Hah, depending on municipalities, utility companies themselves will outright refuse without having the permits from the municipality being presented. In my area for example, not only do you need municipal permits, you must also show a inspection certificate by licensed electrician for new installs. The paperwork must be filed with the utility before they will even assign an utility engineer to do the review on their end for a new connection (they need to check the local area can sustain every new connection, even if its superfluous) and only then assign a linemen to make connections.

No police or sheriff required. Utilities want absolutely no financial liability because some moron DIYed his electrical and it burned down the neighborhood.

They don't fuck around because utilities do get sued for any actual fault on their part since they are a even bigger, fatter money target than a developer.