ADU Electrical Service with Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
How to get a service upgrade, a new or separate meter, or a relocated service from Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) when you add an ADU, and what our electrical plans give you for that application.
Who SMUD serves
Community-owned electric utility serving most of Sacramento County and small adjoining portions of Placer and Yolo counties. Of the California places we cover, 15 are served mainly by Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), and together they issued 2,438 ADU building permits from 2021 through 2025.
How SMUD handles new and upgraded service
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) handles new service, service upgrades and meter changes through its Design & Construction Services. This is separate from the building permit, so start it as soon as the electrical load calculation shows what the ADU needs. The steps SMUD describes:
- Talk with your local agency (building department) first; for new construction, submit plans to the local agency and get a plan check number before applying.
- Submit the SMUD application, required documents and fees online, by mail, or in person.
- SMUD assigns an engineering designer, who plans the electrical requirements and construction schedule and determines whether civil improvements (trenching, conduit, pads) are needed.
- If civil improvements are required (e.g., underground service), SMUD provides drawings/specifications and a Commitment Package; schedule a pre-construction meeting with the SMUD inspector and complete the work.
- Provide documents the designer lists (e.g., easement or conveyance agreement, copy of the grant deed, building permits); SMUD finalizes design and cost and sends a contract and payment letter; construction is scheduled after the approved contract and fees are received and holds are removed.
- Arrange for the local agency to inspect the electrical panel; the agency notifies SMUD of approval.
- A SMUD crew installs the meter, connects or installs the service wire, and energizes service.
What SMUD asks for
- Application, required documents and fees (SMUD's Meter and Service page does not itemize them)
- Local agency plan check number (new construction)
- As listed by the SMUD designer: easement agreement, conveyance agreement, copy of the property grant deed, building permits
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.
A separate meter for the ADU
SMUD's ADU planning handout states: 'A duplex meter installation is usually required for most ADU situations. This meter panel may need to be placed on the existing or new structure depending on your situation.' SMUD's residential Electric Service Requirements state that normally only one service point is granted to one building or one parcel, and multiple service points may be granted for multiple buildings on one parcel if NEC/CEC, SMUD and AHJ requirements are met.
Whether a separate meter makes sense depends on the load calculation, the existing service size and the cost of the utility work. See when a separate service is required instead of a subpanel.
Service requirements
Meter location, clearances and service equipment must follow SMUD Electric Service Requirements - Residential Underground (Engineering Specification T003, Oct 2024) and Residential Overhead Installations (Engineering Specification T002). We show the meter and service equipment on the electrical plan so the location can be confirmed with SMUD early.
Places SMUD serves that we cover
| Place | County | Climate zone | ADU permits 2021–25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 1,720 |
| Folsom | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 189 |
| Citrus Heights | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 152 |
| Fair Oaks (unincorp.) | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 64 |
| Orangevale (unincorp.) | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 60 |
| Carmichael (unincorp.) | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 58 |
| Elk Grove | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 54 |
| Rancho Cordova | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 31 |
| Rio Linda (unincorp.) | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 24 |
| Wilton (unincorp.) | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 24 |
| Antelope (unincorp.) | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 18 |
| Galt | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 13 |
| Elverta (unincorp.) | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 13 |
| North Highlands (unincorp.) | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 11 |
| Herald (unincorp.) | Sacramento | CZ 12 | 7 |
Sources
- usage.smud.org/projectapplication
- smud.org/-/media/Documents/Business-Solutions-and-Rebates/Design-and-Constructions-Services/ResidentialUnderground_Sec_III.ashx
- smud.org/Corporate/About-us/SMUDs-Territory-Map
- smud.org/Business-Solutions-and-Rebates/Design-and-Construction-Services
- smud.org/Business-Solutions-and-Rebates/Design-and-Construction-Services/Meter-and-Service
- smud.org/Business-Solutions-and-Rebates/Design-and-Construction-Services/New-SMUD-Construction-Required
- smud.org/-/media/Documents/Business-Solutions-and-Rebates/Design-and-Constructions-Services/0847-20_ADU_Handout-F.ashx
- smud.org/-/media/Documents/Business-Solutions-and-Rebates/Design-and-Constructions-Services/ResidentialOverhead_Sec_II.ashx
Summarized from Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)'s published pages. Utility processes, forms and rules change, so confirm the current requirements with SMUD (contact) before you apply.
Need ADU electrical plans for a SMUD 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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