If you have questions about your new construction project, contact Valley Electric Association's New Construction team at veanewconstruction@vea.coop. Having your work order number available will help us assist you more quickly.
Your project can be scheduled once:
- All contracts are signed.
- Payments have been received.
- Rights-of-way are complete.
- Required inspections have passed.
Scheduling typically takes 1–2 weeks, although timelines may vary depending on workload, weather, material availability, and emergency outage restoration. Existing member outages always take priority over new construction.
If your project includes underground service, you are responsible for:
- Digging the trench
- Installing the required conduit or substructure
- Installing the meter panel
Valley's Inspector will inspect this work before construction continues.
When will the line crew be scheduled?
Your project can be scheduled once:
- All contracts are signed.
- Payments have been received.
- Rights-of-way are complete.
- Required inspections have passed.
Scheduling typically takes 1–2 weeks, although timelines may vary depending on workload, weather, material availability, and emergency outage restoration. Existing member outages always take priority over new construction.
After your contract and payment are received:
- Materials are staged.
- A Valley Electric Inspector schedules a pre-construction meeting.
- Your electrical contractor and excavation contractor should attend.
Underground utilities must be located by calling 811 before digging.
Construction cannot begin until:
- Your Line Extension Agreement is signed.
- Your invoice has been paid in full.
- Any required rights-of-way have been secured.
- Your project has been released to Operations for scheduling.
Once your design is complete, Valley Electric will prepare a Line Extension Agreement and an invoice for the remaining project costs. The engineering fee you've already paid will be applied toward the total project cost.
Yes. Design revisions may be possible, but they require approval from the Engineering Department. Approved changes may result in additional design or construction costs.
You are responsible for purchasing and installing:
- The meter panel
- All electrical facilities beyond the meter
Valley Electric designs and installs the electrical facilities up to the meter panel.
Valley Electric installs facilities along the shortest and most practical route. If you request a different route for aesthetic or other personal reasons, additional costs may apply.
Before the Staker visits your property, please:
- Mark all property corners with stakes.
- Mark any planned grade changes.
These markers help ensure the electrical facilities are designed and installed correctly.
After your engineering fee is paid, your project is assigned to a Staker who will:
- Visit your property
- Determine the best service route
- Design the electrical system to your meter location
- Coordinate directly with you throughout the design process
Designs generally take 4–6 weeks, depending on project complexity.
You can pay:
- In person by cash or check
- By credit or debit card over the phone with Member Services
Please have your applicant name, work order number, and service address available when making payment.
Once your complete application is received:
- A work order is created.
- You'll receive an email confirmation with your work order number.
- You'll receive instructions for paying the engineering fee.
Please note that payments cannot be accepted until a work order has been issued.
Yes. You'll need all required permits from the appropriate County or State authority. Electric service cannot be energized until both Valley Electric's inspection and the applicable government inspection have been approved.
A complete application helps prevent delays. Depending on your project, you may need to provide:
- County-stamped site plans
- Building envelope and square footage
- Structural, drainage, or landscape details
- Utility locations (water, sewer, telecom, etc.)
- Preferred meter location
- Electrical load information
- Temporary construction power needs
- Construction schedule
- Proof of property ownership
- AutoCAD files (if available)
Incomplete applications cannot move into the design phase.
We recommend submitting your application as soon as your plans are county-approved and you know your construction timeline. Residential applications generally take 2–3 weeks to process, while larger or more complex commercial projects may require additional time.
Requirements vary but typically include permits, inspections, and completed electrical work.
Select the New Construction option on the application.