01 — Dominion Request
Starting Dominion’s Service Request Before the Permit
Chesapeake’s posted electrical permit instructions say that any electrical permit involving a new or changed service, meaning anything that must be released to Dominion, needs a seven-digit Work Request Number on the application. For a new house, the utility request is normally initiated before the electrical permit, and we confirm the current requirements with the permit staff when we apply.
Dominion’s current new-construction checklist asks owners to have four things ready for its designer: the site readiness date, an approved site plan, an electricity load letter, and the proposed location of the meter. The designer then develops a project plan and design package for the service.
We work out the expected electrical load and a practical meter spot with you and your builder early, so that information is in hand when the request goes in. That way the work request can be in place by the time we apply for the electrical permit. Dominion sets its own design and construction dates, and we build the wiring schedule around them.
Getting the site ready for the utility
The checklist’s site-ready items include marking property lines, bringing the lot within 6 inches of final grade, installing and marking conduit to Dominion’s requirements, and signing and returning the underground agreement. Where the service conduit is ours to install, we run it to those requirements.
02 — Temporary Power
Temporary Power While the House Goes Up
The city’s instruction covers temporary service too, so a construction power pole also starts with a Dominion work request. Dominion’s service requirements book says the customer initiates a new, temporary, or upgraded service by calling the company or using its website, and that the company furnishes and installs the service drop and the meter.
The temporary structure itself is the customer’s to furnish and install. The book says it must stand within 75 feet of the company pole the drop will come from, and it sets the post size, depth, and bracing.
We coordinate temporary power with you, your builder, and Dominion to meet those requirements, ensuring construction power is in place when the build needs it.
04 — Service and Finals
The Service Inspection and the Final Sign-Offs
The electrical service has its own line on the list: “If applicable, an Inspection of the electrical service before concealment.” On the city’s sequence, it sits after insulation and ahead of the finals while the service equipment is still exposed.
Electrical, mechanical, gas, and plumbing finals each happen “After work is complete.” The building final comes “At the completion of the project after all the trades have received final approval.” The city’s residential permitting FAQ adds that a CO requires every inspection to be complete on all building and trade permits, and it advises owners to make the building final the last item.
05 — CO Paperwork
Paperwork Chesapeake Wants Before the Certificate of Occupancy
Page two of the inspection list names other items required before a CO. Most sit outside the electrical trade, but the CO waits on the electrical final just as it waits on them.
06 — Process
From Plans to Meter Set on a Chesapeake House
Plans and meter location
We review the plans, expected loads, and alarm locations with you and your builder, and settle where the meter will go.
Work request, then permit
Dominion’s work request number comes first, and we then apply for the electrical permit.
Temporary power and trench
Temporary power is arranged, and any underground service trench is inspected before backfill.
Rough-in ahead of framing
Wiring and boxes are inspected before walls close and before the framing inspection.
Service, final, and meter
The service inspection and electrical final are completed, Dominion sets the meter, and the building final follows.
07 — Why Castles
Why Builders and Owners Call Castles
Our rough-in date is set with your builder, not around him
Framing cannot be inspected until the trade rough-ins pass, so ours goes on the calendar first.
The Dominion work request is opened before we apply
Load figures and a meter spot are settled early because the permit application requires the request number.
08 — FAQs
Chesapeake New Construction Wiring FAQs
09 — Proof
Planning Circuits for What Comes Next
One customer had us wire a deck and a TV location, and talked with us about the generator and hot tub planned next.
From our five-star Google reviews
Google 5.0 Rated by Hampton Roads Customers
Castles Electrical maintains a 5.0 rating on Google. The reviews below load as a live widget, so this page shows current feedback from real Castles Electrical customers.
