What Is Electrical Service?

Electrical Service is the transportation of electricity to a structure or building. Electricity delivery to a structure also includes metering, billing, customer service and other activities.

Most homes in the United States have electric service that reaches them through overhead wires that enter a metal service mast and pass through an electrical meter to the home or through underground wires that connect directly to a house. The first stop for the main electrical service at a house is the main service panel, which is usually located in a garage or basement.

The main service panel contains a series of circuit breakers, each of which has a small toggle lever that controls an individual branch circuit running through the house. The breakers are numbered and each has its own amperage capacity. The service panel will also contain a transformer, which can increase or decrease the voltage of the electricity entering the house.

A subpanel is often installed in addition to a main service panel to accommodate the many new circuits and breakers added as part of a home addition or large remodel. It is a convenient way to distribute the main service panel’s amperage capacity throughout the home, and it can also serve as a satellite panel for a detached garage or workshop that does not have its own dedicated electrical service.

If a homeowner is going to be doing work on the electrical system, they should make sure that all necessary permits are secured before starting the project. In addition, all wiring installations must be done in accordance with the latest editions of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and the specifications and regulations of the utility. A failure to follow these requirements could lead to a fine and possibly even the termination of the electric service.

When determining the size of an electrical service, the most important consideration is how much energy will be used at any given time and what types of devices are connected to the circuits. The right-sized electrical service will prevent overloading, which can damage electrical equipment and potentially cause a fire. In addition, an overly large service will result in hefty utility bills and waste of valuable resources.

Electrical Services are supplied by the Authority and sold to customers on a firm basis, consisting of supply and delivery components. The Authority supplies the delivery component of the electric service, but you can choose from competitive wholesale suppliers to supply the supply component.

It is dangerous to work on an open electrical service panel with the outer door closed and its circuit breaker switches exposed. A person can receive a serious shock by touching any of the exposed switches, especially with tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, wire cutters or strippers. A shock from an exposed service panel could be fatal or seriously hurt the person. In addition, an open electrical service panel can be a source of mold and mildew problems if the door is not kept sealed.