New Service Application

Madison Gas and Electric will be happy to serve your energy needs if your property is within the area defined on this map.

The Madison isthmus area has special electrical construction requirements. Contact MGE so we can provide the requirements before you start.

Electric

Electrical inspection permits/affidavits are required for temporary and permanent electric service before MGE can make your connection. Obtain information through the local building inspection office of the city, village or township where your project is located or call MGE at (608) 252-7373.

Natural gas

Requirements for gas space-heating permits, in addition to non-space-heating uses such as water heating, cooking or clothes drying, vary for each municipality. Obtain information through your local building inspection office of the city, village or township where your project is located.

Electric - Temporary electric service generally takes just a few days if appropriate facilities exist at the project site. If your municipality does not inspect temporary service, your electrician will submit a notarized wiring affidavit.

Permanent electric service typically takes 90 days after we receive the following items (provided you have prepared your site for installation):

• Approval of the service route and cost estimate
• Deposit, if required
• Easement, if required

Multifamily and commercial/industrial projects require an additional two to four weeks for engineering work.

Your electrician must request approval from the local electrical inspector. The inspector then provides us with the electrical inspection permit for permanent service.

Natural gas - A gas service generally takes about four weeks to install after the following have been completed:

• Detailed site plan with meter location sent to MGE.
• Foundation in and backfilled.
• Trench route backfilled to within six inches of final grade.
• Trench route free of obstructions including dirt piles, lumber, dumpsters, job trailers, vehicles, etc.
• All necessary construction permits are approved, if required (municipal excavation permits, environmental permit, easements, etc.).

Starting service

MGE turns on your electric service after receiving the permanent electric inspection permit. Usually, the electrician will contact the electrical inspector’s office to request the permit.

Your gas service, however, cannot be turned on until:

• Your gas appliance is hooked up and vented.
• You have supplied us with a gas space-heating permit for your building.

Electric

For electric service, we will:

• Review your building plans.
• Inspect the installation site.
• Prepare an estimate.

If an installation charge is necessary, we will need a deposit before work can begin.
 

Service	Fee
Temporary electric service supplied during construction	A minimum charge of $111 plus energy use.*
Permanent electric underground service lateral or overhead service drop	No charge for standard installation.*
*Customers may be responsible for the nonstandard installation costs and for costs to extend electric distribution facilities to the lot or to modify them. Call for more information.

Natural gas

For natural gas we will:

• Inspect the installation site.
• Prepare an estimate.

Gas main (supply pipe in the street)
For a house or business located close to an existing gas main, there may be no installation charge.
 
If a main extension is necessary, a deposit may be required before work can begin.

Gas lateral (from the main to your building)
 

Service	Fee
From the main to your property line	No charge.
From your property line to your closest building wall	No charge to first wall or 65 feet, whichever is less. Beyond that, additional charges apply.

Please plan for and maintain safe working and permanent clearances from utility facilities.

• Minimum state and federal safe working clearance from a construction crane to any overhead line is 10 feet.
• Greater clearances required for overhead electric lines operating at voltages exceeding 50,000 volts. View our clearance safety standards for more detail.

Refer to the Wisconsin State Electrical Code and OSHA for clearances:

• From overhead electric facilities to buildings, signs, antennas, balconies, windows, etc.
• Near any underground facility.
• Between transformers and doors, windows, air intake vents, combustible walls, etc.

Landscaping your site

Always call Diggers Hotline before digging. Underground cables could emerge in any direction from transformers and other cabinets.

Allow three feet of space on sides and behind transformers. Pad-mounted transformers can overheat and cause a service interruption if they do not have enough air circulation around them.

Allow 10 feet of clear space in front of transformers. Service workers open and work on the transformers while they are energized so you don’t experience an interruption. To safely do that, they use an eight-foot fiberglass “hot stick.”

Plantings in the right-of-way may be run over. Transformers must be upgraded and replaced and occasionally require extensive repairs. We must drive a vehicle into the right-of-way and use a boom to lift and transport them. We may not be able to avoid damaging your plantings in the right-of-way.

Future expansion

Plan your service and meter installations with an eye to the future. You don’t want to pay for moving utilities when you build on a sunroom or add a garage.

For more information

• Planting guidance

Related links

• OSHA Safe Working Clearances
• Diggers Hotline
• Wisconsin Administrative (Electrical) Code

For both electric and gas service, please prepare your installation site:

• Clear all trees, stumps and other obstacles.
• Fill or grade to within six inches of final grade.
• Install grade stakes and mark to indicate final grade.

For multifamily and commercial/industrial projects, all property corners must be staked and identified as well.

Mark all customer-installed underground facilities that could be damaged by our construction equipment:

• Gas piping
• Sprinklers
• Well water lines
• Septic tanks
• Drain fields
• Communication lines
• Landscape and parking lot lighting

These facilities should be staked to identify:

• Location
• Depth
• Size
• Type of facility

For electric service:

• Your electrician should install the appropriate electric service entrance equipment.
• For multifamily or commercial/industrial projects, call MGE's Operations Scheduling Department at (608) 252-7373.

Once construction is complete and you are ready to turn over the property to the new owner, be sure to notify MGE so we can transfer financial responsibility for the utility service to them. That will ensure you don't receive a bill for service you did not use.

To transfer service responsibility, just call MGE customer service at (608) 252-7222.
 
For more information

• The Right Connections: Installing New Natural Gas and Electrical Service