Electrical Power Cost Differential

[Carey]

Cat - I am not saying anything about building your own home, the codes & permits are written for home building (as a profession) and most allow for home owner exemptions from the trade requirements on most to all of the permitted/code work. If you can agree that home building is a profession, and that permitting & codes are written for that profession, then you can see many of the aspects that seem like regulatory mumbo gumbo through the homeowners lens are actually for the home building professionals. Why have them for the owner/builder? a permit is much like any minimum standards requirement.... under-written for some & over-written for others, & just right for the mainstream users (many who are doing things they way they are because that is the way they do it, because that is the way it is written... a cycle that may not make sense, but keeps going)

In saying all of this, I am not saying I agree with it, but having done regulatory testimony in the late 70's & early 80's for the CPSC, I do kinda see many of the WHY's.... It is amazing what things are done if some are left to their own devices....

Most utilities that I know of treat a structure that is not fully permitted differently that a permitted residential structure. Most have a temporary designation if the structure is in permitting process, or not permitted. Some of this is to cover any loss of power issues that may arise... others for the amazing things that people do, left to their own devices...