# Service Connections > Service Connections means a utility setup delivering utilities to a customer's premises via overhead or underground conduits. **Term:** Service Connections **Last updated:** 2026-07-29 ## Definition ## What Service Connections Means in a Contract Service Connections describes the infrastructure, whether overhead lines or underground conduits, that physically links a property to a utility network. This can include water pipes, electricity cables, gas lines, sewage connections, and telecommunications cabling. When a contract references Service Connections, it is typically allocating responsibility for the installation, condition, maintenance, and cost of these links between two or more parties. The term matters because utilities rarely originate on a customer's own land. Instead, a connection point bridges the public network, or a third-party supplier's infrastructure, to the boundary or interior of the premises. Contracts use this concept to establish exactly where one party's obligations end and another's begin, which is essential in construction, real estate, and utility supply arrangements. In many agreements, Service Connections clauses also address what happens if a connection is damaged, needs relocation, or must be upgraded to accommodate increased demand, such as when a building is expanded or repurposed. ## How Service Connections Is Defined or Measured Definitions of Service Connections usually specify the type of utility involved, the physical route or method of delivery, and the point of demarcation between public infrastructure and private property. A well-drafted clause will identify whether the connection is overhead or underground, since this affects installation cost, maintenance access, and risk of damage from excavation or weather events. Measurement or specification often includes capacity requirements, such as the diameter of a pipe or the voltage rating of a cable, along with technical standards the connection must meet. Contracts may also reference metering points, which determine how usage is tracked and billed. - Location and route of the connection, including easements or wayleaves - Ownership of the physical infrastructure before and after the connection point - Capacity and technical specifications required for the intended use - Responsibility for testing, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance ## Where Service Connections Appears in Agreements Service Connections provisions commonly appear in construction contracts, where a developer must arrange utility hookups before a building can be occupied. They also feature in real estate leases and sale agreements, particularly when a property is being subdivided or when new utility infrastructure must be extended to a site. The term is also relevant in a