We have to upgrade our utilities (electric and gas) for this project. The process started during the building plan review process when we had to fill out this form. The form then had to be stamped approved by both gas and electric utilities people at the city. So we ended up with TWO copies of the form, one stamped by gas and one by electric. After approval they send you a bill and you have around 90 days to pay the bill to initiate the actual service upgrade.

The funny thing is, to upgrade gas it costs over $8000, but all you have to do is get your gas meter pipe stub in the right place for the meter hook-up on the side of the house — the city does the rest. Electric service only costs about $850, but the home owner (or contractor) has to dig a 36 inch deep trench and lay the pipe all the way through the yard AND sidewalk to the service location on the planting strip next to the street!!

We had to move the gas meter location about 15 feet because the new basement egress window cut into the old line location. We were told by the gas utilities folks that you have to get on the schedule early because there is an 8-12 week wait list for service install. I harped on my contractor every couple weeks throughout the fall to get this worked out. Of course he didn’t. Come late December, I check in with the Gas guy from the city. He says, no, we are not on the waitlist and that we still have some work to do before he can put us on the list.

Now I started freaking out. The contractor didn’t have the gas meter stub out out in the right location! It was a last minute change on the plans and I think the plumber didn’t get the message or something. Whatever. Quick fix was, throw the pipe on the side of the house to the new location. So this is what we have.

SUPER ugly. Seems silly that we just did a whole remodel and they weren’t able to hide the gas pipe in the crawl space, but at this point we are just trying to stay on schedule so I guess we paint it house color and plant something in front of it!

Eventually after the building inspector approved the gas stub out (they perform some kind of pressure test) the city came out and stuck the gas line in the trench next to the electric pipe. Then we could backfill everything and close up the sidewalk. This was just the gas LINE though. There is still another step to get gas FLOWING through the line and into the building and apparently we are still on the wait list for that…