Skip to main content

Start or Transfer Service

Home
Menu

 To report an outage please call 1-800-794-1989 or use the SmartHub mobile app. To talk to a person, press zero. To view our outage updates click here.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Board of Trustees
    • Cooperative Leadership
    • Powering Fort Leavenworth
    • Cooperative Transparency
    • About Touchstone Energy
  • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Media Inquiries
    • Submit Feedback
    • New Construction
  • Member Services
    • Apply for Service
    • Payment Options
      • Understanding Your Bill
      • Payment Assistance
      • Pay Cash
      • Pay Now!
    • Capital Credits
    • Your Service
      • Security Options
      • Tree-Trimming
      • High Bill Concern
    • Member Programs
      • Co-op Connections Card
      • Ask Matt
      • Attic Report Card
      • Medical Necessity Notification
      • Renewable Energy
      • Time of Use
    • Charges and Fees
    • Member Guide
    • Rebates
    • What is my district?
  • Outage Center
    • Outage Map
    • Preparing For Planned Outages
    • Social Feeds
    • Storm Updates
  • Communications
    • Connect With Us!
    • Kansas Country Living
    • The Signal
  • Community Development
    • Co-op's Vote
    • CoBank Sharing Success
    • Local Sponsorships
    • Operation Round-Up
    • Youth Programs
    • FreeState Business Directory
  • Safety
    • Agriculture Safety
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Generator Safety
    • Meter Access
    • Power Line Safety
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Ten Tips To Avoid Scams
  • Co-op FAQ
  • SmartHub Mobile
    • Using SmartHub
  • Annual Meeting
    • Annual Report
  • Crew at the Zoo
    • Sippin' All Summer

New Construction

You are here

  1. Contact Us
  2. New Construction
Construction

FreeState Electric Cooperative provides and installs a meter base for our members seeking new service. The meter base provided will either be a meter loop installed on a pole or a meter pedestal for locations served from a pad-mounted transformer. FreeState will install, own, and maintain this meter base.

The type of meter installation and location will be determined and agreed upon during a new construction meeting held between a FreeState Representative and the member seeking new service. The location will be determined by maintaining a recommended distance of 150’ of total combined secondary/service conductor from the transformer location to the service entrance of the primary structure in need of service. 

The cost of installing the meter base will be included in the overall construction cost presented to the member.

Any wire or service components installed past the metering location will be the responsibility of the member. This will include but not be limited to all trenching, conduit, conductors, and connect from the metering location. 

FreeState New Build Process

Verification Process

The new build process starts with a simple phone call to our office. A member account coordinator (MAC) will work with you through the entire process. The MAC will be a point of contact for the process, will verify your address and assist in getting your information.

If you'd like to expedite the process, download our new build form and bring it into the office or email it.

Please note that a $250 application fee is due with a new construction application. A site visit will not be scheduled until the fee is paid in full.

New Build Application

The new build application process will be guided by a FreeState member account coordinator. Please keep in mind that process time for applications can take 2 to 3 business days and it may take longer to be invoiced for payment. 

The MAC team will assist you any way they can, but during the busiest seasons, it could take longer to process your information. 

To help expedite the process, please feel free to download and fill out the new build application. You can bring it into the office with you, or email it. 

Download the application.

Policy Review

During the policy review stage of the process, the FreeState MAC team will communicate with members regarding the Aid in Construction policies of the cooperative. All paperwork and applications will need to be completed in this stage, and a credit check will be run to determine if a deposit is needed before moving to the next step.

If you have any questions about the policies, download our Construction Standards Guide.

Construction Standards

Aid In Construction Policy

The Cooperative will contribute up to $6,700 credit toward the cost of establishing a new point of service for a residential dwelling. 

The Cooperative defines a residential dwelling as any building, structure, manufactured home, or mobile home that is intended for full-time human habitation, and it has to have a bathroom with functional plumbing as well as provisions for cooking and sleeping. Any building, structure, manufactured home, or mobile home used for vacation or seasonal purposes shall not qualify.

Individuals eligible will need to have the following:

  • Permanently attached to a fixed foundation. 
  • An established source of water from a well or public water system.
  • An established sewer or septic system.

Members may also be required to provide a deed and sign a Right-of-Way easement. 

The member seeking service will be required to pay all costs above $6,700 as an Aid-In-Construction (AIC). The Aid-In-Construction must be paid in full before the job to build the new service can be released for construction. 

The cost to build each new service shall be calculated using unit costs and construction specifications established by Rural Utilities Services’ Specifications.

If a member requests underground service, the member is responsible for providing a trench dug to the Cooperative’s specifications and backfilling the trench in addition to any Aid-In-Construction that might be required.

