Builder News
Volume 11, Issue 2 • Spring 2011
In this issue:
• Transition to InfraSource
now complete
• ENERGY STAR® home builders
have competitive edge
• PSE’s Multi-family New
Construction Efficiency
Program expands
• PSE web site updated
• Save time and money
using 2-inch conduit for
gas service lines
How to reach PSE
Utility construction: For natural gas
and electric utility service installations, call
PSE’s Customer Construction Services
(CCS) team at 1-888-321-7779 (7 a.m. to
5 p.m.). The team handles all residential
and commercial new construction,
service line and meter modification, and
charges and refunds related to new utility
infrastructure installations.
Online resources: Check-out online
resources including construction
handbooks, videos, and new utility service
applications, visit PSE.com/Accountsand
Services/Construction.
Energy efficiency incentives: For
energy efficiency program and builder
incentive information, call PSE’s Energy
Advisors at 1-800-562-1482.
Billing and emergencies: For natural gas
and electric energy billing or emergency
response inquiries, call 1-888-225-5773.
PSE Builder News is published by
Puget Sound Energy, PO Box 97034,
Bellevue, WA 98009-9734
Natural Gas service provider transition
to InfraSource complete
This spring Puget Sound Energy completed its
transition to a new natural gas service provider,
InfraSource. As of May, InfraSource assumed
responsibility for all new natural gas customer
construction as well as the construction and
maintenance work on the utility’s natural gas system.
The transition process required much coordination
and collaboration between InfraSource and PSE, as well as from Potelco, another
service provider. The transition included hiring staff members from Pilchuck, PSE’s
previous natural gas service provider, to build out more than 50 crews. Not only was
hiring important but more than 600 pieces of equipment have been mobilized and
dozens of crew trucks successfully equipped with tools and supplies necessary for
InfraSource to begin work under contract with PSE.
“The transfer to InfraSource has gone quite smoothly,” said PSE’s Pam Parish,
manager, contractor management who co-led the transition with Scott Keaton,
manager, contractor management. “Anytime a project of this magnitude is undertaken
there will be a few obstacles but we are pleased with the end result and excited about
InfraSource and what they bring to the table for PSE and all of our customers.”
The first order of business for InfraSource is to more effectively coordinate the
scheduling of natural gas service installations with Potelco’s electric service
installations at the same locations – a move that will increase customer satisfaction
and improve construction scheduling while also building better relationships with
other contractors. “InfraSource brings a strong management team that instills a
commitment to safety, proactive customer communication and a desire to improve
processes to increase efficiency and increase customer satisfaction,” commented
Michael Christy, senior vice president of InfraSource. “We are pleased to be part of the
PSE team serving customers and home builders here in the Puget Sound region.”
InfraSource will operate from eight different office locations throughout our natural gas
service area in order to best accommodate the needs of our customers. InfraSource
locations to include:
• North Operating Base, North Seattle
• Lakewood
• Olympia (Shared w/Potelco)
• Puyallup (Shared w/Potelco)
• Redmond (Shared w/Potelco)
• Kent Fleet (Shared w/Potelco)
• Snohomish County (TBD)
• Kittitas Service Center
If you have questions or comments please contact Gary Turner, PSE’s builder relations
manager at 425-424-6441, [email protected] or InfraSource project support
manager Tom Cox, at 206-450-2706, or by email at [email protected].
ENERGY STAR® home builders have a competitive edge
Navigating in today’s new construction
market can be challenging. By now,
most builders have adopted the changes
necessary in adherence to the 2009
Washington State Energy Code. With that
challenge behind you, the next step is to
look for ways to set yourself apart from
your competitors. Homebuyers will jump
for joy to learn you’re continuing to offer
an ENERGY STAR® qualified Home.
Puget Sound Energy understands how difficult it is to
“affordably” build to higher energy efficiency standards,
therefore we’re constantly looking for ways to help builders
find money to help offset the cost. Many know about PSE’s
Single-Family New Construction incentives available to all
qualifying builders, but now we have increased incentive
amounts going to Northwest ENERGY STAR Home builders
who certify their homes to the 2011 Northwest ENERGY STAR
Home specifications.
$
PARADE OF HOMES INCENTIVES:
• $1,000 is contributed by PSE. Limited to the
first eight qualifying builders, one incentive per
builder.
• $1,000 is also offered by the NWESH program.
Limit one per builder.
To obtain participation requirements on both
Parade of Homes incentives, contact Reneé
Yama at [email protected]
or call 503-688-1556.
OTHER ENERGY STAR HOME BUILDER PERKS
OFFERED BY PSE
• Up to $100 ENERGY STAR Qualified Home
Bonus. For all qualifying homes built in PSE’s
service area.
• Free visibility. PSE is offering to our customers
a list of ENERGY STAR builders in the area
who are building to the new specifications.
That’s a potential market reach to more than
1 million electric customers and 750,000
natural gas customers!
