Secondary conduit installation is the underground pipe (conduit) that carries PG&E's electrical service from the utility connection point to your meter or building. PG&E requires this conduit to be trenched and installed to their exact specifications, then inspected, before they will pull conductors and energize your property.
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What Is Secondary Conduit?
In an underground electrical system, "secondary" refers to the lower-voltage service that runs from the transformer or utility point to your property. The secondary conduit is the protective piping that PG&E's conductors run through underground. Installing it correctly protects the wiring and is a condition of getting connected. It's a different, specialized job from ordinary trenching because it must follow PG&E's utility standards.
When Does PG&E Require Secondary Conduit Installation?
- New underground electrical service for a home or building
- Electrical service upgrades that increase capacity
- Overhead-to-underground service conversions
- ADUs and new construction adding electrical load
- Relocating an existing underground service line
The Secondary Conduit Installation Process
Review the PG&E job package
We confirm the required route, conduit type and size, depth, and any special conditions from your PG&E documentation.
Locates and trenching
We call in utility locates, then excavate the trench to spec along the approved route while protecting existing utilities.
Install conduit and bedding
We lay the secondary conduit with correct sweeps and bend radius on proper sand bedding, and add warning tape as required.
Inspection, backfill, and restore
After the trench passes inspection, we backfill and compact to code and restore the site, so PG&E can pull conductors and energize.
Why Use a Certified Contractor?
PG&E conduit work has strict certification, spec, and inspection requirements. A wrong conduit size, a missed sweep radius, insufficient bedding, or backfilling before inspection can fail the job, delay energization for weeks, and cost money to redo. A certified contractor gets it right the first time and coordinates directly with PG&E's process.
Vertex is a certified PG&E trench contractor
We handle secondary conduit installation end to end across the San Francisco Bay Area. See our full Certified PG&E Trench Contractor service, or read the PG&E trenching requirements guide. Call (415) 727-6637 for a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PG&E secondary conduit installation?
It is the trenching and placement of the underground conduit that carries PG&E's lower-voltage electrical service from the utility connection point to your meter or building, installed to PG&E specifications and inspected before energization.
When does PG&E require secondary conduit?
Common triggers include new underground service, service upgrades, overhead-to-underground conversions, ADUs and new construction, and relocating an existing underground line. In these cases the property owner typically provides the trench and conduit to PG&E spec.
How long does secondary conduit installation take?
The trenching and conduit work itself is often completed in a short window once locates are cleared, but the overall timeline depends on your route, site conditions, permits, and PG&E inspection and scheduling. A certified contractor helps keep the process moving.
Is secondary conduit installation the same as regular trenching?
No. It must follow PG&E's utility standards for conduit type, depth, bedding, sweeps, and inspection, which ordinary trenching does not. That is why it typically requires a certified contractor.
Do you serve my area in the Bay Area?
Vertex General Contractor performs PG&E secondary conduit installation across the San Francisco Bay Area, including Marin and Sonoma County, from Corte Madera, San Rafael, and Mill Valley to Novato, Petaluma, San Francisco, and Sacramento.