Power will need to be turned on near the end of the overall project to prepare for the final inspection. Rotation of motors will need to be checked on HVAC systems, batteries in emergency luminaires will need to be charged, testing will be required to make sure automated doors function properly, and the fire alarm system will be commissioned.

Many jurisdictions will have special requirements and paperwork that must be filed out to get power turned on before an official certificate of occupancy has been issued for the project.

Be sure to check with the local inspector to find out what must be done to get city approval to energize the electrical system. Make sure to coordinate with the electric utility company so they can get your project on their schedule if they need to set a transformer and pull secondaries into the service equipment. Sometimes the utility company will require several weeks’ notice before they place your project on their schedule.

Never try to convince the inspector that the electric utility company cannot set a transformer and pull secondaries to the service equipment without the inspector’s green tag on the service. This is an old trick, and your inspector is smarter than this.

The utility company is not governed by the city electrical inspector and can set a transformer any time they feel that the project is far enough along to justify it. This is simply a tactic used by the utility company to avoid being called out to construction sites every day to energize service equipment that is nowhere near ready for it. They will come out upon request and see that the job is far from ready and then say, “call us back out when there’s a city inspector’s green tag on the service”. This doesn’t mean that they will never pull secondaries to service equipment without the inspector’s green tag and the city inspector knows this. The inspector does not appreciate being pressured into approving service equipment that’s not ready just to help you get on the utility company’s schedule faster.

Most jurisdictions will only place a green tag on the electrical service when the following has been completed:

• Temporary power application filled out (if required) and any applicable fees paid. There will be disclaimer statements on these types of applications so that the city has proof that the electrician is responsible to maintain safety to ensure that shock or electrocution does not occur.
• Service equipment must be installed.
• All service conductors and feeders must be pulled into the service equipment and terminated at each end. An inspector will not usually give approval to energize panelboards or equipment that still needs wires pulled into it or has unterminated wires.
• All grounding terminations must be made and the grounding electrode system must be complete.
• Utility company approval on the service equipment.
• Any installed GFPE service disconnects, or feeder overcurrent devices rated 1000 amps or larger on 480/277V WYE systems to be third party tested and paperwork present showing an approved test result.
• Downstream panelboards and equipment fed from the service to be installed with feeders terminated.
• At least one panelboard downstream of the service must be 100% complete and ready to energize (including all branch circuits and the equipment they supply installed) and all wires terminated at each end. Basically, the city will want one justifiable reason to allow power to be turned on, other than the typical excuse “the utility company will not set their transformer and pull secondaries until the city has placed a green tag on the service”. A good justification to energize is when the mechanical (HVAC) panel is ready, and all HVAC equipment is installed and wired.
• Lockout devices present for any service overcurrent devices that supply downstream equipment that is installed with feeders terminated at each end, but not yet ready to be energized.