25 PSI up to AL1000 meter)
- Gas meter sets infrastructure is already installed, up to a 4-meter manifold (.25 PSI up to AL1000 meter)
- Temporary Power
- Overhead only, up to 200amps, where existing infrastructure exists for an install
This journey map details the phases and activities for customers using an Applicant Designer or Applicant Installer.
PG&E can help your construction projects run smoothly from start to finish. Connect with PG&E early in your project's timeline for the best results.
Within three business days of submitting a new application for service, you will be assigned a PG&E representative who will provide their contact information to you.
- If your PG&E representative is unavailable for a day or more during your project, you may be redirected to another representative to support you.
If you do not have an open application or project, you can also call the Building & Renovation Service Center at 1-877-743-7782 between Monday and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Generally, your PG&E representative is the connection between you and Building and Renovation Services.
If your PG&E representative is not available, you can call the Building and Renovation Service Center at 1-877-743-7782 between Monday and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
If you cannot resolve a delayed timeline with PG&E within the maximum targets outlined in the linked document, you may file a delayed energization report with the CPUC.
Many local agencies directly forward the results to PG&E.
- Check with the agency that performs your inspection.
If you're responsible for forwarding inspection results to PG&E, refer to the info outlined in the following list for instructions by region.
Send Northern Region inspection results to:
Sacramento Resource Management Center
Fax: 1-800-700-5723
Email: PGENorthernAgencyInspections@pge.com
Counties in the Northern Region include:
- Alameda
- Butte
- Colusa
- Contra Costa
- El Dorado
- Glenn
- Humboldt
- Lake
- Lassen
- Marin
- Mendocino
- Modoc
- Napa
- Nevada
- Placer
- Plumas
- Sacramento
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- Shasta
- Sierra
- Siskiyou
- Sonoma
- Sutter
- Tehama
- Trinity
- Yolo
- Yuba
Send Southern Region panel inspection results to the Fresno Resource Management Center.
Fax: 1-800-700-5722
Email: PGESouthernAgencyInspections@pge.com
Counties in the Southern Region include:
- Alpine
- Amador
- Calaveras
- Fresno
- Kern
- Kings
- Madera
- Mariposa
- Merced
- Monterey
- San Benito
- San Bernardino
- San Joaquin
- San Luis Obispo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Stanislaus
- Tulare
- Tuolumne
To escalate an issue with an existing project to a PG&E Supervisor:
- Sign into Your Projects
- Search for your project in My Projects
- Click on the Project ID to open Application Details
- In the "Actions" tab click the Escalate Issue button
Find answers to questions on how to pay for construction services, how to submit contracts and engineering advances, and how to change your service rate plan.
Helpful information around paying for your project can be found here: Paying for your project (PDF)
Project costs will vary depending on the scope and complexity of your project. For details specific to your project, you can speak with your PG&E representative once your application has been submitted.
PG&E accepts the following forms of payment:
- Online payment with simple, safe ACH transfer (e-check)
- Check or cashier's check
- Money order
For temporary power, per meter charge, or Engineering Advance e-check payments:
- Sign into Your Projects
- Select the project that has the invoice
- Click on "Actions" tab
- Select "Pay Invoice"
- Provide your bank routing and account information
- "Confirm" and "Submit"
For contract online payments:
- After signing the contract, click "Finish"
- Provide the information requested in the payment pop-up
PG&E does not save any of your financial information after the transaction is complete. You can rely on confidentiality and security when using our online payment system.
- Don't have a "Your Projects" account? Visit our payment submission page to pay your invoice or contract online.
Your engineering advance must be paid within 30 calendar days of the day you receive your engineering advance invoice.
For engineering advance e-check payments:
- Sign into Your Projects
- On your dashboard, go to Outstanding Actions > Outstanding Invoices
- Select the project with the outstanding invoice you would like to pay
- Click on the "Actions" tab
- Select "Pay Invoice"
- Provide your bank routing and account information
- "Confirm" and "Submit"
PG&E does not save any of your financial information after the transaction is complete. You can rely on confidentiality and security when using our online payment system.
Don't have a "Your Projects" account, but want to pay your engineering advance online?
Visit this website to pay your invoice with your Customer Number and Invoice Number.
Mail your engineering advance to:
Bill Print Mail and Payment Processing Facility
PO Box 997310
Sacramento, CA 95899-7310
Your contract should be executed (signed and paid) within 90 calendar days of the date the contract was sent to you from PG&E.
If you are executing your contract online:
- Your contract will be provided to you by email to execute with DocuSign
- After signing the contract, click "Finish"
- To pay your contract, provide the information requested in the payment pop-up
Don't have a "Your Projects" account, but want to pay your contract online?
Visit this website to pay your invoice with your Contract Number and Notification Number.
To mail your contract payment, use the return envelopes found in the contract packets.
- Mailing the documents in these envelopes may help avoid possible processing delays.
- Local PG&E offices cannot accept this paperwork.
If you misplace the return envelopes:
Mail your signed design contract to:
PG&E CFM/PPC Department
PO Box 997340
Sacramento, CA 95899-7340
No. We require full payment before beginning construction or installing a meter.
The ITCC was established as part of the 1986 Federal Tax Reform Act.
- ITCC requires the payment of tax on the advance payment that PG&E collects for installing facilities.
- We must collect this tax according to CPUC guidelines.
The SACAC is the estimate of costs that you provide on Form 79-1003.
- You must complete and sign Form 79-1003 when you request gas or electric service.
