In order to reduce the threat of a fire from damage related to Hurricane Ike the City continues to require that all homeowners obtain an electrical inspection. The procedure is outlined in the following update from the City. The Condominium Association will obtain the necessary permits for the condos. It is the responsibility of cottage and custom home owners to obtain these approvals before turning their power on. Please call the listed phone number for additional information.
Electrical: There are 200-300 connections per day now and increasing to 500 to 600 per day with added crews. An electrician is necessary to obtain a permit for a residence if water compromised any of the following electrical systems: Outside meter cam; breaker box (usually 2nd floor); and, electrical connections. If no water entered any of these systems, the home owner needs to telephone the city for electrical inspection at: 797-3660. This is answered all day. Also, Email the Planning Department counter the location of the house that needs to be inspected to: planningcounter@cityofgalveston.org. They check Emails all the time.
Once the electrician inspects and remedies the house, they submit the permit application and notify the city inspector. The city will inspect the house within 24 hours after the permit is turned in. The City will contact Centerpoint Energy by email the same day to connect the house if it passes. The City requires an electrical inspection of all properties. One of the problems in delays for a residence to get power turned on is the electrician normally turns in 5 to 10 permit applications at a time rather than when they complete the work for the residence. This delays the inspection process because if a house has an electrician on Monday and the permit is not turned in until Friday, then the delay and frustration continues. It is better if the homeowner requests the electrician to turn in the permit the same day it is fixed (this is time consuming for the electrician because they have to wait in line at the permit place).
