In short
- Electric service to a rural lot is arranged with the utility that serves that exact address. Near Tyler that can be Oncor or a member-owned cooperative.
- The cost swing is how far the lot is from an existing line, and whether the wire goes overhead or underground.
- Get the line extension quote in writing before you close on land. It is usually not part of the builder's price.
- Order service early. A long extension can be on your schedule's critical path.
On this page
Electric service for a barndominium lot in Smith County is the item our other guides keep calling "the electric run" without explaining. It is the cost and wait between a bare lot and a home with power. This page shows who to call, what the utility decides, and what to ask. We are a referral service, not a builder or a utility; confirm each point with the office named.
Who serves your lot is set by the address
In Texas, electric utilities hold service areas, and you cannot shop around for the wires. Near Tyler, a lot inside the city and a lot ten minutes outside it may have different utilities. Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative, for example, lists Smith among the ten counties it serves, and Oncor describes a construction process for its own territory. Neither one covers every lot.
- Ask the seller for a recent electric bill
The utility name and the account number are on it. If the lot has no service, skip to step 2.
- Call the likely utilities with the street address or parcel number
The Public Utility Commission of Texas lists an electric service territory map locator as a starting point. It is a convenience tool, so confirm by phone.
- Ask the utility how far the nearest line is
And whether it is single-phase, which is the usual residential service, or whether a shop with big motors needs more.
- Ask for the extension process in writing
Co-ops publish a member handbook or line extension policy. Request the current one.
Oncor or a co-op: what is different
Oncor territory
- Oncor delivers power; you then pick a retail provider at powertochoose.org
- Publishes a builder toolkit and an online new-construction request
- Meter ordered after the city signs off, where a city inspection applies
Ask: whether poles or underground cable are needed.
Electric cooperative
- You become a member-owner and may pay a membership fee
- Sets its own line extension policy and allowance
- One bill from the co-op, no retail shopping
Ask: for the current member handbook or tariff.
What the utility decides, and what you pay
The utility designs the route, picks the transformer and sets the charge. Some of that is outside the builder's control. The table shows the usual pieces so you can see which ones a bid might leave out. We give no dollar figures here, because charges are set by each utility and revised by its board.
| Piece | Who handles it | Where it can be missed |
|---|---|---|
| Line extension to your lot | Utility; you pay its charge | Builder bids often exclude it |
| Transformer and pole | Utility | May be inside the extension charge, or not |
| Trench for underground wire | Utility or your site contractor | Unclear who digs |
| Meter base and service panel | Builder's electrician | Must match the utility's specification |
| Temporary pole for construction | Builder orders; utility sets up | Delays if nobody orders it |
Watch out: a lot that looks cheap because it is far from the road may be far from the power too. Published policies from other Texas cooperatives, such as Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative's line extension page, describe a contribution paid before construction that is not refunded if you change your mind. Ask whether your utility's works the same way.
How the allowance works
Co-op policies commonly give a permanent home a credit toward the extension and ask the member to pay the rest. A seasonal or non-permanent site usually gets less or none. The credit is set by the board, so it can change from year to year. Two points to settle in writing: whether a barndominium with a large shop counts as a permanent residence, and whether the allowance is based on the footage or on the total cost of the job.
- What is the total cost to bring power to my pin on the map, and what does it include?
- Is any of that charge refundable if other homes connect later?
- Overhead or underground, and who pays for the trench?
- Does my shop need three-phase power, and does that change the quote?
- How long is the quote valid?
Timing: ask for the schedule before you set the pad
Power takes two visits: a temporary pole while the builder works, then the permanent meter. Oncor's toolkit describes holding the permanent order for city inspection, up to 20 work days, and then aiming for 7 to 10 business days to install. Co-ops publish their own steps. A long extension may need easements, a survey and materials, so the wait can run past that. Our permit guide explains which inspections apply in the city and which do not apply in unincorporated Smith County.
- Who requests the temporary pole, and by what date?
- Is an easement for the new line needed, and who signs it?
- Where will the meter sit, and has the utility approved the spot?
- If the city requires an inspection, who schedules it and who confirms that the utility got the release?
Questions to put to the builder
- Is the electric run in your price, in an allowance, or excluded?
- Who talks to the utility, and will I get copies of its quote and schedule?
- What do you assume about the distance to the nearest line?
- Does your panel, meter base and trenching match the utility's specifications?
- If the utility delays power, how does that change the contract date? See how to choose a builder.
Saves money: put the utility's written extension quote next to the land price when you compare lots. A farther, cheaper lot can lose to a closer one once wire, water and septic are added. Our land checklist and septic and water guide cover the other two.
Official sources
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: electric service territory map locator
- Oncor: new construction and its Home Builders Toolkit (phone 888-222-8045 for underground service)
- Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative: office at 1200 W. Tyler St., Gilmer; ask for its member handbook
- Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative: line extensions (an example of a published co-op policy; not Smith County)
Policies and charges change; confirm with your utility before you rely on any detail here. We are a referral service, not a builder or utility. To meet independent barndominium builders near Tyler who price the electric run on their bids, use the form below.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out who provides electric service to my lot?
Ask the seller for a recent electric bill, then call the utility with the street address or the county parcel number. The Public Utility Commission of Texas also publishes an electric service territory map locator. Near Tyler, some lots are served by Oncor and some by member-owned cooperatives such as Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative, which lists Smith County in its service area. Always confirm with the utility itself.
Is the electric line extension included in my builder's price?
Often not. Many builder bids list the electric run as an allowance or exclude it, because the utility, not the builder, sets the charge. Ask whether the line extension, the transformer, the meter base and the trench are in the bid, and who pays the utility.
Does the cooperative charge for bringing power to a new house?
Cooperatives set their own policies. Published policies from other Texas cooperatives typically give a home an allowance and ask the member to pay the rest before construction, often as a non-refundable contribution. Ask your co-op for its current line extension policy; figures change when boards update them.
What is a temporary pole and do I need one?
A temporary pole and meter give the builder power during construction. Oncor's builder guide describes ordering it separately from the permanent meter. Ask your builder who orders it, and ask your utility whether a co-op handles it the same way.
How long does it take to get power connected?
It depends on the utility, the distance and whether new poles or underground cable are needed. Oncor's builder toolkit describes holding the permanent order for city inspection for up to 20 work days and aiming to install service in 7 to 10 business days afterward, where a city inspection applies. For a long extension, ask for a schedule in writing and order early.
Can I use solar or a generator instead of grid power?
Some owners consider off-grid power, but lenders, insurers and appraisers may have their own requirements. Ask your lender and agent before you plan around it. This page covers grid service.