This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0481z.DOCX
DATE: 3/11/2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF FINAL BILL ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 481 Temporary Underground Power Panels
SPONSOR(S): Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee, Duggan
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: CS/CS/SB 1332
FINAL HOUSE FLOOR ACTION: 115 Y’s
0 N’s GOVERNOR’S ACTION: Pending
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
CS/HB 481 passed the House on February 24, 2022, as amended, and subsequently passed the Senate on
March 1, 2022.
When a residential home is under construction on undeveloped property, the homebuilder may arrange for
temporary electric service to provide power to the property through the construction process. If the residence
is ultimately going to receive power through an underground service line when the resident takes occupancy, a
reduced cost alternative to a temporary power pole on a construction site is temporary underground (TUG)
service.
A TUG service connection is available for underground residential services where the permanent approved
meter socket, meter, and downpipe are configured such that they can be used for temporary service. After the
homeowner takes occupancy of the house, the TUG connection installed during construction is then used to
provide electric service to the residence.
Before installing TUG service on a construction site, a builder must get approval from the county or
municipality, often through the county or municipality’s building department.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is published by the National Fire Protection Association, and serves to
safeguard persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.
The bill provides that neither counties nor municipalities may enact any ordinance, regulation, or policy that
prevents, or has the effect of preventing, an electric utility from installing a temporary underground power
panel, so long as the panel meets the requirements of Article 590 of the NEC, 2020 edition. Additionally, the
bill provides that a county or municipality that has conducted an inspection of a temporary underground power
panel may not require a subsequent inspection of the panel as a condition of issuance of a Certificate of
Occupancy.
The bill defines the term “temporary underground power panel” and exempts any municipality that owns or
operates an electric utility with 100,000 customers or less from complying with the requirements of the bill, so
long as the municipality’s ordinance, regulation, or policy applies only to its operation as an electric utility.
The bill does not impact state government revenues or expenditures. The bill appears to have an indeterminate
impact on local government revenues and expenditures, as local codes relating to TUG service vary by
jurisdiction.
Subject to the Governor’s veto powers, the effective date of this bill is July 1, 2022.
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DATE: 3/11/2022
I. SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION
A. EFFECT OF CHANGES:
Present Situation
Temporary Underground Power
When a residential home is under construction on undeveloped property, the homebuilder may arrange
for temporary electric service to provide power to the property through the construction process.
Builders may opt for temporary power poles, which allow them to receive enough energy for the
necessary equipment on the job site.
1
If the residence is ultimately going to receive power through an
underground service line when the resident takes occupancy, a reduced cost alternative to a temporary
power pole is temporary underground (TUG) service.
2
The TUG alternative is available for underground residential services where the permanent approved
meter socket, meter, and downpipe are configured such that they can be used for temporary service.
3
In local jurisdictions that allow TUG service, after construction reaches a certain point and a temporary
inspection takes place, the electric utility installs the permanent service to the meter socket.
4
The
installed permanent service is then used for construction until the Certificate of Occupancy is obtained.
5
After the homeowner takes occupancy of the home, the permanent connection installed for TUG
service during construction is then used to provide electric service to the residence.
Before installing TUG service on a construction site, a builder must get approval from the county or
municipality, often through the county or municipality’s building department.
6
Many, but not all, Florida
counties and municipalities offer TUG agreements. An internet search reflects that some of the counties
and municipalities that have a TUG program include: Orange County, Osceola County, Palm Beach
County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Volusia County, Altamonte Springs, Fort Myers, Melbourne,
Orlando, and Tarpon Springs.
National Electrical Code
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is published by the National Fire Protection Association and is
updated every couple of years.
7
All 50 states have adopted the NEC, as it serves to safeguard persons
and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.
8
The most recent version of the NEC was
published in 2020.
9
Article 590 of the NEC covers temporary electrical power and lighting installations.
10
1
Step-by-Step Guide: Temporary Construction Site Power, PowerPlus, https://www.powerplus.com/industrial-power-
blog/construction-site-temporary-power/ (last visited Mar. 9, 2022).
2
See, e.g., Florida Power and Light, Electric Service Standards (April 2021), at 10.
3
See, e.g., Id.
4
See, e.g., Orlando Utilities Commission, How to Obtain Temporary Underground Service,
https://www.ouc.com/docs/customer-brochures/broc_tug.pdf?sfvrsn=9769e278_6 (last visited Mar. 9, 2022); and Electric
Service Standards at 10.
5
See, e.g., Id.
6
See, e.g., Id.
7
National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 70, https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-
of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=70 (last visited Mar. 9, 2022).
8
Id.; National Fire Protection Association, National Electrical Code, 29 (2020), available at https://www.nfpa.org/codes-
and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=70 (last visited Mar. 9, 2021).
9
National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 70.
10
National Fire Protection Association, National Electrical Code at 504.
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DATE: 3/11/2022
Effect of the Bill
The bill provides that neither counties nor municipalities may enact any ordinance, regulation, or policy
that prevents, or has the effect of preventing, an electric utility from installing a temporary underground
power panel, so long as the panel meets the requirements of Article 590 of the NEC, 2020 edition.
Under the bill, a county or municipality that has conducted an inspection of a temporary underground
power panel may not require a subsequent inspection of the panel as a condition of issuance of a
Certificate of Occupancy.
The bill defines the term “temporary underground power panel” as a permanent meter base that
includes a meter socket, meter, and downpipe, to which power is provided through an underground
service line by an electric utility pursuant to its tariffs or service standards. Per the definition, the
temporary underground power panel must be permanently attached to a block residential structure and
be intended for use in providing permanent service to the residential structure upon issuance of the
Certificate of Occupancy.
The bill provides that a municipality that owns or operates an electric utility with 100,000 customers or
less is exempt from complying with the requirements of the bill, so long as the municipality’s ordinance,
regulation, or policy applies only to its operation as an electric utility.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
Indeterminate. See Fiscal Comments.
2. Expenditures:
Indeterminate. See Fiscal Comments.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
Homebuilders may have fewer expenditures on fees associated with TUG inspections.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
Local government codes relating to TUG service, including fees and inspection requirements, vary
across the state. Thus, the bill’s impact may vary by jurisdiction.