Home Direct Buried Cable Replacement

Homes fed by underground wires, constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, were usually built with Direct Buried (DB) cable to connect electrical panels to the utility source. Direct buried cable is a system in which electrical cables were installed directly in the ground and covered with dirt. This type of installation is appropriate and safe, but can result in degradation of the cable over time and extensive repairs in the event of a failure.

The Home Direct Buried Cable Replacement Program is designed to assist homeowners in upgrading their electrical service to current state of the art, and provides utility cable and installation labor at no cost if the homeowner installs a new conduit. Often during remodeling, the homeowner already has a contractor making other improvements and it is only an incremental cost to install the conduit. The Anaheim Public Utilities will then pull new cable and make all the connections.
Direct Buried Cable

Contact Us

  1. Electrical Engineering 


    Call: 714-765-5156 or Email
    ACH/Hearing Impaired 
    TDD: 714-765-5125

    Office:


    Mon. - Fri.: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    Anaheim West Tower
    201 S. Anaheim Blvd. 
    Anaheim, CA 92805 Map

    Utilities Directory
Program Steps:
  1. Contact the utility inspector for a Meter Spot Report at 714-765-6843 to verify that you have DB cable, and to discuss your project. If you are installing a new panel the report will identify the ideal location that meets all the required codes. There is no cost for this initial evaluation. Home remodeling projects typically require a building permit, contact the Building Division at 714-765-5153. Please note that if you are remodeling or installing a new electrical panel, there are charges for the associated labor and materials that are separate from the DB cable replacement costs.
  2. Contact a utility designer at 714-765-5156, and request a service drawing, which will take 1-2 weeks. The service drawing will include all the necessary specifications and details to be used to obtain cost estimates from contractors. It is recommend that you verify your contractor’s license with the state, and get your quotes in writing.
  3. Proceed with construction, and call the utility inspector after the conduit is installed, but before the trench is backfilled, so that conduit type and the required depth can be verified.
  4. Once your utility inspector approves the installation, your contractor can complete the work, and a utility crew will be scheduled to install the new cable and make all the connections.