As you continue to look for ways to reduce your building costs
and install higher efficiency products, it is also important to keep
up-to-date on PSE’s program qualification process. Because of
the higher levels of energy efficiency requirements stated within
new energy codes, PSE has had to re-evaluate our program
offerings to ensure our measures remain above code and are
cost-effective. As of April 1, 2011, a few changes have been
implemented into the Single-Family New Construction Program:
All builder incentive submissions to PSE must provide
documentation that clearly reflects the building permit
approval date for each home. Single-family incentives are not available for any product
used to meet the 2009 Washington State Energy Code. For more details on the ENERGY STAR Home Bonus or any
questions about PSE’s Builder Incentive Program contact a
PSE Program Representative at [email protected]
or call us directly at 425-456-2414. For a list of builder
incentives and specifications, check our website
PSE.com/BuilderIncentives.
Installing 2-inch conduit for gas service
lines saves time and money
Builders often install conduit to allow for easy installation of a natural gas service
line at a later date. This provides convenience and improves safety by not avoiding
the need for open trenches at the job site. Yellow Schedule 40 PVC conduit that is
2 inches in diameter is preferred, however white conduit is allowed if there is no
reference to “water” or any other utility on the conduit print line.
Per PSE’s construction standards 2 inch conduit is the minimum size conduit allowed
for such situations because the vast majority of times 1-1/8 inch diameter service line
is installed to accommodate both mandated service line safety valves (utility installed)
and to provide adequate gas delivery for current and future gas usage needs of the
new customer.
PSE service provider crews have recently reported finding customer provided conduit
that is too small in diameter resulting in a “Red Tag” and having to pull off the project
without completing the installation. In addition to the delay the builder will incur added
cost to remove the undersized conduit and reinstall the proper diameter conduit.
Please always install 2-inch conduit to allow for the installation of larger-size natural
gas service lines.
For complete details about installation of underground service lines please refer to our
construction spec sheets and handbooks located on pse.com/accountsandservices/
Construction/Customer-Construction-Resources or available by contacting PSE’s
Customer Construction Services at 888-321-7779.
PSE’s multi-family new construction efficiency program
expands to three or more units
PSE’s popular multi-family grant program offers financial incentives to developers and
builders who apply energy efficient building methods in new construction projects.
Our knowledgeable staff will assist you in the process of identifying and installing
energy-efficiency measures for multi-family projects that include three or more units.
PSE’s multi-family new construction program benefits include:
• One primary contact from project evaluation through construction
• Excellent incentives for gas and electric measures
• Reduced utility costs on an ongoing basis
• Value for marketing your development
In a recent national survey, 89 percent of multi-family developers reported that they
are installing energy-efficient appliances and lighting in their communities. Perhaps
most importantly, 74 percent of the survey respondents said that buyers and renters
are willing to pay more for green amenities.
PSE’s multi-family new construction grant program makes energy efficiency even
more attractive and affordable with incentives for both gas and electricity users. We
offer incentives for energy-efficiency measures such as energy-efficient appliances,
lighting, hot water heating and HVAC systems.
To be eligible for PSE’s multi-family new construction grant program, the project must
be in PSE’s natural gas and/or electric service area. Applications must be received
during the planning and design period while the building is not yet completed or ready
for occupancy. For more detailed information about this program, visit pse.com.
Puget Sound Energy
P.O. Box 97034
Bellevue, WA 98009-9734
PSE.com
Call Before You Dig
Call the 811 “Call Before you Dig” hotline
two business days before digging. The “Call
Before You Dig” law requires anyone digging
into the ground to call and have underground
utilities located to avoid potential hazards with
striking or digging up utility lines. If you think
you may have damaged a natural gas pipe
or smell the odor of natural gas, follow these
important steps:
• Quickly move a safe distance from the
damaged line where you do not smell the
escaping natural gas
• Call 911 after you’re a safe distance away
• Report the damage to PSE at
1-888-225-5773
Know of others who should receive
PSE Builder News?
PSE regularly updates operating standards and
utility installation requirements and shares other
important issues critical to utility installation and
the energy business. If you know someone who
would find PSE Builder News useful, please
let us know and we’ll add them to the PSE
Builder News distribution. If you are receiving a
hardcopy of this newsletter and would prefer to
receive it by e-mail we will gladly change your
delivery. Contact April Jones at 425-424-6475
or e-mail [email protected] for subscription
updates.
Your privacy is important – mailing list
information is used by PSE for newsletter/
communication purposes only and will not be
shared outside of PSE.
4378 06/11
PSE web site updated: visit the new
and improved PSE.com
The new PSE.com made its official internet debut in late April. The upgraded website
has a new engine, is easier to navigate with a customer-friendly design and features
new resources available to builders and customers. The website upgrade was a
huge project involving the transfer of more than 700 pages of content. Employees
and customers representing
key markets were involved in
focus groups early on to help us
determine the site design and
new lay-out.
Please visit us at PSE.com/
AccountsandServices/
Construction to see new
construction videos, installation
spec sheets and handbooks
covering PSE’s construction
standards, customer
responsibilities and tips for
smooth utility installation. Also
included are new electric and
natural gas service applications,
permit and inspection
information and plat refund
information.
PSE.com/AccountsandServices/Construction