New Builders
BrightRidge understands how important it is to meet your construction and scheduling needs. By contacting us early in the building process, we can perform design engineering, equipment & materials procurement, and utility construction by your in-service completion date. You may contact our Engineering Department by calling 423-952-5034, Monday – Friday 8am to 5pm.
General Information
Call BrightRidge Engineering Department at 423-952-5034, Monday – Friday 8am to 5pm.
For an individual site, BrightRidge’s Engineering Department requires a plat indicating the 911 address, as well as water and sewer piping located on the property. For a subdivision, BrightRidge’s Engineering Department requires a plat indicating the 911 addresses for each lot, as well as water and sewer piping and any pumps for water or sewer that may be located on the subdivision property.
Once you have met with a BrightRidge engineer, a single pole or individual underground job may take up to two weeks to engineer. For an entire subdivision, the engineering process can take up to eight weeks. Engineering and construction times may vary dependent upon weather, number of jobs, and incomplete or incorrect information.
The correct street address (911 address) ensures all BrightRidge orders for temporary or permanent service correspond so that power can safely be turned on. BrightRidge requires all temporary and permanent services to have the 911 address posted in a location visible from the road or no further that 12″ directly below the meter. Contact the correct city or county office where the property is located to obtain a street/911 address.
- City of Johnson City – 423-434-6073
- City of Kingsport – 423-224-2462
- Jonesborough/Washington County – 423-928-9111
- Sullivan County – 423-279-7612
- Greene County – 423-638-8663
- Carter County – 423-543-0911
In Washington County, a service release may be requested at any point under construction when the completely grounded service has been installed and one Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) receptacle is provided. The service release is applicable for 45 days.
For other counties or cities served by BrightRidge, contact the appropriate state electrical inspector.
City of Johnson City – 423-434-6048
City of Kingsport – 423-224-2415
All other county residents – 615-741-7170
- Final inspections for new and manufactured homes.
- Safety inspections where power has been turned off for a period of one year.
- Electrical service upgrades of all types.
- All emergency situations, such as storm damage, fallen trees, and service failures, etc.
For all questions concerning any of the above-listed items, please contact the appropriate state electrical inspector.
- City of Johnson City – 423-434-6048
- City of Kingsport – 423-224-2415
- All other county residents – 423-282-6742
In Washington County, if the main service is undisturbed, it can be used as the temporary. If the main service must be relocated or upgraded, a temporary service will be required. For other counties or cities served by BrightRidge, please contact the appropriate state electrical inspector.
- City of Johnson City – 423-434-6048
- City of Kingsport – 423-224-2415
- All other county residents – 423-282-6742
BrightRidge requires a safety inspection for any electrical service that has been shut off for one year or more. The State of Tennessee requires an electrical permit be purchased for the safety inspection.
The 3 requirements of the inspection are:
- The service must be in good working condition.
- No loose wires from walls or hanging from ceiling.
- A working, battery smoke detector in each bedroom and one in the hallway that leads to the bedrooms.
To schedule a planned outage for residential, commercial, or industrial services, first acquire any applicable electrical permits and then contact BrightRidge Service Department 24 hours in advance at 423-952-5025. An electrical permit is required if the electrical service must be disconnected, the mast (weatherhead and conduit) or meter base is removed and if the electrical panel is changed out or upgraded.
- Contact the BrightRidge Engineering Department at 423-952-5034 to schedule an appointment with a field engineer.
- The BrightRidge field engineer will provide a cost estimate for the job.
- The job is then prepared by engineering staff.
- Once payment is made by you at the BrightRidge Engineering Department, the job is given to the BrightRidge Service Department to be worked.
Job completion time is dependent upon receipt of payment and completion of the following customer responsibilities:
- Digging the ditch for the underground service from the house/meter to the pedestal.
- Installing all conduit and service wire.
- All electrical inspections.
- BrightRidge will install pedestal and make all connections at the pedestal.
If you request to have a pole relocated, you will be required to pay all construction costs.
This is a pre-made temporary service leased to customers for a fee of $50 per month. You will be billed for all kWh usage during the lease period and any applicable connection fees. BrightRidge temporary service does not require an electrical inspection in Washington County. For other counties or cities served by BrightRidge, contact the appropriate state electrical inspector. You may contact the BrightRidge Customer Service Department at 423-952-5000 to make application for a BrightRidge temporary underground service.
Overhead Service
BrightRidge needs 24″ of wire to make the drop loop.
Service drops shall comply with the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC).
For all inquiries concerning building underneath a service entrance cable for pools, hot tubs, outbuildings, decks or other permanent or mobile structures, contact the BrightRidge Engineering Department at 423-952-5034.
Underground Service
Yes, you are responsible for excavation, conduit, and all electrical permits. Contact the BrightRidge Engineering Department for depth requirements at 423-952-5034.
Yes, allow one foot vertical and horizontal spacing between BrightRidge cables and any other utility cables.
All conduit installations must be scheduled with the BrightRidge Underground at 423-952-5027.
Access to a pad mount transformer shall not be restricted. Shrubbery and trees should be planted a good distance from the pad mount transformer (3′ each side of pad and 8′ in front of the door). Decorative rock, mulch, and annual plants that do not restrict access to transformers are permitted. You may also reference the sticker on the outside of all pad mount transformers for proper planting distances.
Metering
No, BrightRidge does not furnish meter bases.
BrightRidge only uses plug-in type meter bases for residential and commercial services 400 amp and less. Any electrical service that exceeds 400 amp will be CT-metered (current transformer). For other meter base inquiries, contact the BrightRidge Service Department at 423-952-5025.
Yes, in Washington County if the mobile home diagram is followed. Click HERE for a copy of the diagram. For other counties or cities served by BrightRidge, contact the appropriate state electrical inspector.
- City of Johnson City – 423-434-6048
- City of Kingsport – 423-224-2415
- All other county residents – 423-282-6742
No, not in Washington County. A ground wire does not need to be extended to the weatherhead. The ground wire needs to be attached between the meter base and an 8′ ground rod. For other counties or cities served by BrightRidge, contact the appropriate state electrical inspector.
- City of Johnson City – 423-434-6048
- City of Kingsport – 423-224-2415
- All other county residents – 423-282-6742
Residential and commercial meter bases must be 5 ½’ above finished grade to the center of the meter base. Sign and landscaping meter bases must be a minimum of 4′ to the top of the meter base.