PG&E Existing Underground Service

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DSamson

DSamson

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San Francisco, CA
Has anyone tried to increase the size of an existing underground service in PG&E territory? (Yes, I have the Greenbook, and yes, I have talked to Service Planning, I'm looking for some practical experience.)

My customer owns one of five houses that are fed from a common vault in the sidewalk. It appears that all 5 houses are fed with 1 1/4 RMC. My customer's house is about 80 - 90 feet from he vault to the service point.

Right now they've got #6 TW in there. I'd like to take the service to 125 amps.

PG&E Service planning is saying, dig us a trench and put a 3" pipe in it and we'd be happy to increase the size of your service.

At least one other house in the vault has #2 THHN in it, so I know that's not original.

All of the service upgrades I've done have either been overheads, or undergrounds that already have #2 to the landing can. I haven't had to deal with this particular issue yet.

My first question is, Is there anyway to get PG&E to pull in new wire in the existing pipe? Or will they let me do it?

My second question is what to do inside the garage if I actually get new conductors in the pipe. The existing Service Lateral terminates in the garage. PG&E wants the meter outside. My idea is to LB from the exiting pipe, out through the wall and mount a landing can, meter, main disconnect out there. From everything I read it is o.k. for the service conductors to come inside the building they serve and then go back outside. Does that sound o.k.?

Thanks as always for your input.
 
You can design and install your own underground service lateral but it must meet PG&E?s requirements. 3? is the minimum raceway they permit. I highly doubt you would be able pull anything though the 40+ year old 1 1/4 rigid conduit.
 
Firstly, "P" = Premidona

PG&E will not touch anything that won't, if thrown from a distance, practically install itself...

2' sweep vertical, 3' horizontal - no more than two 90's... Yes 3" min. Sure they may only chuck some #2 AL in it, but that is up to them. You sort of are at thier mercy to build what they want, how they want. No matter how ridiculous it may seem - the greenbook lays out thier rules - although it does contradict other rules and practices dependant on situation.

DSamson said:
My first question is, Is there anyway to get PG&E to pull in new wire in the existing pipe? Or will they let me do it?
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Both answers are no.... (in this situation) And they will not allow an LB at all on the service conduit

They only let you pull conductors in temporary services.... And the will not pull in existing conduit unless you can pull a mandrel through it for the size of the service - in this case that mandrel size would be 3".
 
Have you gone through the system yet, as in contacting the project manager for the job?

I've found a tremendous difference between PM's. Some are very willing to work with you, others couldn't care less. I believe one key is to be real kind and polite when dealing with anyone @ the company. The real problem is corporate policies, not the working stiffs.

BTW, should there be a defect in the existing conductors (if they originally installed them), you may (again depending on the PM) get PG&E to change out the pipe and conductors.

I agree with the above comments in regard to re-pulling the conductors. More chance of the Raiders winning the Super Bowl this year.
 
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