Question about transformer

[racerboy]

We are potentially purchasing a new home which will require me to build a new shop. The house currently has a 3-car garage which will work fine for storage (once o raise the ceiling to get some lifts in there). My initial thinking is to build a mirror image of this structure on the other side of driveway so they face each other. This would be my shop (roughly 45x30). Only issue with that plan is there is, what I believe is a transformer box that would have to either be moved, or somehow built around it. I’m not 100% sure that’s what it is, but I’ve included a photo. No matter what it is, can this be moved back about 35 ft or is this simply not doable? It’s currently hidden by some tall grass-shrub.

 

[PCustoms]

Look at your platt/lot plan and determine where the easements are.

More then likely you CANNOT move that

 

[Norcal]

You most likely are going have to pay to move it if they agree to move it, some PoCo's are more reasonable then others.

 

[micromind]

You most likely are going have to pay to move it if they agree to move it, some PoCo's are more reasonable then others.

This^^^^

It can get expensive, if they'll even agree to move it.

Around here, they're pretty good at agreeing to move a transformer but it'd likely cost $20,000 - 50,000.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Padmount ******

Depending on how many houses it feeds it can get pricey

Not only do they have to reroute the HV primary lines, but theyll also have to extend the LV secondary service lateral lines feeding the houses.

Wont be cheap and if there is an easement, they probably wont even entertain the idea

 

[The Cobbler]

is that transformer even on your property , or is it on a road allowance or easement? big $$$$ if it's on your property, probably not doable if it's on an easement or road allowance

 

[Sumboodie]

is that transformer even on your property , or is it on a road allowance or easement? big $$$$ if it's on your property, probably not doable if it's on an easement or road allowance

Yeah usually they are in right of ways or on property lines. Likely feed multiple houses or even a whole neighborhood.

The one at my oldplace was by the well house and fed 14 or 15 houses and between every other house was a small box with the connection. Same with phone.

 

[nadogail]

The transformer is most probably within an easement that you or a former owner of the property granted to the
utility in order to get electrical service.
Movement may be possible, but the cost is almost certainly going to be prohibitive.

 

[BrandonV]

There isn't a single utility in the world that is going to move that for anything resembling a "cheap" cost if at all.

 

[bronc076]

We are potentially purchasing a new home

The house currently has a 3-car garage which will work fine for storage (once o raise the ceiling to get some lifts in there).

Find a different place that better suites your needs. Transformer in the way, raise the ceiling in the garage? Neither of those are trivial.

 

[racerboy]

Appreciate the responses. Obviously this is a question for the utility company, but some here believe this transformer would supply more than just my house? This is 7 acres deep into the property from the public road. I assumed it was only for this property.

 

[The Cobbler]

^^^I would say ,that , that is pertinent information that was neglected in your first post and changes the story ... but I still suspect it will be pricey to move.

 

[mark-NJ]

Moving your family will be easier, cheaper & faster than moving that transformer.

 

[Bert_]

A transformer out in the country just feeds your property, nobody else.

Cost will depend on the utility company. If you have an Electric co-op then the cost will probably be pretty reasonable.

 

[bronc076]

I really hope the OP gets a quote from the power company and posts it here. This is interesting. Knowing now that it just feeds one house and it's all on his property that should give them a lot more freedom regarding trenching and all that. If I had 7 acres I'd consider putting the shop in a different place, paving a nice driveway to the new location may be a similar cost to moving the transformer.

 

[TractorJeff]

7 acres? Move the building!

 

[racerboy]

I called the power co. (JCP&L) but because I haven’t closed on the property yet, they really couldn’t tell me anything. Technically I have 21 acres across 3 lots (7 acres each) but here in NJ you are really restricted as to what you can build from an impervious coverage perspective. I could build a shop on another lot, but then it’s not near the house. I’d really like it to either be directly across from where the current 3-car garage is, or to be have it more like an L. I’ll draw a picture and post it.

 

[BrandonV]

I called the power co. (JCP&L) but because I haven’t closed on the property yet, they really couldn’t tell me anything. Technically I have 21 acres across 3 lots (7 acres each) but here in NJ you are really restricted as to what you can build from an impervious coverage perspective. I could build a shop on another lot, but then it’s not near the house. I’d really like it to either be directly across from where the current 3-car garage is, or to be have it more like an L. I’ll draw a picture and post it.

You might want to look for a separate customer construction phone number versus the main line (if that is what you called).

 

[35Ford]

Talk to your electrician and the utility to see what your options are. If you are the only one on that transformer the utility may be able to move it back toward the street. You would have to extend your secondaries to the house. If you plan on running a new service to the new garage and can show additional load, the utility may do their work at a reduced cost or no cost at all. Sometimes it comes down to who you get to talk to and how the job is presented.

 

[racerboy]

Here’s a photo from real estate listing. That bush circled in yellow is where transformer sits.

 

[racerboy]

Here you can see the transformer pad and the meter and where they are in relation to the edge of driveway.

 

[racerboy]

My other option would be to build the shop perpendicular to current garage so when you drove up the driveway it would be directly in front of you. I would have to remove the bushes behind those cars. I would like to leave that one tree on the left.

 

[mike93lx]

There is no way you will get an answer from them in time to not screw the sale. If it's only feeding your house, it may be movable, but regardless, it will be costly. If that potential cost doesn't scare you (looks like an expensive house, so maybe not), roll the dice and figure it out afterwards

 

[Metal-Marc]

7 acres? Move the building!

This.

Some people really love to complicate their lives for nothing.

 

[dave*99]

JCP&L...... They seem to miss the mark on reliability.
I suggest you put in a big generator if you want the lights to stay on.