New Construction or Remodel Copy

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Plan Review

1) Obtain a Complete Set of Plans for your Project

Before Florida Keys Electric Cooperative can begin the process of providing you with electric service at your new construction project, you MUST have a complete set of signed and sealed building plans.

If you are in the process of designing your project and would like input from our engineering personnel early in the design stage, or if you would like to discuss options which may be available to you for either overhead or underground service, please contact our engineering department at (305) 852-2431.

For more details about the standards and requirements for receiving electric service, contractors, developers, and homeowners should review FKEC’s Standards For Electrical Service. (If you have any problem reading or accessing the document, please visit an FKEC office or call 305-852-2431 to request a printed copy). 

2) Submit Your Building Plans to FKEC for Review

FKEC must review and approve plans for ANY construction project that involves electricity before the appropriate city or county building department will accept the plans into permitting.

Submit Electronically:

Plans must be bound into one singular file and emailed to Plans@fkec.com. Files must be PDFs, and email size is limited to 20MB or less. Please be sure the plans indicate the legal description (subdivision, lot, and block) for the property you plan to build. Also, include your name and contact information in the email.

Once the review process has been completed, and your plans have been approved for a meter location and service entrance design, FKEC will return the approval electronically. You can then submit the plans to the appropriate city or county building department to obtain your permits.

Submit In Person: 

All plans must be bound. Please submit three (3) sets of signed and sealed plans to FKEC’s Tavernier or Marathon office for Engineering review. Please be sure the plans indicate the legal description (subdivision, lot, and block) for the property you plan to build.

Once the review process has been completed and your plans have been approved for a meter location and service entrance design, FKEC will contact you to pick up your plans for submittal to the appropriate city or county building department to obtain your permits.

Please review FKEC’s Outside Construction Safety guidelines.

3) Obtaining a Temporary Service Connection*

* If you do not require temporary electric service during construction, please skip to Step 4.

If you require electric service during construction, FKEC can accommodate both overhead and underground temporary electric services.

Once your electrical contractor constructs your temporary service it must be inspected by the appropriate city or county electrical inspector. At this time, you will also need to establish an electric account for the temporary service. FKEC cannot install a meter for a temporary electric service until a written approval from the appropriate city or county building official has been received.

Residential Temporary Service Application

Commercial Temporary Service Application

Billing Deposits

Residential: Commercial:

$150.00 To be determined

Residential Service Deposit Policy Commercial Service Deposit Policy

Temporary Service Fee (non-refundable)

Residential: Commercial:

$250.00 $350.00

Note: The above fees include the transition from temporary to permanent power.

4) Obtaining a Permanent Service Connection

When your electrical contractor has completed installing your permanent service it must be inspected by the appropriate city or county electrical inspector. At this time, if you have not already opened an account for a temporary service, you will need to establish an electric account for the permanent service. FKEC cannot install a meter for permanent electric service until a written approval from the appropriate city or county building official has been received.

Residential Permanent Service Application

Commercial Permanent Service Application

Billing Deposit

Residential: Commercial:

$150.00 To be determined

Residential Service Deposit Policy Commercial Service Deposit Policy

Permanent Service Fee (non-refundable)

Residential : Commercial:

$225.00 $300.00

5) Multi-Unit and Large Commercial Projects

FKEC recommends that proposed plans for large commercial projects or multiple unit/building developments be submitted during the design stage, as these plans are often revised several times before a final design is selected. By submitting plans early, FKEC engineering personnel can review and then ensure that the proper service location, equipment and conduit sizes for your specifications are installed.

Please contact FKEC Engineering at (305) 852-2431 for coordination.

Service Entrance Requirements

1) General Requirements for Electric Services

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative requires all meters shall be installed as directed on plans submitted to and approved by FKEC Engineering. All revisions and deviations from FKEC approved electrical plans must be resubmitted for review by an authorized FKEC Engineering representative.

• All services must be inspected and approved by the authority having jurisdiction
• All services must be built in accordance with current FKEC construction specifications
• FKEC only utilizes standard plug-in type meters (FKEC does not accept any bolt in meter sockets)
• All services must have an adjacently installed main disconnect device
• FKEC places meter seals on metering equipment to ensure a safe electrical installation and to prevent theft of electricity. Meter seals may NOT be removed or disturbed by any person other than an authorized representative of FKEC.
• FKEC may refuse to connect any service deemed a possible safety hazard

2) Overhead Electric Service Requirements

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative requires all overhead service installations meet or exceed each applicable requirement as indicated in the FKEC Overhead Service Entrance Requirements (PDF) document.

All overhead permanent services shall be located within 15’ of the front corner, on the side of the building nearest FKECs secondary facilities. Overhead service entrances shall be constructed in such a manner that FKEC service drop wires will not cross over buildings, swimming pools or adjacent properties not owned by the consumer.

Meter poles shall only be installed on properties in which a permanent structure does not exist. Concrete and treated wood meter poles must be a minimum of seven inches in diameter at the ground line (“Class Six”) and shall be installed at a location specified by FKEC Engineering.

All necessary tree trimming shall be done by the owner, prior to installation of FKEC service wire, to ensure a clear path between FKEC secondary facilities and overhead service attachment points.

3) Underground Electric Service Requirements

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative requires all conduit installations meet or exceed each applicable requirement as indicated in the FKEC Underground Service Entrance Requirements (PDF) documents.

The following documents must be submitted for engineering review and approval prior to the commencement of any trenching and/or installation of underground conduit or cable.

• A final site plan showing the electrical trench route, substructure locations, water, sewer and gas tank/line routes and locations. All perpendicular utility crossings of foreign utility trenches must be identified.
• A cross-sectional detail showing trench width and depth, fill materials, conduit size and conduit relative location of each trench occupant. The drawing shall be of sufficient scale and detail to identify utility conflicts and to be used for inspections and construction.

All trench and conduit installations MUST be inspected by an FKEC inspector prior to the placing of back-fill.  To arrange for an inspection, call FKEC at (305) 852-2431 a minimum of 24 hours in advance of your desired inspection date. Any deviations from an FKEC approved trench plan must be approved by an authorized FKEC representative.  

4) Temporary Electric Service Requirements

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative can accommodate both overhead and underground temporary electric service. All temporary service installations must meet or exceed each applicable requirement as indicated in the FKEC Temporary Service Entrance Requirements (PDF) document.

Please contact FKEC Engineering at (305) 852-2431 for coordination.

5) Elevated Meter Access Requirements

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative does not require electric meters be mounted above flood levels. In the event the local governmental agency having jurisdiction requires electrical equipment be installed above flood level, in excess of six feet above finished grade, fixed stairs and a landing must be provided to ensure that FKEC service personnel are able to work safely on the electrical equipment. An adequately sized work area must be constructed in accordance with the FKEC Elevated Meter Platform Requirements (PDF) document prior to FKEC meter installation. If stairs are located directly behind the meter, a movable guard must be installed to block a worker facing the meter from stepping backwards onto the stairs.