Section 407-395-11 - Service Drop Cost Responsibility, Ownership and MaintenanceA. Above-Ground Service Drops1.Installation. A T&D utility shall install an above-ground service drop and associated hardware and equipment. Poles and equipment associated with pole installation are not considered part of a service drop. A T&D utility shall install the pole and associated equipment for a flat fee if requested by the customer. Customers may also choose to have the pole and associated equipment installed by a contractor.2.Cost Responsibility. A T&D utility may not charge a customer for an above-ground service drop. The costs of service drops shall not be used in establishing any line extension charges. A T&D utility shall charge a customer a flat fee for the cost of any poles and associated equipment if the customer chooses to have the utility provide such equipment.3.Ownership and Maintenance. The T&D shall own and maintain an above-ground service drop and shall not charge a customer for the cost of maintaining an above-ground service drop. Poles and equipment associated with poles are owned by the customer and it is the customer's responsibility to pay for any replacement poles and associated equipment.B.Underground Service Drops1.Customer Election. A customer may elect to have service provided through an underground service drop.2.Ownership. A T&D utility shall not own an underground service drop.3.Installation and Maintenance. A customer that elects to have service provided through an underground service drop shall provide all trench excavation, backfill, and underground facilities such as conduits, duct systems, enclosures, pedestals, vaults, hand holes, or mounting foundations. A customer that elects to have service provided through an underground service drop shall also install and maintain all associated equipment, related to an underground service drop. Only a T&D utility may connect the underground service drop to the T&D utility's system.4.Cost Responsibility. A customer that elects to have service provided through an underground service drop shall be responsible for all costs associated with the installation, maintenance and repair of the underground service drop. The T&D utility shall not charge the a customer for connecting the underground service drop to its system.C. Applicability. The provisions of this section do not apply to Consumer-owned transmission and distribution utilities.D.Prior Ownership Arrangements. Service drop ownership and maintenance arrangements entered into prior to the adoption of this section shall not be affected by the provisions of this rule.65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 395, § 11