Spot Location & Conduit Inspection

Spot Location

"Spot location" is a site visit by Austin Energy to identify the overhead point of attachment or underground point of service for all projects that bring electric services for new construction and service rebuilds. This site visit also ensures adequate clearances are maintained from Austin Energy facilities during construction. Spot location must be completed on your electric permit before your project can request to schedule the inspection.  

Spot Location Process

Austin Energy will automatically receive a request to perform a spot location the day after your electric service permit becomes active.

If your spot location is in an "In Review" status, your electrician and any other users associated with your permit will have been emailed to let you know it's in that status. In that case, your electrical contractor must email AE Electric Spots with the permit number and address requesting a spot location after all requested items listed on the initial email are corrected or the construction on site is in “rough-in” stage.

Once your spot location is requested, the next steps are:

• Austin Energy makes a site visit to determine the point of attachment location
• A spot card is left on site and notes are recorded on the permit's spot location process section
• If conditions are found that require Austin Energy design, the Spot department will notify the applicant with further details on how to proceed

Austin Energy does not perform the spot location until an active permit is obtained. If you would like to have a field consult prior to applying for the electric permit, please request an AEAS Spot Consult on the Austin Build + Connect (ABC) portal (fees applicable).

Why is my Spot Location “In Review”?

This could be for many reasons, including new construction that is not yet in the “rough in” stage, permit details that require correction or additional information that is needed for the spot location to be processed. Please refer to your spot location comments on the AB+C Portal and the email correspondence sent out when comments are updated on the permit.

How do I Access My Spot Location Comments?

Log into the Austin Build + Connect (ABC) portal:

• Under My Permits/Cases; find the permit and select “Detail”
• select “Permit Work Flow”
• select “Detail” on the Spot Location

Austin Energy Conduit Inspection

The conduit inspection is for all civil work on the "line" side of the electric service equipment (pdf). This is the conduit from the point of service to the meter enclosure. The conduit inspection request shall be made when the conduits have been installed and the trench still exposed.

Specifications:

• Commercial Conduit Criteria in the Design Criteria Manual (pdf)
• Residential Conduit Criteria in the Design Criteria Manual (pdf)

The department responsible for the inspection will depend on the service type:

• For residential services on non-design jobs (projects not associated with a work order), submit the permit number and address to the Austin Energy Electric Conduit email address.  
• For conduits with a work order, commercial services or single-track developments like condos and townhomes, send the request to the Austin Energy Civil Inspection email address.

Who inspects my load side conduit?

City of Austin Development Services Department Building Inspections.