Overhead electrical

services for inner-city

homes
When you are building an infill home in the inner city, you
should be aware of the requirements needed for overhead
services like electrical, metering equipment and overhead
conductors. Here’s an overview of what to look for.

Electrical service
Electrical services that are generally 200 amps and less
need to be considered prior to construction. You must check
that ENMAX has sufficient infrastructure and capacity in
place to provide electrical services to the development. This
includes:
• The main service switch (panel with breaker or fused
switch)
• Enmax meter (utility revenue meter)
• Meter base (enclosure for utility meter)
• Service conductors
• Service mast (conduit for service conductors)
Please contact ENMAX early in the development process to
eliminate construction delays. Prior to construction, as the
developer or builder of the project, you must confirm the
proposed electrical services can be installed.
Please note: When the development permit is circulated to
ENMAX for review, they do not check or confirm the
proposed electrical service requirements or locations.
Please contact ENMAX at getconnected@enmax.com.

Metering equipment
All metering equipment is required to have a minimum
clearance (open area) in front of it that is 1 metre wide by 2.2
m high with a safe and stable area to walk from any property
line, fence, adjacent structure or vegetation. Mount the meter
enclosure to the garage or home at a height of 1.5 m to 1.8
m to centre from final grade. Do not mount in the path of
water from eaves and rain spouts or below sewer and gas
equipment.
  
Subdivision of services
Multiple meters are permitted for single family homes with
basement suites, backyard and laneway suites, duplexes
and row housing. The number of services from one supply
cannot exceed six and only one meter may serve each
clearly defined area and address. All meters must be located
outside, grouped together and identified by address or unit
number with a permanent legible label. 
Secondary suites
If you are developing a secondary suite, including a
basement suite, backyard suite or laneway house, use
the secondary suite electrical load calculation sheet to make
sure your current electrical service is adequate. When
completed, please submit the form to
electrical.inspection@calgary.ca. If it has been determined
that the main electrical service must be increased from a 60
amp, 100 amp or 200 amp service, please contact ENMAX
at getconnected@enmax.com
  

Service conductors
Overhead supply services conductors need to be strongly
considered when deciding placement of the home’s electrical
service. ENMAX should be contacted if there are any
concerns, like crossing streets or the location of the source
of ENMAX power. Overhead conductors need to have a
clearance area from finished grade of at least:
• 5 m across the ground, accessible to pedestrians only
• 4 m across residential driveways
• 5 m across commercial and industrial driveways
• 5 m across alleys, streets and highways
Supply service conductors should not cross over buildings,
except where necessary to make a connection at the point of
utilization. Please note: the attachment point cannot exceed
5.5 m. If they must go over buildings, a clearance of at least
2.5 m is required over flat roofs or any portion that could be
walked on, like a balcony, and 1 m over peaked roofs or any
area that could be reached by a person, like from windows
and doors.
Overhead conductors located on the consumer side (after
the main switch), such as neutral supported cable by Triplex,
are not permitted to be installed over buildings and are
required to have a clearance of 4.5 m from the ground
between buildings, like from the garage to the house.

Temporary construction
services
Temporary construction services are used for construction
only and must be removed after the building is complete.
They need to have adequate support, either mounted to a
building, pole or a solid wooden post not less than 89 mm by
140 mm (4 m by 6 m). The pole must be set into the earth to
a depth of at least 1.2 m and braced as necessary. All the
requirements for clearances and mounting heights of
permanent services still must be met. These services must
not exceed 200 amps, must be protected from the weather
and must be lockable to prevent access from unauthorized
people.

 
Please call 311 with questions or concerns or fill out a 311
online service request.