Duke Energy, York Electric or Rock Hill Utilities: Who to Call for a Service Upgrade

Short answer: Look at who sends your electric bill. That utility has to disconnect the power, wait for the city or county inspection to pass, and then reconnect. In most of Rock Hill that is Rock Hill Utilities (803-329-5500). In Fort Mill and Tega Cay it is Duke Energy or York Electric Cooperative, depending on your street. In Charlotte it is Duke Energy. Your licensed electrician normally makes these calls, but it helps to know what each utility expects so the job is scheduled properly.

A service upgrade is the job that replaces the meter base and main panel so the house can carry more load, for example going from 100 amps to 200 amps for an EV charger, a heat pump or an addition. Unlike most electrical work, it involves three parties: you, your electrician, and the power company. Everything below comes from each utility’s own published rules, with links.

Rock Hill Utilities (City of Rock Hill)

The City of Rock Hill runs its own electric utility, and its planning department publishes the full upgrade sequence:

1. Call first for overhead services. “If you are planning to upgrade an overhead electrical service served by the City, contact Utilities Dispatch at 803-329-5500.” The city may require the service to be converted to underground, which can mean more applications and fees.
2. Permit. The electrician applies for a trades permit and a City business license. A South Carolina electrical license is required.
3. Same-day disconnect and inspection. The electrician schedules the power disconnect with Utilities Dispatch and books the building inspection for the same day, at least 24 hours ahead. “Our Utilities Department will not reconnect power until the building inspection has been approved.”
4. Free meter base. The city gives out a free meter base, and a CT cabinet for services above 400 amps, from the City Utility Warehouse at 757 S. Anderson Rd. Staff need to see the electrical permit.
5. Reconnect. When the inspection passes, the inspector sends a release to Utilities. An occupied home is reconnected the same day. A vacant building can take up to 5 business days.

Do not touch the meter seal: the city says “you cannot cut the seal on the meter yourself,” and doing so can mean a fine or jail time. The city also notes that upgrading a home’s service “will trigger additional upgrades to the electrical system,” so a good estimate covers more than the panel.

Source: Steps to change out or upgrade electrical service, Trade permits.

Duke Energy (Charlotte, and parts of Fort Mill, Tega Cay and York County)

Duke Energy Carolinas publishes one rulebook for North Carolina and South Carolina, its Requirements for Electric Service and Meter Installations. The parts that matter for an upgrade:

• Tell Duke early. “If the customer’s electrical service needs changing, additional load is being added, or electrical facilities need relocating, the customer will need to update their service application information by contacting the company as early in the planning process as possible.”
• Inspection before reconnect. Duke “cannot connect any temporary or permanent electric service and set a meter until the company has been notified by the AHJ that the proper inspections have been completed and approved.” The AHJ is the city or county inspections office.
• Meter base is yours. The customer furnishes, installs, owns and maintains the meter socket. For homes in the Carolinas, Duke installs and maintains the service line, riser and meter, and the meter box is the customer’s responsibility. On new overhead installations since April 2016, Duke installs and maintains only the service line and the meter.
• Disconnects for electrical work are free during business hours. Duke’s South Carolina service regulations say the customer “will not be charged” for a temporary disconnection and later reconnection “during normal business hours” to allow electrical work. North Carolina’s rules say nearly the same thing. The cost of upgrading Duke’s own equipment can still be charged to the customer.
• Overhead to underground costs extra. Converting an overhead service drop to underground is charged under Duke’s filed rates, and boring under driveways or sidewalks can add cost.

Duke’s customer care line to apply for service is 800-777-9898, and outages go to 800-769-3766. Your electrician can tell you which Duke line fits your job.

Sources: Duke Energy Requirements for Electric Service (PDF), Meter and service connection damage, SC service regulations (PDF).

York Electric Cooperative (parts of York, Chester and Lancaster counties)

York Electric serves portions of York, Chester, Lancaster and Cherokee counties, and it is one of the two power companies the Town of Fort Mill and the City of Tega Cay list for their residents. Its rules are shorter than Duke’s, but the key points are clear:

• “Proper county permits and inspection are required before power is connected.”
• “Overhead lines can be changed to underground for a fee at the request of a member.”
• When line construction is needed, York Electric asks for at least 10 working days’ notice.

Call York Electric Member Services at 803-684-4248, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., before the job is scheduled. After-hours reconnects carry a $100 fee on York Electric’s published fee list, so plan the work for a weekday.

Sources: York Electric rules and regulations, Start residential service, Rates and fees.

Union County, NC: Union Power Cooperative and the City of Monroe

Union Power Cooperative lets members request a scheduled outage for electrical work, in advance, through customer service at (704) 289-3145. “For any work performed on the meter base, an approved inspection through the respective city and/or county inspection office is required before service reconnection.” Only co-op staff may cut a meter seal. Anyone else doing it is treated as tampering. Converting an overhead service to underground has a published charge of “$750 minimum” plus extraordinary costs. Sources: Union Power new construction, Union Power service rules (PDF).

The City of Monroe runs its own electric utility for customers in and around Monroe. Its electrical permit application covers upgrades, and it says customers may not alter the city’s meters or seals. The Permit Center is at (704) 282-4524. Source: City of Monroe electric.

Before you call anyone

1. Find your utility on your electric bill.
2. Have your electrician look at the panel and meter first. Whether you need a full service upgrade or just a panel change decides which calls are needed.
3. Ask for one visit and one day. The disconnect, the swap and the inspection should be scheduled together, so the house is not left without power.

J&E Electric is licensed in South Carolina (M110118) and North Carolina (27147-U). On a service upgrade we pull the permit, coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with your utility, and meet the inspector.