UTILITY DUE DILIGENCE AND COST ESTIMATING
Identifying the utility related issues, as a part of a site acquisition proforma, land use planning or tentative map preparation, is critical in determining how the project can be best utilized. Understanding the potential conflicts that may occur between existing utility systems and proposed project improvements in the early stages of the project will help you to determine what should be anticipated. Butsko is experienced in site due diligence by regularly performing these site studies on a weekly basis for lenders, utility companies, municipalities, developers and engineer/land planners. Butsko’s utility research includes obtaining utility company as-builts/facility maps, conducting interviews with key utility company staff and field verifying the site conditions.
Accurately determining the magnitude of the utility related costs is essential to the financial success of a project. By utilizing Butsko’s site due diligence information, Butsko can perform cost estimates ranging from comprehensive and detailed to order of magnitude and ballpark. Cost estimating your utility company charges (refundable, non-refundable/taxable), contractor costs (contractor provided material) and facility relocation costs will only be as accurate as your familiarity of the CPUC or utility company rate applications, design methodologies and construction standards. Butsko has extensive work experience with local regulated and non-regulated utility companies. Butsko’s knowledge of each utility provides us with a good foundation to accurately determine utility and applicant responsibilities and the related costs.
UTILITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTS
When faced with the complex task of reviewing dry utility issues and how they relate to the potential environmental challenges for each development, Butsko is uniquely qualified to answer these questions for clients during the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) stage of development. Every Butsko dry utility study thoroughly covers the complex research needed to complete the EIR including: calculating gas and electric load studies, determining locations of existing dry utilities near each project, researching regional gas and electric transmission/generation infrastructure and investigating California electric industry de-regulation and preparing a site exhibit. Finally, Butsko will respond to the EIR team questions, meet with utility representatives, and prepare the final technical report.
UTILITY PLANNING & MANAGEMENT
The management and coordination of the utility planning and design process can be complicated and a difficult task. This process usually involves coordinating between each project team member (consultants, contractors, project management, construction management, sales and marketing). By effectively communicating activities and managing tasks, schedules are more likely to be maintained and financial budgets met. Butsko has an internal project management team to ensure clear and timely communication and project control.
Butsko’s team consists of a Principal-In-Charge, Project Manager/Designer and Project Coordinator. Client representation and advocacy is a priority for the Butsko team throughout the life of a project.
UTILITY CONSTRUCTION COORDINATION
Ranging from shared construction responsibilities to turnkey utility installations, Butsko offers its' clients a full range of construction services through its strategic alliances with highly experienced, qualified installers of dry utility systems. Options can range from bid quantities and contractor procurement and utility installation and energizing coordination. By combining the design and construction options and services, better control over the entire utility system process can be achieved.
APPLICANT DESIGN (ELECTRIC AND GAS)
Butsko has established itself as a leader in utility designs as an active participant working with the CPUC implementation of electric and gas "Applicant Design" since January 1996. Butsko has successfully performed more applicant design projects than any other design/engineering firm in California. Applicant Designs are approved by the CPUC as a "permanent" option to help meet the needs of the building industry by providing flexibility, choice and control over the planning and design process.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM DESIGN
Butsko has extensive experience in telecommunications design, working for local service providers and designing master planned communities’ communications system infrastructure requirements.
LIGHTING SERVICES
Butsko’s Lighting Services Division is energy and nighttime sky conscious while providing lighting design and engineering services. Butsko's lighting design experience includes but is not limited to public and private streets, parking lots, parks and entertainment projects.
Working closely with Butsko’s staff provides for better coordination in identifying electrical service points for street lights and/ or meter pedestal locations. Butsko’s continued relationship with the client and landscape architects help to establish a clean, coordinated lighting project.
CONCEPTUAL COMPOSITE EXHIBITS
COMPOSITE EXHIBITS
With today’s projects becoming ever complex, Butsko dry utility composite exhibits help to consolidate multiple engineering disciplines into a single reference exhibit for Butsko’s clients, their contractors and other team members. A dry utility composite is a great tool to easily identify potential conflicts early in the project. Working closely with civil engineers, landscape architects and consultants, Butsko’s dry utility composite exhibits can be regularly updated to reflect the project’s most accurate and up to date plans.
UTILITY COMPANY/GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES
Butsko performs design and engineering services for utility companies in California and the Northwest. These service capabilities include: overhead electric design, overhead to underground design, electric and gas line extension design, electric system capacity and reinforcement design, telecommunication/fiber ring design, substation getaway design; and electric and gas load analysis and engineering.
