Bangor Hydro Electric Company

This guide outlines the steps to take for a new electrical service or line extension. Before hooking up a new electrical service, requirements from the National Electrical Code and the National Electrical Safety Code must be met and other forms completed and processed.

Customers who have service wiring installed without first obtaining location approval from Bangor Hydro for the point of attachment do so at the risk of having to relocate the installation.
  1. Application for electrical service can be made by calling our Customer Service Center at 947-2414 or 1-800-499-6600.
  1. Please provide the following information when calling so that we may supply you with electric service on a timely basis:
    • Type of service required - Residential, Mobile Home, Commercial or Industrial
    • Permanent or temporary service - Permanent service is usually attached to the house or building and will be in use indefinitely. Temporary service (typically used for construction and usually hooked to a temporary pole or structure) is defined as electrical service provided for a period of time generally not to exceed six months.
    • Site location and address of service - The number on the nearest utility pole, approximate distance to area landmarks or other helpful directions are appreciated.
    • Mailing address, phone number, date of birth, license or other ID, social security number and name of your employer.
    • Name of the electrician who is performing the work.
    • Load Information Form - Required for all new commericial/industrial business services. Downloadable version available below.
  1. If telephone service is required, you should notify your telephone company immediately. In most areas, we work with the telephone company in setting poles, so having their timely involvement may reduce the time required to provide electrical service.
  1. Local or State Authorization - Bangor Hydro is required by the laws of the State of Maine to provide service only to structures that are in compliance with state and local ordinances regarding the development of subdivisions and shoreland zone areas. If your building is in an organized township, we will send you a Subdivision/Shoreland Authorization Form (click to download PDF file) that local officials will need to complete. If your building is in an unorganized township, we will refer you to the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), 1-800-452-8711 or 287-2631. LURC will provide you with a Building Permit and we will require a copy of this permit for our records.
  1. Electrical Inspection - Most towns require a permit before work begins. You or your electrician must notify the electrical inspector in your city or town when the new service is ready to be inspected. The inspector will in turn inform Bangor Hydro after the new service passes inspection. If there is no local electrical inspector and the building was constructed after July 1, 1997, a licensed electrician or state electrical inspector is required to inspect. Nonresidential and multifamily buildings require state electrical permits. Your electrician can obtain the State Permit by calling 624-8603.
  1. Bangor Hydro provides the first 150 feet of service wire (with no road crossings) or 200 feet of service wire (with a road crossing) at no cost to you. Distances over 150 feet from our pole may require a private secondary service pole. If no additional poles are required, we will schedule our crew to run the wires from our pole to the point of attachment.
  2. Line Extensions - If it is necessary that a primary line extension be installed due to connected load or distance:
  • If you're a developer who would like the line built into a subdivision, we will ask that you make a contribution in aid of construction to fund the extension. The option of paying monthly surcharges is not applicable for developers.
  • Bangor Hydro will obtain state/municipal permits needed for placing new lines along public roads or for crossing railroad tracks or bodies of water. The customer will be responsible for obtaining necessary permits for privately owned lines.
  • If the line is owned by Bangor Hydro, then an easement will be necessary from you. If the line crosses land other than yours, whether you own the line or Bangor Hydro owns the line, an easement is required.
  • The following documents and information should be brought to the initial meeting with the Bangor Hydro service planner at your site:
    1. A copy of your deed, lease, or ten-year legal interest to the property.
    2. A copy of that portion of the town tax map that shows your lot and all abutting or affected property owners. Town tax maps are available at your town office. Make sure the tax map shows the page number.
    3. A copy of your subdivision plan or surveyor's plan.
    4. If there are trees obstructing the area where lines are to be run from the pole to your dwelling, you will be required to have them trimmed or removed before service lines are installed.
  1. Underground Installations - These lines are generally more expensive and complicated to install than standard overhead facilities.
    • Line extension contracts may be necessary.
    • You will be required to provide trench excavation, backfill, conduit, an installed ΒΌ " pull rope, transformer foundation and an as built surveyor's attested plan on mylar.
    • State of Maine requires that where any private facilities are in the public way, the customer must provide the electric utility with certified copies of the approved permits before power can be supplied to the customer (S.P.7.1-LD, 133, Sec. 2.35-A MRSA paragraph 2305).
    • State of Maine and Towns also require the customer to obtain a road opening permit before digging in any public way. Please contract the appropriate town or state officials.

  2. Private Lines -  The customer also has the right to hire a Private Contractor to build their line extension as long as the line is not in a public way. Before Bangor Hydro can energize the line, we ask the customer to mark his private poles with numbers that are provided by Bangor Hydro. If in the event, additional customer's request power from a privately owned line, please contact Bangor Hydro. In order for Bangor Hydro to provide a customer with service, the electric company must own the distribution line. For more information, please contact Bangor Hydro.
  3. Requirements for Temporary Service - To provide guidance and instructions for determining the requirements for providing temporary service to single-phase and three-phase customers.
  • Determination of Applicability - Definition of Temporary Service: Temporary Service may be either for construction power pending the installation of permanent power or for short duration non-permanent power or for short duration non-permanent requirements.
  • Construction Power Service - Construction power service will be provided to customers that demonstrate their intent to construct permanent service units and thereby would meet the requirements of Bangor Hydro's Terms and Conditions. No other special charges or terms are required.
  • Short Duration or Non-permanent Service - Service for which the Company has reason to believe is for a short duration (i.e., service to a camper trailer, mobile office, bridge or highway construction projects) shall be subject to Up and Down Charges. Up and Down Charges shall be based on theestimated cost of all labor to construct or install facilities to service the customer, all labor to dismantle those facilities, and the value of any non-salvageable material that were expended (exclusive of service drop of up to 150 feet).
  • Pricing - Service only: If only a service drop is involved a flat rate of $200 is charged; it is also $200 per each additional service drop.
  • Service and Transformer
    Single Phase - If only a service drop(s) it shall be $360 for one (1) transformer and one (1) service; an additional service would be an additional $200.
    Three Phase - If only a service drop it shall be $320; for three transformers and one service it shall be $830; each additional service from this installation would be an additional $320.
  1. Forms - Click on the links below to download the forms. Use Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and print the files, which are in Portable Document Format (PDF).

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