Sign Up for Service

Download and complete the Application for Electrical Service (PDF: 67.4K). Bring the form into one of our offices (either in Rapid City or Wall) to complete the service sign up process. You will need a photo ID and must be present in the office to sign up for membership. (if this is a joint membership both parties must be present with ID)  You may be required to pay a connect fee and/or deposit. If you live out of town, we may allow you to fax or send the form to us. For more information, contact our office.

NEW SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR WEST RIVER ELECTRIC

When a member is requesting a new service, this process is started by the consumer when he calls in to the office.  The receptionist then gives the call to the staking department.  If either of them is in, the call is taken by them, and if they are not in the office, the call is sent to their voice mail.  The staking department is then responsible for setting up an appointment with, or answering the member's question on the phone.

If the person asking for service is not a member, they will need to come into the office to sign up for service. They will need a photo ID and to either pay a deposit, or bring have a credit reference from a previous utility that shows they have had good credit with them, or a credit bureau check can be run through our system. They will need to pay $10.00 for a connect fee, and depending on whether or not a licensed electrician wires the service, they may need to purchase a wiring affidavit from the State of South Dakota if required.

PERMANENT OR NON-PERMANENT SERVICE
A permanent service is defined as a structure that people normally live in and is resting on a permanent foundation.  All other types of services will be considered non-permanent.

NEW UNDERGROUND SERVICE

The Staking Department will set up a time and date to meet with the member. They will stake the service for an underground service. The member is responsible for supplying us the trench.  The trench shall have no sharp deviations in depth and bedding may be required if there are sharp edges of rock in the trench. Underground cable will not be laid along footings or basement walls.  Entrance to a building shall be at right angles and extend 6' away from the building (where possible) before making a turn.  Routing shall normally be parallel to lot lines and a minimum of 2' inside the lot line. No underground conductors will be installed until final grade has been established and will not be energized before they are backfilled. 

If the underground excavation is to be done in an area of previously undisturbed soil, it may be necessary to conduct an archaeological record search to determine if the area has any bones, artifacts foundations or other indications of past human occupation.  If a survey has been done in this area, we can start the project.  This can take up to a week to complete, and no excavations can be done until we receive the results of the record search.  If no surveys have been conducted, West River Electric will need to hire an archeologist to survey the construction area.  This process can take up to three to four weeks and again no excavation can take place until we receive the report from the archeologist.

Secondary Underground Service
The trench is to be dug at 36�, and with a cost to the member of $1.00 per foot for both permanent and non permanent services.  It is sometimes necessary to provide a splice pit to connect the secondary to an existing secondary.  When this is required, the splice pit will be at least 3' by 3' and to the depth of the secondary conductor.

Primary Underground Service
The trench is to be dug at 48", and with a cost to the member of $2.25 per foot for permanent services, and $3.25 per foot for non-permanent services. Any additional cost for the trench such as road boring, or conduit, will be at the member's expense. Secondary and primary wire will not be installed with water or gas lines.  Secondary and primary wire will not be installed until the final grade is established, or the ditch is adequate for proper depth of the cable.  The wire will not be energized until the wire is covered and backfilled. WREA will install services to a subdivision that has the infrastructure such as water, sewer and streets being installed at the same time.  WREA will install and furnish the necessary electric facilities up to a maximum of thirty lots with no lot deposit required.  For lots over 200 feet wide and over thirty lots, either a lot deposit or a contribution to the aid of construction is required.

Meter Sockets
Meter sockets will be installed by the consumer or electrical contractor on buildings so that when final grade is established, the meter socket will be at eye level (5'-6').  Consumers will provide WREA a 2-1/2' Schedule 80 gray conduit for the secondary wires installed a minimum of 12" below finished grade and connected to the meter socket.  Meter sockets will not be inside buildings, under decks or in areas that are not accessible for reading and maintenance. The member's wires are connected to the bottom of the meter socket, and WREA's wires are connected to the top. The member will also provide a visible driven ground rod (5/8" x 8" copper rod) near the riser to the meter socket.  Before the service is connected, the consumer or electrical contractor will provide WREA the appropriate copies of the South Dakota Electrical Commission wiring certificate, or the City of Rapid City certificate. The blue sticker from that certificate must be attached to the meter socket.

NEW OVERHEAD SERVICE

The Staking Department will set up a time and date to meet with the member. They will stake the service for an overhead service.

Secondary Overhead Service
The cost for secondary overhead line to the member is $1.00 per foot for both permanent and non permanent services. The maximum distance for secondary overhead is 100 feet. Any distance over that, the total distance of the new line will be a primary line. 

Primary Overhead Service
The cost for primary overhead line to the member is $2.25 per foot for both permanent and non permanent services. 

Meter Loops
If the meter loop is added to an existing pole, the member will be charged a $100.00 permanent meter loop charge: $150.00 for a temporary meter loop.

PHONE NUMBERS