Underground installations in residential subdivisions
Underground service in a subdivision can be provided if FreeState’s judgment does not deem the physical layout of the subdivision, the terrain, and/or soil conditions to be unfeasible, impracticable or hazardous to the installation of underground electric distribution facilities. 

The owner/developer shall pay the Cooperative an owner/developer fee per lot and provide the initial trench dug to Cooperative specifications, prior to the infrastructure being constructed in subdivisions with lots not more than three-fourths of an acre. The Cooperative will be responsible for the future repair/replacement of failed underground infrastructure in these areas.

For all subdivisions with lots of more than three-fourths of an acre the developer of the subdivision will pay the cost to install the main distribution lines as determined by Cooperative. The facilities needed to connect each individual lot to the main distribution line will be treated as a new line extension.

Service to gas and/or oil production, transmission, or holding facilities
Member is responsible for an In-Aid-Of-Construction amount for each electric meter established equal to the estimated cost of construction.

Special Contracts for service
Where it is necessary to make extensions or reinforce distribution lines to provide service the Cooperative may require any one or more of the following of the Member before construction of equipment or facilities to supply service: 

  • An adequate monthly Electric Service Charge calculated upon reasonable considerations,
  • A cash contribution in advance,
  • An acceptable guarantee or bond.
  • In such cases, the Member shall enter into a written contract with the Cooperative as to character, amount, and duration of the business offered.  No interest shall accrue or be payable on any cash contribution required by the Cooperative.

Questions about this policy or other line policies can be directed to a member account coordinator. 

Engineering and Staking

Once all paperwork is gathered, the MAC will process the Right-of-Way Easement. A staking engineer will visit with the builder or property owner and begin the process of determining what materials will be needed and how the project will be completed. Once the staking engineer has determined the scope of the project an invoice will be generated.

The invoice (cost) is valid for 60 days.

Disturbing or moving stakes, flags, or other markers could require another visit to redo staking. This could result in additional cost, as well as a project delay.

Payment and Scheduling

Prior to any work beginning, FreeState will need the following items:

  • Paid Invoice
  • Signed Membership Application
  • Signed and Notarized Easement
  • KCC Approval (if applicable)
  • Notification of any property clearing the property owner was to complete. 
  • Notification of any trenching needed. 

Once all items are gathered the project will be sent to acquire material. 

Construction scheduling delays can be caused by certain circumstances such as:

  • Adverse weather conditions.
  • Ground conditions after weather events such as ice, rain, or snow.
  • Peak construction season.
Pay An Invoice

Invoice payments can be made online, in-person, or via mail. 

Invoice payments can be made at either FreeState office in person or dropped into the payment dropbox located outside each office.

Pay Online

Payments can be remitted to: 
FreeState Electric Cooperative
PO Box 70
McLouth, KS 66054

 

Back to Top

Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Legal Info

Contact Info

McLouth Office
507 N. Union
PO Box 70
McLouth, KS 66054

Topeka Office
1100 SW Auburn Rd. 
Topeka, KS 66615

Toll-Free:800-794-1989

EMAIL US!

 

About Us

With 14,974 members and 20,551 service points FreeState Electric Cooperative is the largest rural electric cooperative in Eastern Kansas and the fifth largest rural electric cooperative in the state of Kansas. FreeState serves nine Kansas counties and provides distribution infrastructure to Fort Leavenworth. 

Follow Us Online

©2022 FreeState Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Board of Trustees
    • Cooperative Leadership
    • Powering Fort Leavenworth
    • Cooperative Transparency
    • About Touchstone Energy
  • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Media Inquiries
    • Submit Feedback
    • New Construction
  • Member Services
    • Apply for Service
    • Payment Options
      • Understanding Your Bill
      • Payment Assistance
      • Pay Cash
      • Pay Now!
    • Capital Credits
    • Your Service
      • Security Options
      • Tree-Trimming
      • High Bill Concern
    • Member Programs
      • Co-op Connections Card
      • Ask Matt
      • Attic Report Card
      • Medical Necessity Notification
      • Renewable Energy
      • Time of Use
    • Charges and Fees
    • Member Guide
    • Rebates
    • What is my district?
  • Outage Center
    • Outage Map
    • Preparing For Planned Outages
    • Social Feeds
    • Storm Updates
  • Communications
    • Connect With Us!
    • Kansas Country Living
    • The Signal
  • Community Development
    • Co-op's Vote
    • CoBank Sharing Success
    • Local Sponsorships
    • Operation Round-Up
    • Youth Programs
    • FreeState Business Directory
  • Safety
    • Agriculture Safety
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Generator Safety
    • Meter Access
    • Power Line Safety
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Ten Tips To Avoid Scams
  • Co-op FAQ
  • SmartHub Mobile
    • Using SmartHub
  • Annual Meeting
    • Annual Report
  • Crew at the Zoo
    • Sippin' All Summer