Who pays to extend power lines to my property?
TexasReviewed October 2026
Usually the landowner pays part or all of it. Many Texas co-ops charge a non-refundable contribution (aid) in aid of construction that is calculated after an engineer visits the site. Some co-ops cover a set amount for a permanent home and bill you for anything above it; Southwest Texas Electric Cooperative, for example, publishes a contribution of up to $5,000 for a standard home and up to $7,500 for an all-electric home. Temporary or non-permanent service can be billed at 100% of construction cost plus removal. Distance drives the price: the U.S. Department of Energy notes that running grid lines to remote sites can cost $15,000 to $50,000 per mile. Each utility sets its own policy, so ask for a written estimate before buying remote land.
Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.