DAR File No. 30513

Public Service Commission, Administration

R746-310

Uniform Rules Governing Electricity Service by Electric Utilities

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE

DAR File No.: 30513
Filed: 10/01/2007, 04:29
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to reflect the current National Electric Safety Code C2-2007 and American National Standard for Electric Power Systems and Equipment - Voltage Ratings (60 Hz).

Summary of the rule or change:

This amendment updates these references in this rule: at Subsection R746-310-1(B)(13), the reference is updated to the 2007 edition; and at Subsection R746-310-4(B)(1), the reference is updated to the 2006 edition.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Sections 54-1-1, 54-4-1, 54-4-7, 54-4-14

This rule or change incorporates by reference the following material:

National Electric Safety Code, C2-2007 edition; and American National Standard for Electric Power Systems and Equipment Voltage Ratings (60 Hz) - 2006 edition ANSI C.84.1-2006

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no cost or savings changes to the state budget because there will be no change of activity for the state.

local governments:

There are no cost or savings changes for local government because these updates do not affect local government activity. Local government utilities are not subject to commission regulation

small businesses and persons other than businesses:

Industry practice is consistent with the updated references so there are no anticipated costs or savings for electric utilities.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

Industry practice is consistent with the updated references so there are no anticipated costs or savings for electric utilities.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

Industry practice is consistent with the updated references so there are no anticipated costs or savings for electric utilities. Ted Boyer, Chairman

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Public Service Commission
Administration
HEBER M WELLS BLDG
160 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84111-2316

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Sheri Bintz at the above address, by phone at 801-530-6714, by FAX at 801-530-6796, or by Internet E-mail at sbintz@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

11/14/2007

This rule may become effective on:

11/21/2007

Authorized by:

Sandy Mooy, Legal Counsel

R746. Public Service Commission, Administration.

R746-310. Uniform Rules Governing Electricity Service by Electric Utilities.

R746-310-1. General Provisions.

A. 1. Scope and Applicability -- The following rules apply to the methods and conditions for service employed by utilities furnishing electricity in Utah.

2. A utility may petition the Commission for an exemption from specified portions of these rules in accordance with R746-100-16, Deviation from Rules.

B. Definitions --

1. "Capacity" means load which equipment or electrical system can carry.

2. "CFR" means the Code of Federal Regulations, 1998 edition.

3. "Commission" means the Public Service Commission of Utah.

4. "Contract Demand" means the maximum amount of kilowatt demand that the customer expects to use and for which the customer has contracted with the utility.

5. "Customer" means a person, firm, partnership, company, corporation, organization, or governmental agency supplied with electrical power by an electric utility subject to Commission jurisdiction, at one location and at one point of delivery.

6. "Customer's Installation" means the electrical wiring and apparatus owned by the customer and installed by or for the customer to facilitate electric service and which is located on the customer's side of the point of delivery of electric service.

7. "Customer meter" or "meter" means the device used to measure the electricity transmitted from an electric utility to a customer.

8. "Demand" means the rate in kilowatts at which electric energy is delivered by the utility to the customer at a given instant or averaged over a designated period of time.

9. "Electric service" means the availability of electric power and energy at the customer's point of delivery at the approximate voltage and for the purposes specified in the application for electric service, electric service agreement or contract, irrespective of whether electric power and energy is actually used.

10. "Energy" means electric energy measured in kilowatt-hours--kWh. For billing purposes energy is the customer's total use of electricity measured in kilowatt-hours during any month.

11. "FERC" means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

12. "Month" means the period of approximately 30 days intervening between regular successive meter reading dates.

13. "National Electrical Safety Code" means the 2007[2002] edition of the National Electrical Safety Code, C2-2007[C2-2002], as approved by the American National Standards Institute, ISBN 07-7381-4893-8[0-7381-2778-7], incorporated by reference.

14. "Point of delivery" means the point, unless otherwise specified in the application for electric service, electric service agreement or contract, at which the utility's service wires are connected with the customer's wires or apparatus. If the utility's service wires are connected with the customer's wire or apparatus at more than one point, each connecting point shall be considered a separate point of delivery unless the additional connecting points are made by the utility for its sole convenience in supplying service. Additional service supplied by the utility at a different voltage or phase classification shall also be considered a separate point of delivery. Each point of delivery shall be separately metered and billed.

15. "Power" means electric power measured in kilowatts--kw. For billing purposes, power is the customer's maximum use of electricity shown or computed from the readings of the utility's kilowatt meter for a 15-minute period, unless otherwise specified in the applicable rate schedule; at the option of the utility it may be determined either by periodic tests or by permanent meters.

16. "Power factor" means the percentage determined by dividing customer's average power use in kilowatts, real power, by the average kilovolt-ampere power load, apparent power, imposed upon the utility by the customer.

17. "Premises" means a tract of land with the buildings thereon or a building or part of a building with its appurtenances.

18. "Rated capacity" means load for which equipment or electrical system is rated.

19. "Service line" means electrical conductor which ties customer point of delivery to distribution network.

20. "Transmission line" means high voltage line delivering electrical energy to substations.

21. "Utility" means an electrical corporation as defined in Section 54-2-1.

22. "Year" means the period between the date of commencement of service under the application for electric service, electric service agreement or contract and the same day of the following calendar year.

 

R746-310-4. Station Instruments, Voltage and Frequency Restrictions and Station Equipment.

A. Station Instruments -- Utilities shall install the instruments necessary to obtain a record of the load on their systems, showing at least the monthly peak and a monthly record of the output of their plants. Utilities purchasing electrical energy shall install the instruments necessary to furnish information regarding monthly purchases of electrical energy, unless those supplying the energy have already installed instruments from which that information can be obtained.

Utilities shall maintain records indicating the data obtained by station instruments.

B. Voltage and Frequency Restrictions --

1. Unless otherwise directed by the Commission, the requirements contained in the 2006[1995] edition of the American National Standard for Electrical Power Systems and Equipment-Voltage Ratings (60 Hz), ANSI C84.1-2006[C84.1-1995(R2001)], incorporated by this reference, shall be the minimum requirements relative to utility voltages.

2. Utilities shall own or have access to portable indicating voltmeters or other devices necessary to accurately measure, upon complaint or request, the quality of electric service delivered to its customer to verify compliance with the standard established in Subsection R746-310-4(B)(1). Utilities shall make periodic voltage surveys sufficient to indicate the character of the service furnished from each distribution center and to ensure compliance with the voltage requirements of these rules. Utilities having indicating voltmeters shall keep at least one instrument in continuous service.

3. Utilities supplying alternating current shall maintain their frequencies to within one percent above and below 60 cycles per second during normal operations. Variations in frequency in excess of these limits due to emergencies are not violations of these rules.

C. Station Equipment --

1. Utilities shall inspect their poles, towers and other similar structures with reasonable frequency in order to determine the need for replacement, reinforcement or repair.

D. General Requirements -- Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, the requirements contained in the National Electrical Safety Code, as defined at R746-310-1(B)(13), constitute the minimum requirements relative to the following:

1. the installation and maintenance of electrical supply stations;

2. the installation and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical supply and communication lines;

3. the installation and maintenance of electric utilization equipment;

4. rules to be observed in the operation of electrical equipment and lines;

5. the grounding of electrical circuits.

 

KEY: public utilities, utility regulation, electric utility industries

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [September 15, 2003]2007

Notice of Continuation: December 6, 2002

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 54-3-1; 54-3-7; 54-4-1; 54-4-8; 54-4-14; 54-4-23