Need Assistance?
For assistance with your New Electric Service Application or the process, call or visit our BEC Bandera office. Visit with a Distribution Design Representative in person or over the phone at (866) 226-3372 (Option #4) to discuss new electric service-related issues such as adding an electric meter for new construction, relocation, or service upgrades.
Applications & Forms
New Service Construction or Line Extension
When you’re applying for new construction of electric service or extending service from existing electric infrastructure to a new location.
The process involves several steps, so be sure to speak with a BEC Distribution Design Representative as soon as possible to allow time for power line design and construction. You can use our new electric service construction cost estimator to estimate how much you’ll need to build new electric service.
- Online Application – English
- Online Application – Español
- Application for New Service and Construction or Line Extension – English (PDF)
Service Upgrade & Relocation Request
When your home needs additional power or you need to change the location of or remove existing electric equipment from your property.
Electrical Load Analysis for Service Over 200 Amps
All electrical service requests greater than 200 amps require a site plan, 1-line diagram, and electrical load analysis.
Important Information
- Applicants requesting a new line extension, relocation, or service upgrade are required to pay an engineering fee at the time of the extension or relocation request. Engineering fees are based on the scope of the project.
- Applicants who seek a change in the design following the completion of the engineering phase are required to pay an additional fee.
- Depending on the type of line extension you are seeking, the cooperative will provide a construction allowance.
- Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable fee for any costs in excess of BEC’s construction credit.
- Electric service for a new line extension is required to be connected for a minimum of 1 year.
- Applicants seeking a line relocation or service upgrade will be required to pay a non-refundable fee equal to the estimated cost of the project.
- Developers will be required to pay an engineering fee based on the total lot frontage of the development. In most instances, developers are required to pay a non-refundable fee for the total cost of constructing a trunk line to serve the development.
- Each applicant will be assessed a membership fee upon submitting an application for service.
- Applicants electing to participate in the PrePay program will also pay a membership fee upon submitting an application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? See answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Before a site visit is scheduled:
- Submit an application, provide required documents, and pay engineering fee
- Determine where you will want the final metering point to be
- Identify the location of privately owned buried lines and septic facilities when applicable
Site visit:
- The field staking technician will design the shortest, most feasible route to the desired metering point
- Notify the technician of concerns such as vegetation clearing
- Technician will place stakes along the route, collect GPS points, determine the need for easements and/or permits
After the site visit:
- Technician will complete staking sheets, cost estimate, and any other required documents
- Office technicians will email or mail the cost estimate, a design approval form, and any other required documents
- Upon receipt of payment and required documents the work order will be released to construction
An electric line right-of -way (ROW) easement is a strip of land that an electric utility uses to construct, maintain, or repair a power line or a BEC fiber line.
BEC does not own the land but the easement allows the utility to keep the ROW line clear of vegetation, buildings, and other structures that could interfere with line operation.
The easement is generally 20 feet wide, being 10 feet on each side of the center of the power pole, power line, and/or guy wires and anchors.
BEC will attempt to design the shortest possible route for installing electric service to your property by utilizing existing easements. If no easement exists, BEC will attempt to procure an easement from the adjacent landowners property on the members’ behalf. Should the easement request be denied, BEC will design the line using the next most feasible route.
BEC requires an application be submitted for each request for service. Along with the application, a copy of the warranty deed, survey plat, and the signer’s driver’s license or other form of identification are required. If the service entrance exceeds 200 amperes (amps), a load analysis is required. Each application requires a non-refundable $200 engineering fee.
BEC serves up the metering point, you will need an electrician to complete all wiring beyond that point. For underground metering points or those placed on a structure, you will need an electrician to install a meter rack or loop. For your convenience, BEC sells and installs 200 amp meter loops when the requested metering point will be on a new pole.
Costs vary as they are based on the scope of the project. A basic estimate can be calculated using the cost estimator available on our website. The actual cost is determined following a site visit by a field staking technician. To obtain a cost estimate, the distance from the nearest primary pole to the requested meter location is required.
The engineering fee covers internal processing as well as the tasks required by a field staking technician to complete a request. These tasks include, and are not limited to, site visits, meetings with contractors and applicants, surveying and staking the route, creating easements and cost estimates. The fee is non-refundable.
All permanent structures must be a minimum of 10 feet away from all BEC distribution facilities (including but not limited to guy wires and anchors). Please contact BEC regarding a transmission line on your property, as these distances may vary.
Distances between poles may vary based on the type of wire they support as well as terrain. Poles supporting primary lines, those before a transformer, may be spaced up to 350 feet apart. Those supporting service wires, after the transformer, may be no more than 75 feet apart.
No, a utility easement must remain free of structures. Please view our Electric Service Standards for more information.
No, there are specific code violations that do not allow this. Please view our Electrical Service Standards for more information.
No, the National Electric Safety Code will not allow this for safety reasons. Please view our Electrical Service Standards for more information.
Member Relations: (866) 226-3372 Option 3
• Assist with Billing Questions
• Service Transfers and Disconnects
• Tree Trimming
• Outdoor Light Request
• Member Account Changes and Request
• Fiber Applications/Questions
• Energy Services Applications/Questions
• Member Complaints
• Outages (during business hours)
• Critical Care Forms
Distribution Design: (866) 226-3372 Press 1, Option 4
• New Line Extensions (Construction)
• Service Upgrades
• Service Relocations/Retirements
• Scheduling of Line Staking
• Easment Concerns/Issues
Construction: (830) 331-4447
• Schedule Overhead Construction
• Construction Scheduling Questions
• Locates
• Emergency Disconnects
• Pole/Anchor Replacements
Connecting to the Grid
See grid interconnection information for details on installing and connecting a distributed generation system to the BEC grid.
Contact Us
Call or visit in person.
Call (866) 226-3372 (option 4)
Email Engineering