How to connect to the distribution network – Guidelines for builders
Are you planning to build your own house? Electrifying your new house goes smoothly when you remember to take care of the electrical plan, connection contract, underground cable, meter center, electricity contract, and connecting to the distribution network.
Electrical plan
A well made electrical plan ensures the functioning of the desired electrical equipment and heating system. Consult with an electrical designer or electrical contractor before you start planning.
An electrical contractor approved by TUKES is required to electrify the building. Many house manufacturers have their own electrical designer whose services may be included in the house package. Even in these cases you, as the builder, can present your own wishes concerning the electrical design.
The electrical contractor will install, among other things, the connection cable to the cable duct and the meter center on the plot. They will also order an electricity meter for you, and calculate the main fuse sizes of the electricity connection that determine the connection fees.
Check whether the house includes a metering installation or whether you have to buy one separately.
Order a connection contract
Make a new connection contract well in advance so that everything is ready when you need electricity.
Ordering times for a new electricity connection
- In the zoning area: at least two months in advance.
- Outside of the zoning area: four months in advance.
- Larger connections: prepare for even longer delivery times.
Information needed for the contract:
- Location of the site.
- Size of the main fuse.
- Copy of the general layout
- or, in a rural area, copy of the environmental map.
You will typically get a preliminary price estimate in the service and you can monitor the progress on the order.
Underground cable as connection cable
In the Vaasan Sähköverkko area, the connection cable is an underground cable. You as the builder are responsible for digging and filling in the cable trench, after which the electrical contractor who connected the metering installation can order the electricity connection.
Before starting excavation work, you should check the verkkoselvitys service to see if there are any electricity cables or district heating pipelines in the area.
Recommended cross-sectional areas for connection cables by fuse size
| Main fuse | Connection cable |
|---|---|
| 25–50 A | AXMK 4×25 |
| 63–80 A | AXMK 4×50 |
| 100–125 A | AXMK 4×95 |
| 160–250 A | AXMK 4×185 |
| 315–500 A | 2(AXMK 4×185) |
| 630 A | 2(AXMK 4×300) |
| 750 A | 3(AXMK 4×300) |
| 800 A | 4(AXMK 4×300) |
| 1000 A | 4(AXMK 4×300) |
| 1250 A | 5(AXMK 4×300) |
Meter center placement
Placement options for the meter center:
- Outside wall of the house or the garage. You can also mount the center into the wall so that it’s less eye-catching.
- Technical room (e.g. utility room) – representatives of Vaasan Sähköverkko need to have access to the space, so the entrance door has to be fitted with the energy company’s H-series double-cylinder lock from Abloy. The double-cylinder lock can be replaced with a recessed key safe fitted with the electricity company’s H-series lock cylinder.
- The metering center can be placed by the gate or in another suitable location that is freely accessible also in winter.
Please remember that the metering center must always be accessible without passing through residential areas. The procurement and placement of the metering center are the builder’s responsibility.
Connecting to the distribution network
The builder’s electrical contractor must order the connection to the network at least two weeks before electricity is needed. Before the meter can be installed and the electricity switched on, the following must be completed:
- The main electrical distribution board, underground cable and earthing conductor must be installed, and
- the electrical contractor must submit a commissioning order for the site.
Connection point to the distribution network
Vaasan Sähköverkko informs the customer of the connection point to the distribution network. The different connection methods are as follows:
- The property’s cable is connected to the electricity network in a street distribution cabinet.
- Vaasan Sähköverkko excavates the cable trench up to the property boundary, where the customer’s own electricity cable is connected.
- The property’s cable is connected to the electricity network at an electricity pole located on the property boundary.
The customer is responsible for excavating the trench for their underground cable to the connection point specified by Vaasan Sähköverkko.
Digging the cable trench
A cable trench must be dug for the electricity cable. The trench must be at least one spade-width wide, or approximately 20 centimeters. The recommended trench depth is 80 centimeters.
A layer of fine sand approximately 10 centimeters thick is placed at the bottom of the trench, and the electricity cable is laid on top of it. More sand is then added so that there is 15–20 centimeters of sand above the cable.
Warning tape, available from electrical supply stores, is placed on top of the sand so that no one damages the cable when digging in the ground. Finally, the trench is backfilled.
Trench dimensions in brief:
- Total depth: 80 cm
- Minimum width: 20 cm
- Fine sand at the bottom: 10 cm
- Service cable: minimum depth 70 cm
- Consumer earthing conductor 16 Cu: at least 20 m if installed in the cable trench
- Fine sand above the cable: 15–20 cm
- Warning tape on top of the sand layer
- Warning tape marked “Electric cable”: at a depth of 30 cm
- Backfill soil on top: 20–40 cm
Make an electricity contract
Starting the electricity supply requires an agreement with an electricity supplier of your choice.
When the electricity contract is concluded, an electricity distribution agreement with Vaasan Sähköverkko also enters into force.
Temporary construction electricity
An electricity connection gives you electricity for continuous use. For short-term electricity needs for events or construction periods, we offer temporary electricity.
A normal electricity connection may be suitable for a detached house project from the start of construction, if you have a metering installation on the outside wall of the house available already during the construction phase.
Placement of temporary electricity
If there is a street distribution cabinet at the property boundary, the rental cabinet is placed next to it. If there is an overhead line network near the plot, excluding street lighting, the rental cabinet can be installed on a pole. Otherwise, it is installed on the plot’s supply cable.
When connecting to the supply cable, you must ensure that a suitable stand is built in a location where the cable end can easily reach.
The mounting surface for the rental cabinet must be at least 60 centimeters wide and 75 centimeters high.
The total height of the stand must be approximately 180 centimeters.
The rental cabinet weighs approximately 20 kilograms.
Using your own metering center
You can also use your own metering center for temporary electricity during construction by installing it on a temporary stand. In this case, your electrical contractor connects the underground cable and the earthing electrode to the metering center and orders connection to the network.
It is advisable to reserve enough extra cable so that it reaches the final location of the metering center. The cable must be protected along its entire length. For the extra coil, you can build an enclosure at the foot of the stand or bury the coil in the ground.
Your electrical contractor orders the electricity to be disconnected when they move the metering center to its final location. We charge for disconnection and reconnection work according to the valid service price list.
