Cable And Conduit

Wire or cable installed by the Customer shall be of a type approved for underground use.

Customers should realize that the replacement of underground cable is difficult and expensive. Such cable should be liberally sized to minimize voltage drop and to handle future loads. The Company recommends cables rated not less than 200 amperes for a single family dwelling. Cable sizes exceeding 250 MCM require special metering for single family applications. (See Section 8.4)

OVERHEAD SERVICE FROM OVERHEAD LINES

Where overhead service is permitted, the following types of overhead service will be provided.

Overhead Service To A Building

The Company will furnish and install an overhead service line, (service drop), up to 100 feet from the property line nearest the Company's facilities to a point of attachment at the Customer's building, and will make the necessary connections to the Customer's service-entrance conductors at that point. The location and details of this service connection are covered in Section 4.2.3. For most services the Company will furnish and install the service drop anchor at a location identified by the Customer as having sufficient strength.

When Customer electrical load necessitates use of a heavy service drop, the Company will provide the mechanical hardware necessary (5/8" through-bolt, clevis bracket and spool insulator) to fasten the Company's service drop to the building. The Customer shall install the hardware at a point nearest the location designated by the Company and, that the Customer determines has sufficient strength to withstand a minimum of 1,000 pounds tension. If use of a 5/8" through-bolt is not feasible, the Customer shall notify the appropriate Company Division office and obtain permission to use a suitable 5/8" anchor bolt. The Customer shall furnish and install the 5/8" anchor bolt, and install the clevis bracket and spool insulator provided by the Company.

The Customer shall maintain the strength of the building, service mast, attachment anchors or any other structure supporting service drop conductors for the life of the service and for any subsequent service changes. The Company will not assume liability for damage resulting from failures of the building or structure to support the service drop conductors.

The Customer's service-entrance conductors shall extend up the building to a point high enough to provide the following minimum clearances for the Company's service drop, and be at least 12" above the point of service drop attachment to prevent siphoning of moisture into the service cable or conduit:

Over sidewalks and the ground 10 feet

Over residential driveways 12 feet

Over commercial driveways, alleys, streets, etc. 18 feet

See Figure 5 for a drawing of a typical overhead service connection to a building and important notes.

When the Customer's building is not high enough to provide the minimum ground clearance requirements, the Customer shall install a suitable support, such as a service mast, for attaching the service line. This support or mast shall not be used for any purpose other than the electric service installation. The service mast shall be 2" diameter or larger rigid galvanized steel conduit, clamped to the building by two-hole conduit straps anchored by 5/16 inch minimum diameter lag screws of sufficient length to hold the mast securely. The conduit straps are to be spaced no more than 32 inches apart and top strap is to be placed within 12 inches of the building roof. Conduit couplings shall not be used in the top 10 feet of mast length. The service mast shall be installed as described in Figure 6 or 7.