Working with SCE for Your Power Needs
How SCE Can Help You Get Power for Your Project
Whether you need more power for your existing facility, a new construction, or an electric vehicle charging station, you can count on SCE to assist you.
Requesting or upgrading power can seem like a long and complicated process, but by planning ahead, you don’t have to do it alone. SCE has experienced teams who will guide you through every step of your project.
To begin, review the two-step process below and find out who to contact, what to expect, and what resources are available.
Step 1
Find Out Where Power is Available
Before you request power for your project, you need to know if there is enough power capacity at your site or nearby.
Power capacity is the amount of electricity that can be delivered by the distribution system to your site. If there is not enough capacity, you may need to pay for upgrades or wait for construction.
To help you find out where power is available, SCE offers online tools that let you search for circuits and substations with estimated power capacity to meet your project’s power needs, as well as support your use of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar panels or batteries. You can also view load forecasts and other information to make informed decisions.
Here are the online tools you can use to quickly find out
the power capacity and availability in your area:
Distribution Resource Plan External Portal (DRPEP)
This interactive web portal shows you comprehensive results of SCE’s distribution planning processes, including the capacity of SCE’s distribution circuits and substations. You can search by address or circuit number and view maps and charts with capacity data. You can also download reports and data sets for further analysis.
Power Site Search Tool (PSST)
This interactive web portal lets you search for available commercial sites that meet your power needs. It has additional capabilities beyond DRPEP built specifically for commercial developers, such as the ability to filter by location, size, price, and other criteria, and see the capacity of nearby circuits and substations. You can also find out if a site has broadband fiber access. Commercial site listings are provided by the Association of Industrial Realtors.
Step 1.5
Optional Capacity Study – Engineering Analysis Report
After you use these tools, you might want to request additional analysis for power capacity from SCE. An Engineering Analysis Report can provide key insights and specific information to make a better decision for your business.
- SCE engineers will provide a tailored report, including power availability at your site and how long it will take to build new infrastructure if needed
- The fee for the study is $2,000 (paid in advance and is non-refundable)
- The study typically takes about 30 business days to complete
Please note that an Engineering Analysis Report does not reserve power for you but gives you information for planning your project.
To request this service, please contact your SCE representative in Local Planning, New Development Project Management, or the Customer Engagement Division.
When you have your site location and you’re ready to request power from SCE, you can go to STEP 2.
Step 2
Ready To Request Power? Do You Know How Much Power You Need and When You Need It?
When you are ready to request power from SCE, you will need to submit an application and include supporting documentation (e.g., equipment power requirements, Single Line CAD files) which helps SCE determine the type of design required to provide you with service.
Please see the following power pathway options to determine which SCE organization to engage with for your power request and make your selection.
Local Planning Organization
If Your Project is:
For Residential, Commercial, Industrial, or Agricultural, connect with our Local Planning Organization.
New Development Project (NDP) Management Organization
If Your Project is:
- Residential with 5 or more lots
- A multi-family residential with two or more points of service
- A commercial development project (Applicant Design)
- Applicant Design or Applicant Install
Commercial Electrical Vehicle Charging
If Your Project:
Incorporates commercial electrical vehicle charging check out the following programs to see which one is appropriate for your business:
Electric Vehicles for Business
Customer Interconnections/Method of Service (MOS)
If Your Project is:
Requires a large amount of power—10MW or more—you may need to work with our Substation Engineers. They can help you find the best way to connect to our grid. You might also save money by using a higher voltage level.