Engineering
NOTICE
On June 26, 2006, the Board of Commissioners of Public Utility District No.1 of Lewis County (District) approved an increase in the line extension costs for providing electric service to customers. The District’s line extensions fees and charges had not been updated since 1991. Fifteen years of increased costs for labor, material and supplies made the fee increase necessary.
The new fees and charges are be applicable to electric service applications made on or after July 1, 2006, and for applications made prior to July 1, 2006 which do not complete the line extension prior to December 31, 2006. The Commission approved the December 31 deadline to allow customers who previously made electric service applications time to complete their development activities under the old line extension schedule of fees.
If you have questions relative to this notice and / or the status of your service application, please contact the District Engineering Clerk (748-9261 or 740-2405).
New Service (No previous service at location)
If you need new electrical service for a home, business, or recreation property, please stop by your local PUD office to speak to the Engineering Clerk. We will need such information as: billing name, address, date of occupancy, telephone number, social security number, and other pertinent information.Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Commercial and industrial customers are billed monthly. Most residential accounts are billed every other month. PUD Office locations are as follows:
- Chehalis: 321 NW Pacific Avenue
- Morton: 110 Main Avenue
A service order will be prepared and a PUD Engineer will be assigned to visit your property. The Engineer will contact you to make an appointment to meet at the site and then determine the best way to provide electric service. No trenching or pole setting should be done prior to the Engineer's site visit and design. The Engineer will also calculate the cost for the electric service installation, and determine if any other permits or easements are necessary.
Once all the necessary paperwork is completed and full payment and final inspections are approved, you will be scheduled for the installation of your new service. The average time for the installation of a new service (after all advance paperwork, payments, inspections, and approvals) is 7 to 10 business days. Please note that late spring through fall is the busiest time of the year for new construction, so please plan ahead.
Underground Locates
Please play it safe and contact the ONE CALL CENTER at 1-800-424-5555 (Call Before You Dig) at least three days prior to digging any ditches. This will save you added expense and possible danger from the damages.
Inspections and Codes
To ensure your safety, as well as the safety of Lewis County PUD employees, the state requires all customer-owned equipment and wiring to comply with the National Electric Code (NEC), state and local requirements. Customers must obtain an electrical work permit and the installation must be inspected and approved by the State of Washington, Dept. of Labor and Industries prior to the installation of service and connection by the Lewis County PUD. Please check for local requirements before beginning your project. For applicable wiring code requirements, contact the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries or a qualified electrician.Safety Tips
- Always be aware of any overhead power lines.
- Never fly kites near power lines. Call the PUD if your kite gets caught in the power line.
- Keep irrigation pipes, ladders, antennas and equipment clear of power lines.
- Do not climb trees near power lines.
- Do not use frayed electrical cords.
- If you have young children, keep unused electrical outlets covered.
- Upon discovery of any fallen power lines, do not attempt to move or touch fallen lines, immediately call the PUD office nearest you. Stay at least 15 feet away from the lines.
Standby Generator Use
While a generator is useful in the event of a prolonged power outage, improper use presents a deadly safety hazard. Portable generators are intended to serve as a power source for just a few lights or appliances during an extended power outage. A generator plugged into your electric system without professional installation can backfeed electricity into the PUD's system and energize dead lines with high voltage. This could result in serious injury for electrical line workers who think the lines are dead. Plug appliances directly into the generator - do not plug the generator into a wall outlet or electrical circuit. The total electric load on your generator must not exceed the manufacturer's rating.Removing and Installing Meters
To ensure your safety as well as the safety of PUD employees, only authorized and qualified Lewis County PUD personnel shall remove and install meters.The District will authorize, however, the breaking of meter seals and the subsequent removal of meters to facilitate work being performed by qualified electricians. This authorization should be requested through the District's Dispatcher by calling (360) 748-9261 and asking for the Dispatcher. Any addition of load should be reported by the customer to the District's Engineering Department prior to the actual addition. The District, by granting authorization, does not assume any liability for any damage caused by the contractor's actions to the District's, contractor's, or customer's equipment or personnel. It will be the contractor's obligation to re-install the meter properly and as quickly as possible. A District employee will check the meter installation and re-seal on the next normal work day following the request to remove the meter.
A $35.00 re-seal meter charge could result from the District discovering that a meter seal has been removed without authorization.
Related Links:
Customer Information, Rights and Responsibilities
Miscellaneous Charges
Utility Services