- If you hire a contractor for your project, your contractor should estimate the cost for you.
When you request new electric or gas service, you might come across unfamiliar words. Here is a list of the most common terms for overhead electric, underground electric, gas service, and franchise areas.
Download the Building and Renovation Glossary of Terms (PDF).
Cross arm. Usually made of wood, horizontal brackets mount on the power pole. Wires are then attached to conduct electricity.
Insulator. Glass or porcelain fixtures atop the pole that insulate conductors and the current they carry from returning to the ground.
Primary distribution line extension. The high voltage or input side of a transformer. It includes the circuit that feeds into the transformer.
Riser. Pole-installed, this piece connects underground distribution facilities to overhead facilities.
Secondary distribution line extension. The output side of a transformer and its connected circuit. The voltage it delivers is between 0 and 750 volts. It is also known as service delivery voltage.
Service drop. The wire that connects the weather head on your roof to the electric pole. PG&E maintains the service drop; you maintain your weather head.
Transformer. Device that takes the high voltage from distribution and turns it into lower voltage that you can use.
- Most overhead transformers are secured to wood poles. Overhead high voltage cables connect them to your service meter.
- We use green steel cabinets for underground transformers, mounted to concrete pads.
- They're connected to your service meter by underground high voltage cables.
Note: Voltage regulators, capacitor banks and reclosers are not transformers.
Weatherhead. Periscope-like structure on your roof that's made of metal conduit. It's where your electric service and our overhead service drop line connect.
Common terms for residential overhead electric service
Circuit breaker. Device that shuts down the flow of electricity if you unexpectedly overload your circuit, and the current goes over its preset limit.
Electric panel. Located on your property this service center contains fuses, breakers and meters.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI or GFI). Device that can prevent electric shock when you have wall plugs close to water, like in a bathroom, garage or kitchen. They are available as outlets or breakers.
Main switch. Device designed to protect your equipment installed past the meter.
Weatherhead. This periscope-like structure, made of metal conduit, is where your electric service and our overhead service drop line connect. It's typically located on your rooftop.
Common terms for temporary overhead electric service
Customer-owned temporary service pole. Poles that PG&E does not own, operate or maintain.
Weatherhead. This periscope-like structure, made of metal conduit, is where your electric service and our overhead service drop line connect. It's usually on your rooftop.
Cabling. The conductors, connectors and switches for primary, secondary, and service installations. Cabling may also include cable-in-conduit.
Circuit breaker. Device that shuts down the flow of electricity if you unexpectedly overload your circuit and the current goes over its preset limit.
Conduit. Ducts, pipes or tubes made from a variety of approved materials used to protect electric wires and cables during installation. PG&E uses a variety of conduit. We may also use pull wires and concrete encasement.
Electric panel. Located on your property, a service center that contains fuses, breakers and meters.
Electric Service Extension. Extension of electric service from the main energy supply line to your facility.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI or GFI). Device that can prevent electric shock when you have wall plugs close to water, like in a bathroom, garage or kitchen. They are available as outlets or breakers.
Main switch. Device designed to protect your equipment installed past the meter.
Service delivery point and electric meter. The exact location on your property where PG&E supplies service. Examples are your electric meter or gas meter.
Splice box. Device found in underground systems that is used to enclose splices in cables, making them readily available for repair.
Common terms for temporary underground electrical service
Cabling. The conductors, connectors and switches for primary, secondary, and service installations. Cabling may also include cable-in-conduit.
Conduit. Ducts, pipes or tubes made from a variety of approved materials used to protect electric wires and cables during installation. PG&E uses a variety of conduit. We may also use pull wires and concrete encasement.
Electric panel. Located on your property, this service center contains fuses, breakers and meters.
Ground rod. Grounding that provides an electrical connection between non-current-carrying metallic parts of equipment and the earth to prevent or limit an overload of power from lightning, line surges and contact with higher voltage lines. Installation follows the National Electric Code (NEC).
Splice box. Device found in underground systems that is used to enclose splices in cables, making them readily available for repair.
Branch service. Another source of supply for your service, other than a gas main.
Gas houseline. Measuring 1 to 3/4 inch in diameter, small pipes that run out of the meter and onto your property, carrying natural gas to home appliances.
Service delivery point and gas meter. Exact location on your property where PG&E supplies service. An example is your electric meter or gas meter.
Service line or pipe. Pipelines, valves and fittings that carry natural gas from the main distribution to a building's gas meter.
A franchise area is our legal right to occupy public streets, roads, highways and other public places under franchise agreements in place with the agency that has jurisdiction. Following are common terms for franchise area electrical equipment:
Electric distribution lines. Overhead and underground lines including the poles, power lines, substations and transformers that belong to PG&E, supplying at least two services to homes and businesses.
Gas distribution mains. Mains, service connections and equipment that carry or control the supply of natural gas from the local supply point to and including the meter.
Protective structures. Fences, sound barriers, retaining walls, posts, barricades and other structures installed to help protect our distribution equipment.
Transformer. Device that takes the high voltage from distribution and turns it into lower voltage that you can use. Most overhead transformers are secured to wood poles. Overhead high voltage cables connect them to your service meter. We use green steel cabinets for underground transformers, mounted to concrete pads. They're connected to your service meter by underground high voltage cables.
Trench. To dig or excavate with the purpose of providing more than one service. Trenching may involve these services:
- Gas
- Electricity
- Cable television
- Telephone
More building and renovation resources
Contact us
Still have questions?
Call our Building Services expert between Monday and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.