Straight answers on what residential boring and trenching costs in the Bay Area — what drives the price, typical ranges from our recent jobs, and what’s included in an Apex quote.
| Job | Typical scope | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| PG&E electric service conduit, house side only | About 30–60 ft, through yard or under a driveway, no street work | $14,000 – $18,000 |
| PG&E gas service, private side | Trench or bore from the street to the meter, with restoration | $18,000 – $30,000 |
| Electric or gas service with a street crossing | Street trench or bore, traffic control, plates, sidewalk and asphalt restoration | $40,000 and up |
| Bore under a driveway or patio | Single short bore for conduit, water or gas | Quoted per job |
| ADU utilities | Power, sewer, water and gas to an ADU, often in one mobilization | Quoted per job |
Feet from the source (pole, meter or main) to the house or equipment.
Concrete, pavers and asphalt cost more to cut and restore — which is where boring saves money.
Crossing the street adds traffic control, trench plates, encroachment permits and street restoration.
Rock, cobble and hard clay slow drilling and digging.
Conduit size, depth and inspections set by PG&E’s design.
Tight side yards, slopes and retaining walls affect equipment and method.
A written scope listing exactly what’s included and excluded.
Utility locating and potholing of crossings before we dig or bore.
PG&E and city inspections scheduled and attended.
The surfaces we disturb are put back, and it’s spelled out in the quote.
You pay as the work gets done.
CSLB #838568 (A, B, HAZ), general liability and workers’ comp.
“David was able to start on the job immediately, pivot when we hit a large boulder underground… and dig underneath a retaining wall without damaging it. He has a deep understanding of the PG&E Greenbook.”
“I couldn’t be happier with the results… all inspections were passed successfully without any issues.”
“Very tight quarters to do the boring and it was no problem for Dave. Work site was back to its original condition before they left for the day.”
On paper a trench is cheaper per foot. But once you add saw cutting, removing and replacing concrete, pavers or asphalt, and restoring landscaping, a bore under the same surfaces often costs less in total — and the job is done faster.
No. Site walks and estimates are free in our service area.
PG&E fees and design, city permit fees, electrical wiring and panel work, and rock or unforeseen underground conditions. Every quote lists exactly what’s included and excluded.
Most residential jobs are billed in milestones — a deposit at signing, then payments at mobilization, inspections and completion — so you’re never far ahead of the work.
Book a free site walk. We’ll walk the route with you and send a fixed-price proposal, usually within 24 hours.