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I heard a rumor that now you need to give the name of a licensed electrician who did and/or approved of your temp service before HELCO will energize it.
Say it ain't so!
I'm all for trades protecting their turf when there is a good reason (this is NOT one of them...), but I've never seen a building jurisdiction that was like this is here. I'm sure someone is trying to figure out how to stop ALL aspects homeowner building.
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When I built last year I was informed that you have to have a building permit before you can get temp service and that a licensed electrician has to pull an electrical permit before Helco will hook upl You have to have a licensed plumber pull a plumbing permit also. ......
Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
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It was the same for me in HPP, 2003. No D.I.Y. mechanical construction work in Hawaii. Such a deal for the tradesmen.
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I was under the impression that putting up the temporary without needing any "help" from a licensed HI electrician WAS something that the owner-builder could do until (perhaps) very recently.
I did have 1 electrician (out of the 5 who were SUPPOSED to show up
quote me $1400 for a temp. Amazing.
At that time, I know that I could have done it myself. Now? I'm wondering if $1400 will look cheap.
Nothing like seeing some of that good old Aloha Spirit I say...
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Toucano,
I am an electrician but not licensed here. I did my own temp power pole plus 2 other for friends. HPM sells a kit with all you need I think it's around $ 250. Helco inspects the pole but never ask me for a license which surprized me because everything else here is so regulated. Best talk to Helco first before building your temp pole to get the facts. $1400 is crazy it's only about a 3 hour job. call me at 982-5722 if I can be of any help.
Lee
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Lee G - you are right on the money... HELCO seems to try to throw people off by saying "have your electrician call us"... My experience is that if you have your pole up and ready and then go in to HELCO it works out better.
If any one needs the temp pole diagram, I can email it to you.
Catherine Dumond
Blue Water Project Management
http://kmastudios.125mb.com/bluewaterpm/...rhome.html
808 217-7578
"We help make building your dream home a reality"
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Lee G - Thank you for the most generous offer. I was under the gun to get started and have gone the generator route for construction. Amazing as it seems, considering what HELCO charges for power, even with the high cost of gas... it may have been a wash cost-wise. You just don't leave the generator running unless you are using it.
I am about at the point that I will need to have an electrician do the wiring. Can't wait to see what the electricians here will want for that.
And some people wonder just why many folks choose to go the unpermitted route?
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HELCO isn't supposed to connect folks to power unless they have a building permit. At least, that's what they came up with several years ago to get more of the folks building houses to get permits. They also put a time limit on how long you can be connected to temporary power. Used to be folks would never get off "temp" power.
You can build your own house, but you must have a licensed plumber and a licensed electrician install the plumbing and electical and sign off on your permit. If you are a skilled electrician, you could ppssibly work a deal with the local licensed electrician to check your work and sign off on it. They then become responsible for the work, though, so they may not be overly interested in doing so. It is between you and the electician.
You could just go solar and not talk to HELCO at all. Then if you invest in HE they would pay you dividends instead of you paying them money. Works great for me!
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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It's True. We got proposal letters for TWO temp poles last August. We installed one at our place in Tiki Gardens. HELCO inspected it, approved it and a crew came out and hooked it up. -- no problems. Then I had to go back to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands where I am an ELECTRICIAN on the Missle Range.
Well, now I'm back and want to put a temp pole on our Nanawale property. The NEC has changed since last August so I made it up to the new rules: bubbled outlet covers and two ground rods. HELCO comes out, looks at it and approves it. I am told it will be hooked up in 7 to 12 working days. Two days later I get a call from HELCO asking where my signed proposal letter page (the new proposal letters have a place for these signatures) is from my licensed Electrical Contractor. They will not hook it up until I have one even though their man inspected and approved it.
So far I have gotten quotes of from $650 to $2000 from licensed contractors to sign it off under their number. Most did not respond to my calls or were just not interested in doing it under any circumstances.
Any suggestions anyone?
Moving to Puna (Nanawale) from Kwajalien, R.M.I. Will be constructing an owner-built house. Looking forward to arriving there in May 2006.
