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New Construction Guide
If you have an immediate service need, please contact our Customer Service Center. In Minnesota, call 1-877-535-0394 (in Duluth, call 720-2644).
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Application for Service
Ready for Service
Confirmation
Schedule Service Installation
Single Phase Service (Residential/Small Commercial)
Install Service
Developers of Residential Housing Sites
Billing Information
General Information on Service Connection and Metering
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Minnesota Power is dedicated to helping you receive electric service to your
construction site in a timely manner. In this guide, we outline the process and
provide information that should help prevent unnecessary delays. Because
some circumstances (such as weather, large volume of construction projects, etc.)
are unavoidable and may delay your project, we ask for your cooperation and
understanding. We ask that the following steps be followed so we can complete our
work in a timely manner. |
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Step 1
Read through the steps outlined on this web site to help make your decision-making process a little easier. Call (877) 535-0394 or (218) 720-2644 if you would like a New Construction Guide Booklet sent to you. Minnesota Power, just like any other organization, is aways striving to better meet our customers' needs so from time to time our procedures and policies change to meet that goal.
Step 2 Application for Service
Your Role:
Complete the Application form
If you need additional forms, call (877) 535-0394 or (218) 720-2644.
Submit your application as soon as you obtain a building permit from your municipality or township.
Mail, fax or e-mail your application and Plat of Survey (site plan) to:
Minnesota Power
Attn: New Construction Center
P.O. Box 1001
Duluth, MN 55806-1001
Fax: (218) 720-2680
E-mail: newconstruction@mnpower.com
Step 3 Confirmation
Our Role: Send your confirmation information.
Within two weeks of receiving your completed application, a Minnesota Power customer service representative will call you and provide you with contact information and set up an appointment, if needed.
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Single Phase Service (Residential/Small Commercial)
 The customer service representative will design the service extension, determine the estimated extension costs, and notify you if additional costs are associated with the extension. Estimates depend upon location of existing distribution facilities, location of customer’s buildings on the property, and the decision of serving the property overhead or underground. Single phase extensions are based upon a unit cost per linear foot ($7.00 per linear foot). If the extension cost does not exceed $850 and Minnesota Power’s standard-type construction is used in making the extension, the customer will not be required to make payment for the extension. If the extension cost exceeds $850, the customer must pay Minnesota Power a Contribution in Aid of Construction for the amount in excess of $850.
If conditions exist that impede the installation of your new service line, additional construction charges will be added to the standard unit cost per foot. Such special conditions include ground frost, surface or subsurface impediments, submarine installations, etc. Surface or subsurface impediments may include, but are not limited to, bedrock, subsurface structures and wetlands. When the customer service representative has designed your new service, you will be advised of these charges.
 For underground services, meter locations will be placed at the lot line utilizing Minnesota Power’s “meter pedestal” or “meter pole” (see photos). If we determine that your site is not suitable for lot line metering, the meter base (owned by you and installed by you or your contractor) must be installed on the outside of the building on the wall closest to our supply point, or on the first 15 feet of the side wall closest to our supply point. You will also own the conductor to the point of service—you or your electrical contractor will install the conductor from the wall of your building out to our facilities.
For information on temporary electric service, please review the section “Temporary Services” .
In some cases we may need to obtain easement or permit(s) for service installation, which may take several weeks to several months. We are unable to begin work until permits are received. Customers are responsible for these additional costs.
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Developers of Residential Housing Sites
A developer of residential housing sites requiring electric service must make a contribution equal to the extension cost. As customers are connected, the developer is entitled to receive a refund for each customer connected of $850 less the estimated cost of the service drop for that customer. However, in no event will the total refund exceed the contribution. After the developer has received the maximum allowable refund or after the initial five years, whichever occurs first, customers requesting service to additional lots for which the extension was made shall make appropriate arrangements directly with Minnesota Power in order to satisfy additional extension costs related to the respective service connections.
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Step 4 Ready for Service
Builder/General Contractor Role:
Complete all requirements to prepare the site for service installation.
Your Role:
Please contact your Minnesota Power customer service representative when your site is ready for service installation.
Site ready requirements:
- Address of property is marked with a stake or sign to assist your customer service representative, lineworkers, metering personnel and underground cable locators.
- Property corners are marked.
- A minimum 10-foot wide service path is clear of obstructions where our customer service representative has noted our facilities will be installed.
- Grading and landscaping is within 6 inches of final grade where our facilities are going to be installed.
- Electrical inspection paperwork has been completed and is available.
- Privately owned underground facilities are located (i.e., water, well, sewer and leech field lines)—customer is responsible for clearly and accurately identifying all private underground facilities with paint and/or stakes.
- Minnesota Power (and/or its contractors) will not be responsible for damage to private underground facilities if they have not been properly identified.
- Payment for line extension and/or temporary electric service, if required, has been received by a Minnesota Power customer service representative.
- Main breaker at service panel is off.
- (Commercial projects only) Concrete pad has been poured per Minnesota Power's transformer pad construction details; if required per initial meeting with your customer service representative.
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Step 5 Schedule Service Installation
Our Role: We will schedule your service installation
While we make every attempt to install your service as quickly as possible, this may be affected by other circumstances such as:
Weather conditions
Pending service work already scheduled
Extent of work to bring supply lines to the property
Restrictions, such as permits and right-of-way
We will contact Gopher State One Call to have underground lines for cable, phone, etc. located. Your Role: Mark any privately owned underground facilities. Inform your builder to keep the path clear of obstructions where the new service will be installed.
Your Role:
Mark any privately owned underground facilities. Inform your builder to keep the path clear of obstructions where the new service will be installed.
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Step 6 Install Service
Our Role: Install your service
While waiting for your service installations, make sure your site remains
ready as defined by the Ready for Service requirements.
If you have any questions or would like to check the status of your service
installation, contact your Minnesota Power customer service representative or our
Operations Coordination Center at 1-800-228-4966, extension 2757 or 218-720-2757.
We may use a cable plow or a backhoe to bury your electric lines. Usually we
will follow the top of a ditch line or the edge of a driveway. These large pieces
of equipment require, at a minimum, a 10-foot wide path (from tree limb to tree
limb) to install electrical lines. Often a boring device is needed to go under large
obstacles (such as sidewalks, roadways, driveways, etc.). A hole is dug and the
excavated dirt is piled next to the hole. Then, we’ll bore under the obstruction inserting the electrical lines. After installation is complete, we will backfill excavations in preparation for final grading by you, your builder or landscaper. We are not responsible for final grading.
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Billing Information
Unexpected obstacles creating changes to planned service installation may result in additional charges and would be billed separately.
Additional charges may apply if installation is between October 1 and April 1.
A monthly service charge will begin as soon as the electric meter is installed. Charges will also begin for any electricity usage at the new construction site.
Your Role: Call us.
Once the home is occupied, the occupant/homeowner is responsible for calling us to have the electric transferred into their name if it was previously in the name of the builder/general contractor.
If your new home or business has been served underground, we ask that when your landscaping is being planned, our equipment be given special consideration. In case of outages or maintenance requirements, our crews must have access. Please keep shrubs and structures 10 feet away from the front of our equipment and 3 feet away from the other sides. Stickers are placed on the equipment to remind you of this request. If this request is not followed and we have to remove plantings, etc. to obtain access to our equipment, we will not replace or compensate you for your loss.
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