Electric Service
Temporary Electric Service
Natural Gas Service
Water Service

Electric Department

New Residential Service:

There are three basic steps involved to provide a new residential service:
1. Design and estimate
2. Construction
3. Activate service

Please contact Electric Engineering Services at 256-535-1315 so that we may connect you with a Huntsville Utilities representative to discuss what is required to complete these steps for your new residential service. Some of the activities and requirements for each of these steps are listed below.

Step 1: Design and estimate. These items must be provided by the customer in order for the Engineering Services representative to provide job design and estimate:

a. Provide a Site Plan.
b. Provide legal address of property.
c. Stake property lines.
d. Provide any necessary easements.
e. Public right-of-ways provided and accepted.
f. Designated trees cut or trimmed by the customer to HU specifications.
g. Provide electrical load and voltage requirements.
h. Provide square footage of house.
i. Determine square footage of house.
j. Establish a point of attachment.
k. Desired date for permanent service.

Step 2: Construction. These items must be provided by the customer in order for a job to be released for construction. Construction should begin within 2 weeks of the following requirements being met:

a. Aid-to-construction paid.
b. Foundation must be in place for permanent buildings.
c. Trees must be cut and/or trimmed as designated by the Engineer.
d. For underground services, the area designated by Huntsville Utilities for our underground lines must be brought to final grade elevation.
e. For underground services, all necessary conduits with 1/4" nylon pulling string inside must be installed to Huntsville Utilities specifications. Electrical construction specifications are available through the Electric Engineering Services office downtown. You can contact the Electric Engineering Services office at 256-535-1315, or email eengsvc@hsvutil.org. Please obtain specifications prior to beginning installation of conduit or other facilities.
f. Accessibility to line extensions must be built (service roads, etc.).
g. Street address posted at job site.

Step 3: Activate Service. These items must be provided by the customer in order for power to be turned on:

a. Application for service must be made, deposit and connection fees must be paid in the Applications Department. (This is in addition to any aid-to-construction payment made in the Engineering Department.)
b. Correct street address (house numbers) must be permanently installed to specifications on your building or mailbox.
c. Residence must pass an electric inspection by the applicable agency. The inspection agency must deliver or fax a copy of this inspection to our Operations office. One of the following agencies will be required to issue your electrical inspection and certificate of occupancy (depending upon the location of the residence):

City of Huntsville
City of Madison
Madison County
Owens Cross Roads
Town of Triana
City of New Hope
d. Certificate of Occupancy must be obtained and delivered or faxed by the issuing agency to our Operations office. For a new service to a new residence, the Certificate of Occupancy also serves as the electrical inspection.
e. Meter base must be wired to specifications and at location designated by the Engineer. Meter base must be on Huntsville Utilities' list of approved meter bases.
f. Main breaker(s) must be in the off position.

Temporary Electric Service

The Huntsville Utilities Electric Department can provide temporary electric service to a customer's job site including rental of a pre-wired single-phase 120/240 volt temporary service pole. Overhead temporary poles cannot exceed 70 feet. This pole is for construction use only (operation of saws, drills, etc.) and is not for use on mobile home services or permanent services of any kind. This pole remains the property of the Electric Department and will be removed under the following conditions:

• Upon request by customers.
• Violations of any of the National Electric & Safety Codes.
• Temporary pole being used in a manner not consistent with its intended use.

Providing temporary service to the customer's job site may require construction of a power line and/or installation of a transformer. This may require additional Aid-to-Construction charges and may also extend the time necessary to provide the service. Contact the Engineering Services Department at 256-535-1315 for information regarding new construction practices and costs.

Requirements for installation of temporary service to a customer's temporary pole:
Temporary service pole not installed according to requirements will be subject to additional service fees.

1. Lot marked with visible address number or building permit.
2. Temporary pole properly braced.
3. Proper height and material specifications met.
4. Ground rod installed.
5. Proper ground fault interrupter protection.
6. Inspection, if required.
7. Installation at the proper distance from service point.

Natural Gas Service

If you want a natural gas service line with meter installed at your home there are two steps. 1) Contact Huntsville Utilities's Gas Engineering Department at 256-535-1206, and we will determine if we have natural gas in your vicinity. If we do not have natural gas in your area, we can either develop an estimate for the cost to extend gas mains into your area or refer you to your local provider of natural gas. 2) If our natural gas is in your area, you will need to complete a Residential Gas Service Line Request form.

1) When applying for natural gas service, the Gas Department will require certain information such as where the meter is to be located and each appliance's usage of natural gas (also known as the btu input as found on the appliance's specification plate). It is vital that Huntsville Utilities has accurate gas load information before we design your gas service installation. Incorrect gas load information may result in additional expense and possible inconvenience should we need to change out parts of our installation. If you do not know the total BTU requirement for your gas appliances, please check with the contractor who will be doing your appliance installation. They will have your gas load information.

Please note: Only a licensed gas fitter who has obtained a permit from either the City of Huntsville Inspection Department, City of New Hope Inspection Department, or the Madison County Inspection Department may perform a natural gas fuel line installation.

2) There is a fee to install a natural gas service line at a residential house. If the only appliance you are connecting is a set of gas logs, the cost for a service line is $610.00; if you connect any other gas appliances the cost drops to $410.00. There may be other fees such as charges for rock removal, asphalt, concrete cutting, or extra long service lines. If you have any questions about the cost, call the Gas Department at 256-535-1206.

3) Once you have submitted the Residential Gas Service Line Request form with the appropriate fees, Gas Engineering will prepare a work order, and Gas Operations will schedule the installation.

For information about relocating an existing gas meter, please call the Gas Department at 256-535-1206.

Water Service

In most cases, water service is available within the city limits of Huntsville. Check with the Water Engineering Section at 256-535-1400 to verify that existing service is available, or to determine the costs associated with any extensions which may be required to provide water service.

1) When water mains are available, tapping fees for meters are based upon meter size and street width (see tap fee schedule). In new or recent subdivisions, service lines are installed during construction either at the center of each lot (standard) or at property lines. Additional fees, in addition to tapping fees, will be required to install meters at other locations on such lots. Where no taps or services have been installed, the Owner may, in most cases, designate the location along the right-of-way where the meter will be installed. Any meter greater than 2" in size will require an engineering estimate of costs for installation.

2) Additional fees may be due at certain locations within the city, and must be paid in full before water mains will be installed or meters will be set. Such fees include frontage fees (based upon prior costs for installing mains, on a "per foot of frontage basis"), high level fees (for pro-rata share of pumping and storage facilities in higher elevations), system development charges (SDC) and other miscellaneous fees as may be approved from time to time. Check with Water Engineering for location of any additional or special fees which may apply.

3) Upon payment of tapping fees, deposits and completing an application form at the Applications Section, meter installations will be scheduled. The street address will need to be posted at the job site or on the building or mailbox.

4) For additional or more detailed information, see the Water Department Rules and Regulations.