Electric Utility Design Criteria
Criteria for building and trade professionals
who design or install electric facilities

The Austin Energy Design Criteria Manual provides criteria, guidelines, definitions, and descriptions for the design and installation of electric facilities that will be served by Austin Energy (AE).

You can view and download the online version of the manual for free, or you can purchase a printed version from the One Stop Shop on Barton Springs Road.

• Download a free copy of the 2013 Austin Energy Design Criteria manual (pdf)
  
  
• Buy a printed copy at the One Stop Shop – Printed and bound copies of the 2013 Austin Energy Design Manual will be available in mid-March 2013 for $15.00 at the One Stop Shop.
  
  One Stop Shop
  One Texas Center
  505 Barton Springs Road
  Austin, TX 78704
  ( 512-974-6370)

We make every effort to be accurate in the online Austin Energy Design Criteria Manual. In case of conflict, the official manual on file with the Austin City Clerk's office takes precedence.

Contact Austin Energy with your electric utility design questions
If you have questions about our design criteria, please contact one of our Offices of Distribution Engineering Design. You may also pick up printed copies of the Austin Energy Design Manual at the following locations:

• AE Design South - St. Elmo Service Center
  4411-B Meinardus Drive (South of 969/MLK/Windsor Rd.)
  (512) 505-7500
  
  
• AE Design North - Kramer Lane Service Center
  2412 Kramer Lane, Bldg. C (North of 969/MLK/Windsor Rd.)
  (512) 505-7206
  
  
• AE Network Design - Downtown
  4411-B Meinardus Drive
  (512) 505-7675

Electrical Service Planning Application (ESPAs)
The Electrical Service Planning Application is needed to obtain a permit and is also used by the design team to determine your power requirements. Print and complete your ESPA, and mail it to the address listed on the top of the application.

View and download the right ESPA for your job:

• Small Service Form (pdf)
  For service-only requests under 350 amps 1-phase or 225 amps 3-phase
  
  
• Large Service Form (pdf)
  For services over 350 amps 1-phase or 225 amps 3-phase

Austin Energy’s signing of the ESPA signifies that Austin Energy can provide the load, voltage and type of infrastructure requested on the ESPA. Customers are still responsible for providing the necessary infrastructure, and for following all NEC codes and the Austin Energy Design Criteria.

Contact the appropriate distribution engineering design office (listed above) if you have questions.

Other Austin Energy guides and specifications
Links to other criteria manuals and guides are provided here for your convenience:

• Distribution Interconnection Guide (pdf)
  Guidelines or customer-owned power production facilities 50 kW
  to <10MW
  
  
• Meter Sockets Specifications
  Specifications for electric meter types by manufacturer
  
  
• Current Transformer Guide
  Specifications and approved manufacturers for both Austin Energy and customer-provided current transformers
  
  
• Meter Hubs Guide
  Specifications and approved manufacturers for customer-provided
  meter hubs
  
  
• Hardware Guide
  Specifications and approved manufacturers for customer-provided metering and transformer hardware
  
  
• Streetlight Foundation Details (pdf)
  Detailed design drawing for installing streetlight foundations.

 City of Austin code, standards, and specifications

• City of Austin Online Code Library
  Comprehensive online repository. Contains City Code, criteria manuals for Building, Drainage, Environmental, Fire Protection, Transportation and Utilities, Standards, and Standard Specifications.

Remember to call before you dig
Make one call to get all of your utilities marked. Be safe and avoid costly outages and delays. Call before you dig. (800) 344-8377.