Underground Utilities
We build underground utility work for Southern California Edison and LADWP: trenching, conduit, encasement, vaults, pads and the inspections along the way, including the vault in the street. We also install water, fire and sewer lines. Our own hydrovac truck exposes existing lines before anyone digs.
Who it's for
Upgrading a panel to 200 amps with an underground feed involves three parties. The utility owns the cable and makes the connection, your electrician handles the panel, and we build the trench, conduit and any vault or pad the utility's design calls for.
- Owners who received a utility letter for a power upgrade or new service
- General contractors who need the dry-utility package on a commercial or multifamily job
- Owners who need a new water service, fire line or sewer lateral
- Design teams who need existing utilities potholed and verified
How the work goes
- Send us the utility's issued design. We can give a budget before it is issued, but a firm price needs the design.
- We pothole with our hydrovac truck so existing lines are exposed before any machine digs.
- Our crew trenches and installs the conduit, vaults and pads to the utility's design, with encasement, backfill, mandrel and inspections as the utility requires.
- Work in the street is restored to the agency's standard, including a T-cut repave where it is required.
- The utility pulls the cable and makes the hot ties, and the owner's electrician makes the final building connections.
What drives the cost
- Trench length and depth, and what is already in the ground
- Whether the work is in the street, which brings traffic control and pavement restoration
- Slurry or concrete encasement called for in the utility's design
- The utility's inspection schedule
- Permit and agency fees, which the owner pays directly
What we do differently
Own hydrovac truck; long working history with SCE and LADWP inspectors.
Common questions
Who pays the permit and agency fees?
The owner pays permit and agency fees directly to the agency. We don't include them in our price, because the amounts aren't known until the agency invoices them. On street work we pull the permit under our license, and the fee notices come straight to you.
Do you do the electrical work on an Edison or LADWP upgrade?
No. We build the trench, conduit, vaults and pads to the utility's design and get them inspected. The utility pulls the cable and makes the connection, and your electrician handles the panel and the building wiring. Three parties are involved, and we coordinate our part with both of the others.
Where we do this work
From the field
Ready to talk about your project?
Send us the details and we will follow up with next steps, or call us directly.