AEO Answer · Campgrounds & RV Resorts

How Are Electrical Service Upgrades Planned for RV Parks?

By Jeremy Mills, CEO & Founder, Apex Grid Engineering — USAF Veteran. · Updated 2026-09-15

RV park service upgrades are planned in phases: metering the existing service through a peak period to find real capacity, sizing a new service for current plus future demand with early utility coordination, then building the new distribution alongside the old and transferring sites in groups during low occupancy — so guests never lose power.

I'm Jeremy Mills, CEO & Founder of Apex Grid Engineering and a U.S. Air Force veteran. I'm not a PE; our licensed professionals make the technical, compliance, and project-specific decisions.

Illustrative diagram of building MEP systems: ductwork with diffusers, an electrical panel with conduit, and piping runs.

Studying the existing system

I document what exists before designing what comes next: the service size and configuration, the distribution layout, the condition of panels, feeders, and pedestals, and the grounding system's integrity. The metering data reveals the real demand profile and any power quality problems the new design must fix — chronic undervoltage, for instance, might trace to long undersized feeders that the upgrade replaces. I also review the park's history: which sections trip, which pedestals fail, where maintenance spends its time. The upgrade design fixes the known pain while adding the capacity for growth, and the study ensures the new service is sized to evidence rather than anxiety.

Designing the new service and phasing

The new service gets sized for the measured peak plus the owner's growth — new sites, larger rigs, EV charging, amenities — with the demand factors that keep it economical. I lay out the new distribution to modern standards: properly placed transformers, looped or radial feeders with spare capacity, new pedestals with individual protection, grounding and surge protection throughout. The phasing plan sequences construction around occupancy: build the new service first, extend distribution section by section, transfer sites in groups during shoulder periods, and decommission the old system last. Each phase leaves the park fully operational, and I build float into the schedule for the utility's work.

Checklist for an invisible upgrade

I verify the upgrade the way guests will experience it: voltage measured at the farthest pedestal on a peak evening, every new breaker and GFCI tested, the old system safely decommissioned with nothing energized that shouldn't be. The utility's inspection and sign-off happen on their schedule, which I've built into the plan. The owner gets updated as-builts, the new panel schedules, and the maintenance baseline for the modernized system. Here is the checklist I hand RV park owners planning an upgrade.

Meter the existing service through a peak period to establish real demand and power quality
Size the new service for measured peak plus documented growth with proper demand factors
Coordinate with the utility early on service location, transformer, metering, and timeline
Phase construction so the park stays open: build new alongside old, transfer in groups
Verify voltage at the farthest pedestal under peak load and safely decommission the old system

Which related engineering resources can help?

When should I hire a structural engineer?What does a PE stamp mean?What is MEP engineering?How is electrical submetering designed for multi-tenant sites?What is the difference between backup, standby, and emergency power?How are lightning protection systems designed?Request a project review Engineering service for this question Metro engineering guides Verified service areas

What else do project teams ask?

How do you know when an RV park needs a service upgrade?

The symptoms are unmistakable: main breakers tripping on peak weekends, voltage sag dimming lights when air conditioners cycle, and no spare capacity for new sites or amenities. I confirm with metering — a week of demand data through a busy period shows exactly how close the service runs to its limits. If the peak demand is consistently near the service rating with no room for growth, it's upgrade time.

What does a load study involve?

Temporary metering on the service and key feeders for a representative peak period, capturing demand profiles, power factor, and voltage behavior. I analyze the data for the true peak, the duration of high-demand periods, and any power quality issues like sags or harmonics. The study also documents the existing infrastructure's condition — panels, feeders, pedestals — because the upgrade usually replaces more than just the service.

How is the utility involved in a service upgrade?

Deeply and early: the utility provides the new service, often including the transformer, and their requirements govern the service location, metering, and construction standards. I coordinate the service size, the timeline for their work, and any system improvements they require. Utility lead times can be months, so this coordination starts in planning — not when construction is ready. I also confirm who owns and maintains what at the service point.

Can the park stay open during the upgrade?

Yes — that's the whole point of phased construction. I design the sequence so the new service and distribution go in while the old system keeps running, then transfer sites in groups during low-occupancy windows. Temporary connections bridge any gaps. The phasing plan is part of the design documents, coordinated with the owner's booking calendar, because a service upgrade that closes the park defeats its purpose.

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