Other Guides, Specifications, Standards & Code
Underground Policy, Affordable Housing Policy, Distribution Construction Standards, and Purchasing Specifications for Distribution Construction
Underground Policy
For underground service, the customer must perform all the civil work for the Austin Energy facilities installed on the customer’s property. 100% of the estimated cost is paid by the requesting party; civil work is completed by the customer.
See Meter and Service Wire Charges page.
Austin Energy Affordable Housing Policy
A waiver shall be applied such that the percent discount off of the cost to provide service to a residential development is equal to the percent of affordable housing (%CIAC Discount = %Affordable Housing), with the percentage of affordable housing being as stated on the City of Austin SMART Housing Certification.
Distribution Construction Standards
Standards for Building Austin Energy Infrastructure
The Austin Energy Distribution Construction Standards (DCS) Manual is an internal Austin Energy document primarily intended for Austin Energy employees.
The DCS Manual displays the acceptable construction assemblies that have been approved by the Austin Energy Distribution Material Standards Committee for distribution construction. Exceptions not covered in the DCS are due to maintenance and special situations. The downtown Network Construction Standards are also not covered in the DCS.
How to Read the Distribution Construction Standards Manual
The DCS is arranged in numerical order of a combination of the Compatible Unit Reference (CU-REF) numbers and Macro Unit Reference (MU-REF) numbers.
The DCS also contains drawings that show the actual representation of each method of construction.
- Some drawings have reference tables for span length and angle parameters.
- The tables reference which MU to use with a particular span length or angle.
The DCS is made up of two different but related categories: CU and MU.
- A CU consists of one stock item to several stock items which form a small assembly.
- An MU is a large assembly that is made up of CUs.
- CU-REF numbers and the MU-REF numbers relate to a particular drawing number or page number making CU's and MUs easier to find in the manual.
- The CU-REF numbers and the MU-REF number are also listed on each drawing.
- A CU includes a generalized drawing of a part or small assembly.
- An MU is a collection of multiple CUs.
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Distribution Construction Standards
The following specifications are available for download. Please contact us if you have questions or need additional assistance: email AE Distribution Standards or call 512-505-7141.
- 1 – Introduction (pdf)
- 1098 – Engineering Notes (pdf)
- 1099 – Signage (pdf)
- 1118 – Distribution Poles (pdf)
- 1119 – Pole Grounding (pdf)
- 1120 – Hardware (pdf)
- 1122 – 1PH Framing (pdf)
- 1123 – 3PH Narrow Profile Framing (pdf)
- 1124 – 3PH Self-Supporting Framing (pdf)
- 1125 – 3PH Xarm Framing 8 ft (pdf)
- 1126 – 3PH Vertical Framing (pdf)
- 1133 – 3PH – Xarm Framing 10 ft (pdf)
- 1135 – 3PH Xarm Underbuild Framing 12 ft (pdf)
- 1142 – 3PH Np Double Circuit Framing (pdf)
- 1143 – 3PH Xarm Double Circuit Framing (pdf)
- 1163 – Guying (pdf)
- 1169 – Anchoring (pdf)
- 1200 – Conductor And Hardware (pdf)
- 1208 – Conductor (pdf)
- 1240 – Conductor Hardware (pdf)
- 1245 – Overhead And Underground Connectors (pdf)
- 1315 – Overhead Transformers (pdf)
- 1349 – Capacitors (pdf)
- 1352 – Voltage Regulators (pdf)
- 1353 – Reclosers (pdf)
- 1360 – Risers: Primary And Secondary (pdf)
- 1368 – Cutouts (pdf)
- 1370 – 900 Amp Switches And Assemblies (pdf)
- 1410 – Duct Banks (pdf)
- 1418 – Conduit (pdf)
- 1419 – Trenching (pdf)
- 1438 – Pads (pdf)
- 1448 – Pull Boxes (pdf)
- 1458 – Manholes (pdf)
- 1488 – Underground Structure Grounding (pdf)
- 1488 – Underground Structures Grounding (pdf)
- 1502 – Underground Hardware (pdf)
- 1510 – Transformer Pad – Mount (pdf)
- 1542 – Sectionalizing Cabinet (pdf)
- 1561 – Switchgears (pdf)
- 1568 – Primary Metering Station (pdf)
- 1900 – Streetlights, Overhead (pdf)
- 1910 – Streetlights, Underground (pdf)
- 1920 – Streetlights, Decorative (pdf)
- 1930 – Streetlights, Shoebox (pdf)
- 1940 – Streetlights, Maintenance (pdf)
- 1950 – Streetlights, Decorative Maintenance (pdf)
- 1960 – Streetlights, Shoebox Maintenance (pdf)
- 2000 – Small Cell Pole Attachments (pdf)
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Purchasing Specifications for Distribution Construction
Specifications for Vendors Who Sell Distribution Materials
Austin Energy’s purchase specifications cover distribution equipment that needs specific purchasing requirements. These specifications are for vendors, distributors, and manufacturers who want to sell their materials.
The purchase specifications display the acceptable purchasing requirements for distribution-level equipment that have been approved by the Austin Energy Distribution Standards Committee. Exceptions not covered in these purchase specifications can be due to AE Distribution Standards approved allowances and certain distribution equipment that only require a purchase description.
If you are interested in presenting a new distribution product for Austin Energy's consideration, please use Option 5 on the Distribution Standards Intake Form to submit your product information.
How to Read the Purchasing Specifications
Each purchasing specification has a unique E-XXXX number that is used as an identifying reference. This unique number can be found on this website as well as in applicable Austin Energy item number purchasing descriptions going out for bid.
The following specifications are available to download. Please contact us if you have questions or need additional assistance: email AE Distribution Standards or call 512-505-7141.
Date last reviewed or modified: 06/06/2025