New Construction Information

Call DMEA at 970-249-4572 or 1-800-687-3632. A phone call is all that is needed to get the process started. We will ask you some questions and ask that you complete a Request for DMEA System Design Services with a list of items that we need in order to insure that your service will be designed to fit your needs (also available online at www.dmea.com/new-construction-information). A completed Request for DMEA System Design Services along with a $350 design fee will get you in the design que for a site visit. You can stop by one of the following offices to speak to one of our Customer Service Representatives and turn in your completed Application and Fee:

Call us after you own the property and have determined the need for a new electric service or service upgrade. Working upfront with your builder and/or electrician to determine construction details before contacting us will save you time and money by reducing DMEA design time and avoiding expensive changes. Due to the unusually high volume of construction in our service territory, DMEA is currently estimating that new residential services may take as long as 6 to 8 weeks for design and construction. Jobs requiring redesign, complex projects, commercial projects and subdivisions may take longer. Once a job is designed and paid in full, it will be sent to DMEA Operations for installation. One of our crew foreman will then contact you to schedule the work.

DMEA’s New Construction Handbook is available at www.dmea.com. The Handbook provides information to help our members apply for a new construction service or upgrade an existing service.

DMEA is happy to prepare easement documents for you to present to your neighbor, and will be happy to answer questions as they arise. However, you are responsible for taking care of obtaining an easement from your neighbors.

DMEA will assess each situation separately to determine the rate class. However, if the meter is under a business name it will be billed commercial. If we confirm that your electric usage is 50% or more residential AND it is under a member’s name, it will be billed as residential.

Changes of service at the request of the member which benefits you the member will be at your cost. If you choose to remove your overhead service and reconstruct it underground, an Application for New Service is required along with the $350 design fee. DMEA System Designers will then schedule a time to design your underground service.

Yes, for your safety anytime there is a new service installation or change in wiring on the customer’s side of the meter, the State Electrical Inspector is required by law to inspect your service before DMEA can install/re-install a meter. Your electrician is familiar with the Electrical Inspector in your area and should call him to schedule an inspection. Also, when a service has been disconnected for more than 6 months a state electrical inspection is required before DMEA will re-install a meter.

Call DMEA at 970-249-4572 or 1-800-687-3632 to speak to one of our Customer Service Representatives. Service wires, poles, transformers and meters are typically owned by DMEA. When DMEA determines that those services are no longer needed, DMEA may decide to remove them from the property. To complete the process, the landowner is requested to review and sign an ‘Idle Service Retirement Agreement’ (available online at www.dmea.com/new-construction-information) acknowledging ownership of the property and requesting removal of an idle/abandoned service.

DMEA will trim trees away from our high voltage distribution lines. DMEA maintains tree clearances within DMEA power line right-of-way. Tree trimming and removal is required to avoid trees and limbs coming in contact with power lines causing outages, damage, and safety issues. You may not like how we trim trees! The best way to protect your investment in landscaping is to plan ahead - know the size of your trees and shrubs when full grown and avoid planting near both the overhead and underground utilities in your area.

DMEA asks that our members avoid putting landscaping items within 10’ of our equipment. Working with high voltage equipment is a dangerous job which requires a safe working zone for our employees. During outage events, linemen also need to find and access the equipment quickly. If the need arises, we will remove landscaping to restore power to DMEA members.

Also, digging can damage underground lines and cause electrocution or fire. To avoid accidents or incidents, call 8-1-1 or 1-800-922-1987 (Utility Notification Center of Colorado). There is no charge for this service, but all locations must be called in a minimum of three business days before digging begins.

For more information on electrical safety, visit www.dmea.com/safety.