Short answer. Before demolition, PG&E must permanently disconnect electric (remove the meter and service drop or lateral) and gas (cut and cap at the property line or main). Both are separate requests through Your Projects under PG&E's Disconnect–Reconnect process, each with its own notification number. PG&E publishes no fixed timeline for disconnects; the CPUC application-decision target (10 days average, 45 maximum) covers the application step, and field work is scheduled after that. File the day you apply for the demo permit, not the day you need it.
The three things people confuse
| Request | What PG&E does | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Turn off / close account | Stops billing; meter stays | Never sufficient for demolition |
| Temporary disconnect | Service de-energized, facilities stay | Remodels, roof work near lines |
| Permanent disconnect (termination) | Meter and drop/lateral removed; gas cut and capped | Demolition. This is the one the building department wants |
How it runs
- Submit the permanent disconnect request in Your Projects — electric and gas are separate. Have the account/meter numbers, the site plan, and the demo permit number or application.
- PG&E schedules field work. Electric: meter pull and drop/lateral removal. Gas: cut and cap at the property line, or at the main if the service is being abandoned.
- Get the confirmation in writing — the notification number and the date the work was completed. The building department will ask.
- Demolition, then the new-service applications (which you should already have filed).
Why disconnects stall teardowns
- Filed late. The request goes in when the excavator is booked. Then everyone waits.
- Gas cut location. Cut at the property line versus at the main is a different scope and schedule — and it matters for the new gas service you'll want later.
- Shared or unclear services. Duplexes, rear units and old lots with a neighbor's drop crossing yours need a site walk first.
- Nobody owns the follow-up. Disconnects don't show up on anyone's schedule until they're late.
MeterSet teardown package: disconnect (electric + gas) plus new electric and gas service, managed as one file with one owner — flat fee. Disconnect-only is available.
Questions builders ask
Do I need both electric and gas disconnected before demolition?
Yes, if both are present. They are separate PG&E requests with separate notification numbers, and the building department typically wants confirmation of both before the demo permit is finaled.
How long does a PG&E disconnect take?
PG&E does not publish a fixed timeline for permanent disconnects. The application step is covered by the CPUC 10-day average / 45-day maximum decision target; field work is scheduled after that. Plan weeks, and file when you apply for the demo permit.
Should I file the new service application before or after demolition?
Before. Standard-process design can take up to 60 business days. The disconnect and the new service are separate files that should run in parallel.
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More PG&E guides
How long does PG&E take for new electric service?Application to energization, by project type — and what the CPUC now requires.PG&E Express Connect: who qualifies, how long it takesThe ~100-day fast path for residential jobs up to 320A, and the two deadlines that knock you out of it.Upgrading to 200A or 400A with PG&EPanel upgrade, service upgrade, added load — which path you're on and what PG&E needs.PG&E temporary power for construction sitesWhen temp power is fast, when it isn't, and what to have ready before you apply.
Sources. PG&E Building & Renovation Services (pge.com); PG&E Express Connect Customer Journey (PDF); PG&E Applicant Design Process (PDF); CPUC Decision D.24-09-020 and the June 2025 energization-timelines workshop deck (cpuc.ca.gov); PG&E Electric Rules 15, 16 and 29. Figures are PG&E's published averages and CPUC targets as of September 2026 and can change.