ADU Electrical Service with Liberty Utilities
How to get a service upgrade, a new or separate meter, or a relocated service from Liberty Utilities when you add an ADU, and what our electrical plans give you for that application.
Who Liberty Utilities serves
CPUC-regulated electric utility serving the California Lake Tahoe area and other eastern Sierra communities listed on its California Electric site, with engineering offices for South Lake Tahoe and North Lake Tahoe. Of the California places we cover, 2 are served mainly by Liberty Utilities, and together they issued 44 ADU building permits from 2021 through 2025.
How Liberty Utilities handles new and upgraded service
Liberty Utilities handles new service, service upgrades and meter changes through its New Construction Service Application (PowerClerk portal). This is separate from the building permit, so start it as soon as the electrical load calculation shows what the ADU needs. The steps Liberty Utilities describes:
- Register (free) and submit the Electric Service Application in PowerClerk for new service or panel upgrades; like-for-like panel changeouts (same amperage, same location) use a separate PowerClerk form.
- Plan check: Liberty engineering reviews the plans; if revisions are needed, Liberty issues a mark-up showing the correct panel location and other customer-installed infrastructure, and the plans must be updated.
- Plan approval: Liberty provides an approval stamp for coordination with local agencies.
- Liberty confirms remaining requirements; the project goes to planning for final design, any final cost determination and a contract.
- After the signed contract is returned, Liberty operations performs the installation. A permit is required for a new or upgraded panel.
What Liberty Utilities asks for
- Electrical/utility site plan (to scale)
- Exterior elevations showing proposed meter location
- Electrical floor plan
- Roof plans
- Electrical single line diagram, panelboard schedules and load calculations
- Deed
- Completed New Construction Service Application (Tax ID or SSN)
- County-assigned address of the new service location
- Letter of representation if the applicant is not the owner
Our ADU electrical plans include the NEC Article 220 load calculation, panel schedule and single-line diagram, which cover the load and equipment information on this list. Site-plan and service-location details come from your architectural set.
Service requirements
Meter location, clearances and service equipment must follow Liberty Substructure Electric Construction Standards (SECS), Section 7 - Services and Section 8 - Metering; CPUC tariff Rule 16 (Service Extensions). We show the meter and service equipment on the electrical plan so the location can be confirmed with Liberty Utilities early.
Places Liberty Utilities serves that we cover
| Place | County | Climate zone | ADU permits 2021–25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Lake Tahoe | El Dorado | CZ 16 | 37 |
| Carnelian Bay (unincorp.) | Placer | CZ 16, 11 | 7 |
Sources
- libertycanewconstruction.powerclerk.com/MvcAccount/Login
- california.libertyutilities.com/verdi/residential/contact/substructure-electric-construction-standards.html
- california.libertyutilities.com/verdi/residential/contact/construction-service.html
- california.libertyutilities.com/uploads/2022%200317%20Plan%20check%20process%20-Tahoe.pdf
- california.libertyutilities.com/uploads/Substructures%20-%20Section%207%20-%20Services_4_12_23.pdf
- california.libertyutilities.com/uploads/CalPeco%20Tariffs/Rule%20No.%2016.pdf
- california.libertyutilities.com/uploads/Rule_19.pdf
Summarized from Liberty Utilities's published pages. Utility processes, forms and rules change, so confirm the current requirements with Liberty Utilities (contact) before you apply.
Need ADU electrical plans for a Liberty Utilities service request?
We prepare the load calculation, panel schedule and single-line diagram the utility and the building department both review.
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