Utility Research and Coordination, California
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Record searches, will-serve letters, capacity applications, and agency coordination. Complete in 5-7 days.
What We Deliver
Utility coordination often becomes a critical path item on development projects. We handle the research, outreach, and documentation so you can move forward with confidence. Every project gets a comprehensive findings report plus all supporting correspondence from utility providers.
As-Built Record Searches
Detailed drawings and records for gas, electric, water, sewer, telephone, and cable utilities. We contact utility districts directly and obtain plans showing depths, sizes, and locations.
Will-Serve Letters
Formal capacity verification from water districts, sewer agencies, and power providers. Typically required by lenders, planning departments, and developers.
Capacity Applications
Complete applications and supporting calculations to secure capacity reservations. We handle water, sewer, electrical, and gas capacity requests.
Utility Coordination & Meetings
Multi-party coordination calls with PG&E, water districts, cities, and other agencies. We represent your interests and document all commitments.
Utilities and Agencies We Coordinate With
Power
PG&E (Northern CA), SCE (Southern CA), SDG&E (San Diego), OLE, city-operated utilities
Water and Wastewater
EBMUD, SFPUC, local water districts, sewer agencies, recycled water providers
Communications
AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, other telecom carriers, fiber operators
Jurisdiction & Fire
City planning departments, county agencies, fire districts
Our Process
- Intake: You provide site address, project description, planned utility needs (electrical service size, water demand, sewer flow, etc.).
- Records Request: We submit formal requests to all relevant utilities and track response status.
- Coordination: We conduct calls, email correspondence, and follow-up with each utility to clarify findings and confirm capacity.
- Documentation: All responses are compiled into a single report with findings, constraints, recommendations, and next steps.
- Delivery: You get the complete findings report plus PDF copies of all utility letters and records.
Timeline and Pricing
Typical turnaround: 5-7 business days from scope definition. Expedited requests (3-5 days) available at higher rates.
Pricing: Fixed-fee packages start at $1,500 for basic record searches and will-serve verification. Full coordination projects typically range $2,500–$5,000 depending on utility count and complexity.
We’ll provide a detailed quote within 24 hours of your request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a utility research package?
A complete utility research package includes: as-built record requests to all relevant utilities, summary report of findings, copies of all utility responses, identification of potential conflicts, and recommendations for project coordination or mitigation.
How long does a will-serve letter take?
Will-serve letters typically take 10-20 business days for water districts and 15-30 days for electrical utilities. We initiate all requests immediately and track status. Some agencies respond faster if the project is straightforward (standard connection, no capacity issues).
Which utility providers do you coordinate with?
We work with PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, all Bay Area water districts (EBMUD, SFPUC, local districts), sewer agencies, AT&T, Comcast, city planning departments, and fire districts. If you need a utility we haven’t listed, we can research and coordinate—just ask.
How far in advance should I order research?
Ideally, 4-6 weeks before plan check or lender submission. This gives us time to handle any requests that require utility site visits or detailed analysis. For will-serve letters specifically, factor in 3-4 weeks minimum. If you are on a tighter timeline, call us—we sometimes can accelerate.
What if utilities conflict at the site?
That is exactly what we identify and document. Our report highlights conflicts, depth mismatches, capacity constraints, and incompatibilities. We also recommend solutions: relocation options, special conduit requirements, booster stations, etc. We can provide more detailed engineering on mitigation if needed.
Can you handle single-utility requests?
Yes. If you only need a water will-serve or electrical records, we handle those as individual line items. Cost is lower and turnaround is faster.