How a service upgrade works with Eversource and United Illuminating

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The sequence, Eversource territory

1. Service request. Required for "any new, relocated, upgraded, changed, removed or temporary service," including load data, before work starts (Information & Requirements §118). Replacing the meter socket, service entrance or mast counts as a change (§137). Requests are normally filed by the licensed contractor and assigned to a technician within two business days (Eversource FAQ).
2. Permit. Town electrical permit with the service request number on it. Town fees →
3. Cut and reconnect day. Under the Residential Cut and Reconnect Policy — which covers only overhead single-phase residential services of 400A or less; underground and larger services are scheduled by the utility — an E-1 (unlimited electrical contractor) or E-9 (residential and light-commercial contractor) electrician cuts at the weatherhead, replaces the service entrance, meter socket and panel, reconnects, and reinstalls the existing meter — common for 60–100A → 100–200A upgrades. Service request number obtained ≥15 days prior; work complete within 60 days. Emergency exception: if a service fails outside Eversource business hours, on a weekend or holiday, the policy allows the repair or replacement to proceed, provided the electrician obtains the Eversource service request number and the municipal permit within one business day (CT Building Code R105.2.1, emergency repairs).
4. Meter socket. Must be from Eversource's approved list; all sockets require lever-operated bypass jaws with a safety flash shield (list dated September 17, 2024).
5. Inspection. The electrician obtains the town inspector's approval as soon as the work is complete. The inspector — the Authority Having Jurisdiction — is the party that notifies Eversource of any building-code violation; unless Eversource hears of one from the inspector, it reseals or installs the meter.
6. Reseal. Eversource reseals or installs the meter. Homeowner-permit jobs (owner-occupied single-family, I&R §114) do not qualify for cut-and-reconnect — Eversource de-energizes and reconnects after municipal approval.

The sequence, United Illuminating territory

1. Service Location Request online (or via UI Customer Care); UI assigns a job number that the town needs for approval — Bridgeport requires the UI work order number on the permit application.
2. Permit and work. Per UI's 2017 Guidebook (§5.4), an E-1/E-9 (or supervised E-2/apprentice) may cut and reconnect overhead single-phase services up to 200A after contacting UI; work is completed within 15 days of the service date. Homeowners may install only de-energized services.
3. Inspection posted. "Construction acceptance" must be in UI's system before scheduling or energizing. The electrician obtains the municipal inspection and must advise UI within one business day of completing the cut-and-reconnect steps (Guidebook §5.4, step 7).
4. Meter. UI installs the meter after municipal inspection; the old meter must not be reinstalled. Unauthorized de-energizing is billed.

Who does what

What to ask before you sign

• "Which utility, and what's the service request or job number?" If they don't know the utility for your address, they haven't done many of these here.
• "Is my service overhead or underground, and is it within the cut-and-reconnect policy?" Underground and >400A services are utility-scheduled.
• "Which approved meter socket are you installing?"
• "Same-day power restoration, or is there a utility visit between inspection and reseal?" In UI towns, meter installation follows the posted inspection — ask how that's timed.

Published 2026-09-10 · Updated 2026-09-27 · Fairfield County, CT · Every figure above is sourced in the list above, with a date where the source publishes one.