How should an electrical sub break out the schedule of values on a G703?

Avoid one lump-sum line. Break the SOV by system — service and switchgear, feeders, branch rough-in, wiring devices, lighting and controls, fire alarm — and split rough-in by floor or area so the GC can verify percent complete on site. Keep a separate line for long-lead gear billed as stored materials, and add change orders as their own lines.

Can I bill for switchgear or a generator before it's installed?

Yes — long-lead gear that's purchased and delivered is billed under materials presently stored, usually with supplier invoices and proof of delivery to back it up. DrawFort tracks that stored value on its own line, applies retainage to it, and carries it forward; as the gear is installed you draw it down into work completed.

How is retainage handled on stored electrical materials?

On most commercial jobs retainage is held on stored materials at the same rate as installed work, often 10%. DrawFort applies retainage per line — including stored gear — and lets you reduce or release it (for example at 50% complete or at closeout) while keeping your previous totals and balance to finish correct.

Does the GC need DrawFort too, or does it work with Procore or Textura?

Your GC doesn't need an account. DrawFort exports a clean G702/G703 PDF you can email to any GC, owner or architect, so it works whether they collect pay apps by email, Procore, Textura or anything else. It's standalone — no QuickBooks required, and there's a free no-signup generator at drawfort.com/tools/g702-g703-generator.

By trade / Electrical

Pay Application & G702/G703 Software for Electrical Contractors

On commercial jobs your electrical scope rarely bills as one line — GCs expect a schedule of values broken out by system and by floor, with service, feeders, branch rough-in, devices, fixtures and fire alarm all tracked separately. Add long-lead switchgear and generators billed as stored materials, monthly retainage on top, and a steady run of change orders, and the G702/G703 turns into a reconciliation job every period. DrawFort handles that math so your pay app ties out each period.

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How electrical subs bill — and where it goes wrong

Long-lead gear billed as stored materials

Switchgear, panelboards and generators are long-lead items you often buy months before they're installed, so you bill them as materials presently stored. GCs want that value carried on its own line, retainage still held against it, and then drawn cleanly into work-completed once the gear is set — without ever double-billing the line.

GCs reject lump-sum 'electrical'

A single line for the whole electrical scope gets kicked back. Reviewers expect the SOV broken out by system — service, feeders, branch rough-in, devices, fixtures, fire alarm — and often by floor or area so they can verify percent complete in the field. Front-loaded rough-in lines draw extra scrutiny.

Retainage, including on stored materials

Most commercial jobs hold 10% retainage, sometimes reduced at 50% complete, and it's held on stored gear too, not just installed work. Getting retainage right per line, then releasing it at closeout — tied to final inspection, fire alarm acceptance and O&M/as-builts — is easy to fumble across a long job.

Carry-forward across a long rough-in

Branch rough-in bills over many floors and many months, so every period you pull previous work forward, subtract previous certificates, and reconcile when stored gear converts to installed. One transcription error throws off the whole continuation sheet and the GC bounces it.

A typical electrical schedule of values

These are the kinds of line items electrical contractors put on a G703 continuation sheet. DrawFort tracks each one across every billing period — percent complete, stored materials, retainage, and balance to finish.

Mobilization, submittals & shop drawings
Temporary power & lighting
Service entrance & metering
Main switchgear & switchboards
Panelboards & transformers
Feeders & bus duct
Branch rough-in conduit & wire – Level 1
Branch rough-in conduit & wire – Level 2
Wiring devices & trim-out
Lighting fixtures & lighting controls
Fire alarm system
Testing, commissioning & closeout (O&M, as-builts)

How DrawFort helps electrical contractors

Build the SOV the way GCs expect — a line per system and per floor or area, plus a dedicated stored-materials line for switchgear and gear — then reuse it every period so your breakdown stays consistent.
Bill long-lead gear as materials presently stored and apply retainage to that stored value; as it gets installed you draw it down into work completed, and DrawFort recalculates the line totals and carry-forward.
Retainage is handled per line, including on stored materials, so you can hold, reduce or release it across the job without breaking your prior numbers or your balance to finish.
Multi-period carry-forward is automatic: Column D (work completed from previous applications) fills itself, less previous certificates is computed, and balance to finish updates — so a long, multi-floor rough-in stays reconciled month to month.
Add approved change orders as new SOV lines, then export a clean G702/G703 PDF you can email to any GC, owner or architect — it works no matter what software they use, no QuickBooks required. Start free, then $34/month flat for the whole team.

Stop building pay apps in a spreadsheet

DrawFort fills in the carry-forward, computes retainage and current payment due, handles change orders, and exports a clean G702/G703 PDF your GC can approve at a glance.

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Frequently asked questions

How should an electrical sub break out the schedule of values on a G703?: Avoid one lump-sum line. Break the SOV by system — service and switchgear, feeders, branch rough-in, wiring devices, lighting and controls, fire alarm — and split rough-in by floor or area so the GC can verify percent complete on site. Keep a separate line for long-lead gear billed as stored materials, and add change orders as their own lines.
Can I bill for switchgear or a generator before it's installed?: Yes — long-lead gear that's purchased and delivered is billed under materials presently stored, usually with supplier invoices and proof of delivery to back it up. DrawFort tracks that stored value on its own line, applies retainage to it, and carries it forward; as the gear is installed you draw it down into work completed.
How is retainage handled on stored electrical materials?: On most commercial jobs retainage is held on stored materials at the same rate as installed work, often 10%. DrawFort applies retainage per line — including stored gear — and lets you reduce or release it (for example at 50% complete or at closeout) while keeping your previous totals and balance to finish correct.
Does the GC need DrawFort too, or does it work with Procore or Textura?: Your GC doesn't need an account. DrawFort exports a clean G702/G703 PDF you can email to any GC, owner or architect, so it works whether they collect pay apps by email, Procore, Textura or anything else. It's standalone — no QuickBooks required, and there's a free no-signup generator at drawfort.com/tools/g702-g703-generator.

Other trades

New to AIA billing? Read the G702 guide or compare DrawFort to other tools.

DrawFort produces AIA-style (G702/G703-compatible) documents. It is not the official AIA software and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The American Institute of Architects.