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Residential Developments

Residential Subdivision Development

Missoula Electric Cooperative

Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) partners with residential developers to provide safe, reliable electric infrastructure for new subdivisions. Early coordination and adherence to MEC’s development standards are critical to keeping projects on schedule and avoiding costly redesigns or delays.

This page provides a high-level overview of MEC’s residential development process, developer responsibilities, and required documentation.

Start Early: Application & Planning

All subdivision projects must begin with a Residential Development Application. MEC cannot begin system design, cost estimating, or field review until a complete application package and required fees are received.

To get started, developers must submit:

A completed MEC Residential Development Application
A Subdivision Design & Project Engineering Fee according to the number of platted lots/meters as follows:

Number of Lots/Meters	Design Fee
1 to 9 platted lots/meters	$500/unit
10 to 15 platted lots/meters	$5,000
16 to 50 platted lots/meters	$10,000
51 to 100 platted lots/meters	$15,000
101 to 250 platted lots/meters	$20,000
Over 50 platted lots/meters	Negotiated

An overall development plan showing all phases
A construction timeline
An approved plat with required easements (AutoCAD format)

System Design & Cost Estimate

Once MEC receives a complete application package:

MEC prepares a preliminary electric system (backbone) design
A detailed cost estimate is developed
A Residential Development Installation Agreement and Developer Excavation Agreement are issued

Cost estimates are valid for 45 days. Any changes to plats, phasing, or layouts after submission may require redesign and additional costs.

Note: Payment in full of the estimated construction costs is required before MEC schedules construction or orders materials.

Developer Responsibilities

Developers play a critical role in preparing the site and coordinating construction. Key responsibilities include:

Providing accurate and complete plats, easements, and load information
Completing all required site preparation, including:
- Property corner identification
- Surveying and staking equipment locations per MEC’s design
- Clearing and grading to near-final grade
Excavating trenches and installing road crossings or sleeves per MEC standards
Coordinating trench inspections with MEC
Backfilling trenches after conduit installation
Maintaining required clearances from other utilities and structures

All work must comply with MEC’s Residential Development Standards, including trench depth, conduit placement, equipment clearances, and utility separation requirements.

Construction & Installation

After agreements are executed and payment is received:

Developer stakes equipment locations
A pre-construction meeting is held with the developer and contractors
Trenches are dug, inspected and approved
MEC installs conduit, vaults or basements
Developer backfills trenches
MEC pulls wire, sets equipment, terminates connections, and completes installation

Once construction is complete and inspections are finalized, the electric backbone system is energized.

Metered Services & Temporary Power

The Residential Development Application covers only the electric backbone infrastructure.
Each individual home, building, or temporary service requires:

A separate New Service Application
Applicable engineering fees and construction costs

Temporary builder power is an option but must be requested separately and is installed and removed at the developer’s expense.

Why Early Coordination Matters

Delays often occur due to incomplete applications, late design changes, or site work that does not meet MEC standards. Contacting MEC early in the planning phase helps: