When you wish to initiate the Electrical Service back on a building that has previously been shut down and meter removed by the local power company the process is really up to the power company. If no additional work has been performed then quite possibly the power company will simply reconnect. However, the power company (depending on where you live) may wish to have what they like to call a “confirmation” inspection. While the local AHJ may not care about this they will gladly issue a permit for an inspection to release to the power company if requested (at least with most AHJ’s). While this is not really required and is a wasted expense in the eyes of the AHJ, the power company holds all the reconnect cards in the end and they may demand it…the AHJ is just assisting in the process so that you can get power back on. Did the AHJ really have to do anything, NO. But they have to pay an inspector to come look on behalf of the AHJ so you have to pay the minimum fee in most jurisdictions. Again this may change from power company to power company and AHJ to AHJ but that’s the general rule based on my experience as a Code Supervisor in more than one jurisdiction.
Paul W. Abernathy/ Regional Electrical Code Specialist/ National Electrical Manufacturers Association[NEMA]
