Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 150-3-8 - Safety Requirements8.1. Accidents. 8.1.1. Records -- Each utility shall keep a record of every accident happening in connection with the operation of its plant, station, property, and equipment, whereby any person shall have been killed, or seriously injured, or any substantial amount of property damaged or destroyed, with a full statement of the cause of such accident, and the precautions taken to prevent similar accidents in the future.8.1.2. Electric shock -- Each utility shall instruct those of its employees engaged in electrical work in the practice and use of accepted rules and proper procedure for resuscitation from electric shock.8.2. Grounding of low potential circuits and apparatus.8.2.1. The rules contained in the current edition of the National Electrical Code regarding grounding of low potential circuits shall be followed for all new construction.8.2.2. Every utility shall change all its existing alternating current low potential distribution systems to conform to said rules, when any normal rebuilding, revamping, or repairing is done.8.3. Sealing of main cabinets or circuit breakers. 8.3.1. General -- In the interest of safety to the customer and as a measure of protection to the property of the utility, the Commission will allow "main service" cabinets or cabinets enclosing "main service switch" and "main circuit breakers" to be sealed; provided, such cabinet is externally operated, that service wires are properly enclosed and served from a grounded system, and that fuse or circuit breaker other than that protecting the customer's mains are not made inaccessible to the customer; provided, that the "utility's Customers' Service Department" shall be so organized and directed that its customers may be assured prompt restoration of service when interrupted through failure of the main fuse or opening of the circuit breaker.8.3.2. Application required. 8.3.2.a. A utility desiring to seal main service cabinets shall make application to the Commission for permission to institute such practice.8.3.2.b. On receipt of such application and notification, in writing, the Commission will make proper investigation, and if based on the report made to it by its inspector, the Commission deems it proper that cabinets be sealed, authority will be granted to the utility to pursue such practice, but the Commission specifically reserves the right at any time to withdraw such authority for proper cause shown.8.3.2.c. A utility which does not maintain a "Customers' Service Department" may seal main fuse and switch cabinets of the safety type, when such cabinets are so designed that the customer has access to all fuses.8.4. Overhead and underground wire entrances. 8.4.1. Utility rules and regulations -- Each utility may establish rules and regulations governing the service entrance wiring and equipment to be installed on customer's premises; such rules and regulations shall be effective when they have been filed with and accepted by the Public Service Commission. In the absence of special rules and regulations filed by a utility, such utility shall require compliance with the following general provisions:8.4.2. General location -- The overhead wire entrance must be located on the exterior of the building nearest the utility's lines at a point not less than ten (10) no more than thirty (30) feet above the ground, unless a greater height is necessary to obtain proper clearance. When proper ground clearance cannot be obtained, due to height of building, a proper supporting structure shall be provided. 8.4.2.a. For all new service entrances, the utility shall be consulted and its approval of the location of the service entrance secured.8.4.2.b. The service entrance conductors and the service drop wires shall be attached to buildings so as to provide all clearances as recommended in the National Electrical Code and the National Electrical Safety Code.8.4.3. New service entrances -- In the interest of safety to the customer and in conformity with approved modern practice, all new service entrances for light and power shall be installed in the manner prescribed by the National Electrical Code.8.4.4. Metal service cabinet -- The inner end of the service entrance shall terminate in an approved metallic service cabinet, enclosing the service entrance equipment. The metal service cabinet shall be grounded and shall be of such construction as to indicate plainly whether service disconnecting means is open or closed and allow the operation of the disconnecting means without exposing any current carrying parts. If more than one main service equipment cabinet is connected to a single service entrance outlet each such cabinet shall be of the type heretofore specified and shall be grounded as heretofore specified.8.4.5. Service to more than one building -- No overhead service shall supply more than one building unless the conductors are installed in such a manner as to introduce no electrical, mechanical or fire hazard, as prescribed by the National Electrical Code.8.4.6. Service wires -- Service drop conductors shall be installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code and the National Electrical Safety Code.8.4.7. Conductor identification -- All wiring installations shall have the conductors identified in accordance with the requirements of the National Electrical Code.8.4.8. Underground service -- Underground service shall be installed, generally in the same manner prescribed for overhead services, and shall comply with all National Electrical Code requirements and the requirements of the utility.8.5. Pole inspection -- Each pole, tower or other structure used for the support, or attachment of electrical conductors, guys or lamps must be inspected by the utility owning or using it with reasonable frequency, as determined by accepted good practice, in order to determine the necessity for replacement or repair.8.6. Marking electric transmission lines affecting navigable airspace above the Ohio River. 8.6.1. Every electric transmission line crossing above the Ohio River shall be marked as recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pursuant to the guidelines established in FAA Advisory Circular 70/7460-1G. Any entity maintaining or installing electric lines crossing the Ohio River of the type specified in 14 CFR 77.13 shall notify the FAA of any such line in the form and manner proscribed in 14 CFR 77.17 unless such entity has been notified that the line in question need not be marked pursuant to the exception in FAA Advisory Circular 70/7460-1G entitled "Obstruction Marking and Lighting," exempting certain lines from marking requirements.8.6.2. Any electric transmission line crossing above the Ohio River which heretofore has been struck by airborne traffic or is so struck in the future must be marked in the manner referenced in FAA Advisory Circular regardless of any FAA determination that marking is not necessary.