Clean commercial electrical room with organized distribution panels.

LOAD STUDIES · INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY · ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS

Load Study Data for Permits and AHJ Submittals in Phoenix, Arizona

Cities and utilities ask for proof that a service can carry new load. We collect the field data that supports your submittal.

Request a Consultation (602) 564-1144

When does a permit or AHJ ask for load data?

When a project adds load to an existing building, the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), meaning the city's plan reviewer or inspector, often wants to see that the service and panels can carry it. APS and SRP can ask for the same information when a service upgrade or new meter is requested. Load data from the field is the evidence that answers the question.

What data do we collect?

  • Panel and service ratings, with photos of nameplates and panel schedules
  • Measured current and demand on the service and major panels
  • A record of the largest connected equipment and its nameplate load
  • Voltage and phase balance at the time of measurement
  • Notes on what the building was doing while we recorded

Why does 30 days of recording matter?

NEC 220.87 lets the load of an existing building be based on actual maximum demand instead of a worst-case calculation. The demand can come from a full year of utility data, or from at least 30 days of recorded maximum demand while the building is occupied. That recorded maximum is then multiplied by 125 percent. A measured number is often lower than a paper calculation, which can mean a smaller upgrade or none at all.

Who performs the calculation?

PCS collects the field data and assists with the load documentation. We assist engineers with load calculations and supply measured data and documentation. We work with your engineer, architect or project manager so the data arrives in a form they can use.

What does the process look like?

  1. You send the project scope and what the AHJ or utility has asked for
  2. We walk the building and photograph the electrical equipment
  3. We place recording instruments on the service or main panels
  4. We pull the data and write a field report
  5. The field report goes to your engineer or the person submitting the package

The broader service is described on our Electrical Load Studies page.

Arizona ROC #153656 (CR-11) | Over 40 years in business

OUR PROCESS

HOW DOES A JOB WITH PHOENIX CONTRACTING SERVICES WORK?

Every job follows three steps: a site walkthrough, testing and documentation, then findings and next steps.

01

WALKTHROUGH AND SCOPE

We start with a free phone consultation, and you can send a photo of your panel or equipment. If on-site work is needed, we visit, look at the panels and service, and agree on what needs to be tested or repaired before any work starts. On-site work is quoted before it begins.

02

TESTING AND DOCUMENTATION

Load loggers and a thermal camera record what the equipment is doing, and the results are documented for each panel or component we check.

03

FINDINGS AND NEXT STEPS

We go over what we found and your options in plain language. If corrective work is needed, we are licensed to do it.

WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT US

5.0 VERIFIED GOOGLE RATING
Jeff and his team were amazing! I needed a load calculation, one line diagram, and a panel schedule for an electrical permit with the city. Phoenix Contracting Services had an unbeatable price and moved quickly to See more
Ryan Husted Google review
Jeff’s knowledge, experience and professionalism are exemplary! We contracted him to provide engineering plans to permit our relocation and upgrade of electrical service meter. He worked with my electricians on details See more
Jacqueline Google review
We woke to a Friday morning with weird lighting fluctuations. I checked the service panel to find a burning smell and melted bus bar under AC breaker. Since bus bar was melted, I contacted SRP who provided some certified See more
Mike Silva Google review

Do you help with the load calculation?
We assist engineers with load calculations, using the measured field data and documentation.
Will the city accept recorded data?
Many do, particularly for existing buildings under NEC 220.87. Requirements vary by city and reviewer, so we ask your engineer or the plan reviewer what they need before we start.
How long does the recording take?
At least 30 days if you want to use the NEC 220.87 recorded-demand method. Shorter recordings can still show how the building behaves, but they may not satisfy a reviewer.
Can you help if the utility asks for load data?
Yes. We collect the same field data and provide it for the request you are submitting to APS or SRP.
What should I send you to get a quote?
The building address, the scope of the project, the size of the main service if you know it, and what the AHJ or utility has asked for.

Tell Us What Your Electrical System Needs

Share the details of your project, and our team will help you identify the most practical next step.

Request a Consultation (602) 564-1144