Coordination with POCO. Electrician or Engineer

[Designer69]

I am assuming that for a lot of projects in light commercial and residential (apartment buildings etc.) a POCO representative would make a trip to evaluate the site to determine transformer location, service point, whether a new service pole is needed etc.

In your opinion who is generally responsible for this arrangement and coordination with the poco rep., the electrician or engineer?

Thank You

 

[Ingenieur]

seen it both ways
we (engineer) filled out the request and had the contractor carry a $$$ allowance if required
if the util needed a site visit I would do it
the ec would coordinate with the utility when he was ready for the service or temp power

 

[charlie b]

On a design-bid-build project, the engineer will have to have completed this task before the job is advertised for bids. On a design-build project, it would most likely be the EC that coordinates with the POCO. That is because (from my experience, at least), the engineer is most likely either employed by or subcontracted to the EC. I would suspect that the EC would prefer not to pay the engineer for this task, as they can probably do it cheaper themselves.

 

[gadfly56]

On a design-bid-build project, the engineer will have to have completed this task before the job is advertised for bids. On a design-build project, it would most likely be the EC that coordinates with the POCO. That is because (from my experience, at least), the engineer is most likely either employed by or subcontracted to the EC. I would suspect that the EC would prefer not to pay the engineer for this task, as they can probably do it cheaper themselves.

All in all, not likely to be a huge sum, but this is an installation/coordination issue, much better handled by the guys turning the wrenches.

 

[Designer69]

On a design-bid-build project, the engineer will have to have completed this task before the job is advertised for bids. On a design-build project, it would most likely be the EC that coordinates with the POCO. That is because (from my experience, at least), the engineer is most likely either employed by or subcontracted to the EC. I would suspect that the EC would prefer not to pay the engineer for this task, as they can probably do it cheaper themselves.

I am a bit confused with this part... the first sentence says an engineer will have to have completed this task. The second sentence says it would be the EC that coordinates with the POCO.

I'm a bit thick headed so I'd appreciate a little expansion on this since to me they seem like conflicting info. This is indeed a design-build job.



On the design drawings I have only shown the service equipment and the UG cables going to a general area near where the new main transformer likely will be. (You think this is not enough info on the drawings/not fair or EC?) I have sized the main xfmr on the riser.

Thanks again

 

[gadfly56]

I am a bit confused with this part... the first sentence says an engineer will have to have completed this task. The second sentence says it would be the EC that coordinates with the POCO.

I'm a bit thick headed so I'd appreciate a little expansion on this since to me they seem like conflicting info. This is indeed a design-build job.



On the design drawings I have only shown the service equipment and the UG cables going to a general area near where the new main transformer likely will be. (You think this is not enough info on the drawings/not fair or EC?) I have sized the main xfmr on the riser.

Thanks again

charlie b is describing two separate scenarios. In design-bid-build, the engineer's work is done before the bid hits the street. Typically these require more detail on the drawings and up-front coordination. In design-build, the engineer is working for the builder either directly or as part of a joint venture but more of the design takes place in the field on an ad-hoc basis.

 

[JoeStillman]

It's like Charlie said; for bid jobs we always try to figure out where the utility transformer will be. Architects and civil engineers sometimes need to adjust the site plan and we consider it our responsibility to work it out during planning instead of construction. The Arch and Civil don't always give it much thought.

 

[lielec11]

I echo what has been sad already. Most of my jobs are design-BID-build so most of our work is finished up front. We always try and have a sit down with the POCO near the end of construction documents to coordinate voltage, transformer locations, sizes, etc. so there are less issues in the field. Note every POCO is as open to these meetings as others though.