ᐅ Application for Utility Connections and Installation of Wiring/Piping

Hello everyone,

maybe some topics in house construction are not as complicated as they seem, or I’m just overthinking things.

We have submitted our building permit (in Berlin, prime plot) and now I want to apply for all utilities. Some questions have come up (probably typical beginner questions):

Electricity and water connections are available at the street. I would like to have the lines from the street to the future house installed only after the shell of the house is built. Does this mean that temporary construction power and water will be routed above ground from the street to the rear?

Do cable TV and telephone connections have to be applied for early, or is it sufficient to do this only after the house is completed?

My goal is to dig up the path to the house only once and install water, wastewater, electricity, cable, and telephone lines all at the same time.

Is it correct that you pay once for the connection (e.g., at the local network operator) and then again for the actual installation of the lines to the house or the house connection itself?

Sorry for these beginner questions :-)

Best regards

vaderle schrieb:
Do you need to apply for cable TV and telephone connections early, or is it enough to do this after the house is completed?

It’s best to contact the telecom provider early, as they usually have long lead times.

All connections to our house were handled by a company that works with all utility providers in the area. Find out who that is for your location and get in touch with them.

Telecommunications require about 9 months lead time here. Gas and water take around 6 months. Electricity is similar. The process: electricity is arranged with the network provider through an electrician. Gas, water, and sewage installations are handled by the plumber. For telecommunications, coordinate with the civil engineer to prepare an empty conduit when pouring the foundation. One trench for all services? That’s an ideal scenario, but in reality, each contractor usually brings their own mini excavator team, and you’re lucky if one doesn’t damage the work of another. It would definitely be more cost-effective if gas, water, and sewage lines were installed before electricity and telecommunications, as they are positioned higher and therefore not buried as deep in the ground.

I would apply for everything right away! When you carry out the work doesn’t matter at first, the main thing is that you start the process early! (Unless you want to live without utility connections for 6 months)

For my utility connections, you can do the excavation work yourself, meaning you only have to have a trench dug.

They will then get temporary construction electricity and water from wherever it is available on your property, once the plot has been developed.

Thank you for your feedback.

We have an amazing plot of land. Is it better to have an individual wastewater connection or a shared wastewater connection with the neighboring front property (I would still need to ask the front owner if they would agree, as they are already connected to the wastewater system)? Would a shared connection be more cost-effective regarding the connection fees?

Of course, doing things together is usually cheaper. But let me give you an example. We used to have a single-family semi-detached house, four units in a row, sharing a common sewage pipe. It was the day after Christmas. Everything was backed up on our side. Blocked. I called the plumber. He came but couldn’t fix it; there was no problem in our short connection to the main sewer, which was apparently clogged. A drain cleaning service was needed. A jetting truck, on the second day of Christmas. The price of 600 was still reasonable. They cleared the main pipe. But then the problem started. I paid the bill. One neighbor reimbursed me 150. The next two refused to pay, saying it wasn’t their problem. Only a legal collection procedure with all the hassle got the two of them to pay 300. The relationship was permanently damaged. That’s how it can go with joint costs.