Underground Service Installation

Underground service installation routes your electrical service line below ground rather than through overhead wires on a utility pole. For homeowners in Bastrop, TX, underground service is common in newer subdivisions where utilities are buried by default, and it’s increasingly requested as an upgrade for older properties that want to eliminate exposed overhead lines. All Communities handles underground electrical service installation for residential and commercial properties throughout the area.

underground electrical service installation by all communities electric

Why Choose Underground Electrical Service?

Overhead service lines work fine under normal conditions, but they have vulnerabilities that underground lines avoid:

  • Ice storms, high winds, and falling tree limbs can bring down overhead lines, cutting power and creating a safety hazard
  • Overhead lines are exposed to UV degradation, animal damage, and weather-related wear over time
  • Visible service lines and utility poles affect curb appeal and resale value
  • Underground service eliminates the weatherhead and mast on your roofline for a cleaner exterior

Underground service is more resistant to storm damage than overhead lines. After Central Texas ice storms and severe weather events, homes with underground service are far less likely to lose power from downed lines on their property.

What Does Underground Service Installation Involve?

Converting from overhead to underground service or installing new underground service is a multi-step project that involves coordination between your electrician, the utility company, and local permitting authorities:

  1. Utility coordination. We work with your power company to plan the transition. The utility handles their side of the connection (from the transformer to your property line), and we handle everything from the property line to your electrical panel.
  2. Permits. Underground service installation requires electrical permits in Bastrop and throughout Texas. We pull permits and schedule inspections as part of the project.
  3. Trenching. We trench from the utility connection point to your electrical panel location at the depth required by the National Electrical Code. Depth requirements vary based on the conduit type and whether the trench runs under driveways, landscaping, or open ground.
  4. Conduit and wire. We install rated conduit in the trench and pull the service conductors through to your meter base and panel.
  5. Meter base and panel connection. We install or relocate the meter base for underground entry and connect the new service to your existing panel (or a new panel if you’re upgrading at the same time).
  6. Backfill and restoration. We backfill the trench and restore the surface. Landscaping, sod, or hardscape repair may be needed depending on the trench path.
  7. Inspection and utility connection. The municipal inspector verifies code compliance, and the utility company makes the final connection and energizes the service.

The full process typically takes several days to a few weeks, depending on utility company scheduling, permit turnaround, and the complexity of the trench route.

How Much Does Underground Service Installation Cost?

Underground service is a larger project than most residential electrical work, and costs vary significantly based on your property. The main factors:

  • Trench distance. The length of the run from the utility transformer or connection point to your panel is the biggest variable. Longer runs require more conduit, wire, and trenching labor.
  • Soil and terrain. Rocky soil, tree roots, existing landscaping, and hardscape like driveways or patios that the trench must cross all add to the complexity and cost.
  • Service size. The amperage of your electrical service determines the wire gauge and conduit size. A 200-amp underground service uses different materials than a 400-amp service.
  • Utility costs. The utility company may charge separately for their portion of the conversion (moving the transformer tap from overhead to underground). These costs vary by utility provider.
  • Concurrent upgrades. If you’re upgrading your panel or meter base at the same time as the underground conversion, the combined project is more cost-effective than doing them separately.

All Communities provides a detailed estimate after a site evaluation. We walk you through every component of the project, including the utility company’s portion, so you understand the full scope before committing.

Underground Service for New Construction and Outbuildings

New homes in subdivisions with underground utilities get underground service by default. For custom homes on rural lots in the Bastrop area, you may have the option of overhead or underground, and underground is the better long-term investment despite the higher upfront cost.

Running underground electrical service to detached garages, workshops, barns, and other outbuildings follows the same principles: trench to proper depth, install rated conduit and wire, and connect to a sub-panel in the structure. If you’re already trenching for an outbuilding’s electrical service, it’s efficient to include other utilities (water, data) in the same trench while it’s open.

Frequently Asked Questions