Designer Qualifications and Resources
The Designer Qualification Program for Applicant Design and Contract Design (AD/CD) pre-qualifies non-SDG&E designers to perform SDG&E gas and/or electric design. The program also provides no-cost access to SDG&E design tools and systems.
About the Designer Qualification Program
Please see our Fact Sheet for specific information about the program.
Applicant Design (AD)
Applicants may select a pre-qualified design contractor to perform distribution line extensions in accordance with the utility's design and construction standards as specified under Rule 15 Gas and Electric Tariffs.
Contract Design (CD)
The utility may choose to hire an external contract firm who has pre-qualified designers to perform gas and electric design normally performed by the utility. The contracted firm may also subcontract with firms having pre-qualified designers.
Interested applicants may enroll in one or more of the four design disciplines:
- Overhead Electric
- Underground Electric
- Gas
- Transformer Vault
How to Become a Qualified Designer (AD/CD)
Starting 2024, the DQP team is adopting a new process for applicants to become Qualified Designers. The intent is to streamline and simplify the process for becoming qualified. Moving forward collecting design hours via RUBRICs will not be necessary.
For New Applicants:
- Pass a DQP Exam within one of the four disciplines (Overhead Electric, Underground Electric, Gas, or Transformer Vault) to become a Qualified Designer within the given discipline.
- A DQP Exam in one of the four disciplines includes standards/manuals related questions and design related questions.
- Upon passing the DQP Exam, the applicant will be qualified within that discipline.
- The Transformer Vault exam will be available after a passing grade is received on the Underground Electric exam.
For Existing Applicants who have passed an exam, but are not yet qualified (2024 only):
- Existing applicants who have already passed an DQP Exam (Overhead Electric, Underground Electric, and/or Gas), will have one year (within 2024) or three attempts (whichever comes first) to pass a Supplemental Design Exam for that discipline.
- If a Supplemental Design Exam is failed three times, the applicant will need to begin the qualification process over again as a New Applicant.
- The Supplemental Design Exam is intended to test design knowledge and not duplicate standards/manual content.
- Upon passing the Supplemental Design Exam, the applicant will be qualified within that discipline.
- Applicants who have already passed the Underground Electric and Transformer Vault exam (but not yet qualified) will become qualified in both disciplines once the Underground Electric Supplemental Design Exam is passed.
Notes:
- If an applicant does not pass an exam, they will be required to wait three months to register for another exam in that discipline. This applies to all exams.
- It is the responsibility of the designer’s company to provide training for the exam. The Designer Qualification Program will provide information needed such as manuals, standards, and calculators.
Resources
We've created a self-service hub for all the information and resources you'll need to pass the exams.
Electric Manuals
Design Tools
Firms interested in Contract Design work with SDG&E
To be eligible for contract design work with SDG&E, your firm must:
- Be a signatory to a design contract with SDG&E
- Have at least one qualified designer or enrollee on staff
Please note: If your firm is interested in performing contract work, please coordinate with Supply Management and the business units you wish to support.
- Subcontractors may not be onboarded under the prime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you must have passed a test for at least one of the disciplines; overhead electric, underground electric, gas or transformer vault. You can then perform SDG&E design work for the disciplines you've passed.
Email the Designer Qualification Program at [email protected]