MEP rough-in + service upgrades (PGE, NW Natural)

What MEP rough means

With framing done and the house dried in, the trades go in the open walls and ceilings:

• Electrical runs cable from the panel to every device, fixture, switch, and outlet location. Smoke and CO detectors get wired. Circuits are pulled but not energized.
• Plumbing sets vent stacks, drain lines, water lines, and gas lines (if any). Tubs and showers get rough-in valves; toilets and sinks get supply stubs and waste fittings.
• Mechanical sets the new HVAC equipment (or expands existing), runs ductwork, sets bath fans and range hood ducts.

Service upgrades

Two utility-side service questions:

Electric service (PGE)

Most older Portland houses have 100A or 125A service. A second-story addition with new bedrooms, possibly a heat pump, and modern appliance loads usually requires a service upgrade to 200A. The electrician coordinates with PGE:

1. Electrician submits the service upgrade application to PGE.
2. PGE quotes any work on their side (replacing the service drop, the meter, sometimes the transformer).
3. PGE schedules the cut-out (the temporary disconnect) and reconnect.
4. The electrician swaps the panel and meter base; PGE re-energizes.

Most service upgrades are simple — overhead drop, replace meter base and panel, done. A small fraction of houses need a transformer upgrade upstream, which can extend the timeline to 6–10 weeks.

Gas service (NW Natural)

If your scope adds or modifies gas service (NW Natural):

• A new gas appliance requires a meter or service modification request.
• Removing all gas (going all-electric) means a gas service disconnect.
• Modifying interior gas piping requires the plumbing sub-permit and an inspection.

Inspections

Each trade gets an inspection before drywall:

• Electrical rough — verify circuits, boxes, anti-tampering boxes (where required), fire-blocking, smoke/CO wiring.
• Plumbing rough — verify drain slope, vent terminations, gas-line pressure test, water-line stub locations.
• Mechanical rough — verify duct routing, equipment locations, ventilation airflow paths.
• Energy / insulation pre-cover — verify air-sealing details before insulation goes in.

Each trade's permit (the sub-permits from step 3.2) governs their inspections. The electrician calls their own electrical inspector; the plumber calls theirs; the mechanical contractor calls theirs. The GC coordinates the schedule.

Why "all roughs together before drywall" matters

Drywall closes the walls. Anything that wasn't roughed in correctly becomes a tear-out. Coordinated rough scheduling is one of the things experienced GCs are good at — a less-experienced GC will skip a rough inspection or close walls before the energy inspection, and pay for it in re-work.

When this is done

When all four roughs (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy/insulation) are inspected and signed off, and PGE/NW Natural service work is complete. Insulation can go in.