Don't open those padmounts!!!!

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peter d

peter d

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Location
New England
I received a general letter from Northeast Utilities (CT Light and Power) stating that CL&P has noticed a "disturbing increase in non-utility workers opening pad mounts, vaults, manholes, etc." The special barrel locks are being broken and then the cover is destroyed and left with the abiliity to be opened by anyone.

This gist of the letter is that electricians are opening up these enclosures. CL&P's policy is that only linemen are permitted to open a locked enclosure under any circumstances, and apparently this is not being followed.

I wonder if this has more to do with potential copper thieves than it does electricians???
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Peter
Would you mind forwarding the leter to me?

Pierre
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I'd be glad to, but I didn't get it via email...it's an actual real letter. :) I'd scan it but I don't own one of those either. In the meantime, you could try checking CL&P's website.

The basic gist, as I said, was "We are seeing a disturbing increase. We haven't had any accidents, but one accident is too many. Don't open our stuff. Call us and we will do it for you."
 
What I can tell you is that if I have to run a new pipe to a padmount, I don't hesitate to open it. I do, however, secure it when I'm done.
 
mdshunk said:
What I can tell you is that if I have to run a new pipe to a padmount, I don't hesitate to open it.
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Well, CL&P would want you to hesitate to open it. :)

I do see their point about their stuff getting damaged, as well as the extreme danger involved with the high side of the transformers.

As Charlie has said, "Linemen are not electricians, and electricians are not linemen."
 
mdshunk said:
What I can tell you is that if I have to run a new pipe to a padmount, I don't hesitate to open it.
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Marc, do that here and you will find yourself in court and waiting a long time for your new connection! :mad: No one, except our own personnel, are permitted to open any of our locked equipment . . . period. We will open it for you if it is needed. :)

Why would you think it is alright to cut a padlock or a Brooks lock to gain entrance into our equipment? :-?

By the way, that was a generalization. The generalization is just that, it is generally true but not always. :)
 
charlie said:
Why would you think it is alright to cut a padlock or a Brooks lock to gain entrance into our equipment? :-?
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End up in court! That sorta makes me laugh. The law must be different up your way.

There aren't many padlocks to cut in my area, and I have a Brooks key. Mostly, they have a one-time sea container type lock, and I have access to a ready supply of them to replace it. As long as there are requirements to run a pipe from a padmount to the structure, I will not apologize for opening it. This ain't rocket science, and I'm a big boy.
 
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My first legitimate job I called the poco to unlock a meter. The woman on the phone said we cant come out there now! Why dont you just grind the lock off like everyone else?? Didnt even ask my name. My bubble was popped and balloon crashed. I thought I was a big shot and found out I was only a little shot. Only problem was a slight fire on the cedar siding from the grinder thank god there was water in the pool. {edit} BTW I am a locksmith so locks are never a real problem with me on or in any vehicle or structure
 
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ItsHot said:
I have run up several padmounts that were unlocked! Not that I was trying to get in one!!:grin:
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That's gonna be my story if I every get into a confrontation about it. "It was unlocked when I got here. I thought maybe you guys were running early and unlocked it for me".
 
Marc
It is not the fact that you may think you are qualified to work in the POCO's transformer, it is the fact the transformer is POCO property and the rules in general are not to open and work in their property.

I am sure that you would be unhappy if someone walking by your truck saw it open and decided to go into your truck, because it was open.

Why is it you think that you are immune to the POCO's policies?
I am surprised by your cavalier attitude towards this.
 
Pierre:

Main issue is WAITING, I have called and waited and waited finally I did what was required.

If the utility has a policy in place the utility should be able to respond.
 
mdshunk said:
End up in court! That sorta makes me laugh. The law must be different up your way.

There aren't many padlocks to cut in my area, and I have a Brooks key. Mostly, they have a one-time sea container type lock, and I have access to a ready supply of them to replace it. As long as there are requirements to run a pipe from a padmount to the structure, I will not apologize for opening it. This ain't rocket science, and I'm a big boy.
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Just to back up Charlie, there is no reason to attempt to unlock any POCO equipment here (Indianapolis where Charlie and I are from) if you call them and tell them you need in they respond very quickly. If you know ahead of time that you need in they are there when you ask them to be. That has been my experience here. And anyone opening a lock that isin't from POCO probably needs to be locked up, only there seems to be too little jail space for them, thats another topic for another forum though.
 
brian john said:
Pierre:

Main issue is WAITING, I have called and waited and waited finally I did what was required.

If the utility has a policy in place the utility should be able to respond.
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What type of emergency situation requires the opening of a pad mount?

I can see both sides of this, if the power company can not get out there in a reasonable amount of time the EC will have to move on.
 
I can understand why the utilities would not want anyone and everyone opening up the pad mounts. Can you just imagine the liability they would incur if their policy was " go for it".

The utilites operate under a license just like we do and they are subject to certain rules and regulations just like we are. How would they know who is qualfied to work on the pad mounts? In this state there are no requirements for being trained as a lineman to get a masters license. Many of the electricians in the field may have very little safety training when it comes to transformers.

This is just a guess but I would think that if you tried to get insured to do any high voltage work then your liability insurance would go up a great deal and I wouldn't even want to think about the workman's comp. rates.

One of the reasons I try to limit the types of work I do is so I can afford insurane at a reasonable rate. I'm not insured to do everthing under the sun. Regular electrical work is not considred that dangerous and I'm glad it's not.
 
bikeindy said:
. . . there is no reason to attempt to unlock any POCO equipment here (Indianapolis where Charlie and I are from) if you call them and tell them you need in they respond very quickly.
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Thanks Dan. :D

Most of the investor owner electric utilities follow the NESC. The NESC requires that primary gear be locked by two methods and most use a padlock plus a recessed penta-headed bolt behind the padlock. For years, our linemen have removed the bolts but are now in the process of putting them back in the equipment. It is impossible to look at an electrician and tell if he is a qualified person that wants to get into hot gear (normally a pad mounted transformer or a vault). Sometimes, doubt remains after talking to the electrician about whether or not to unlock the gear.

As far as meter fittings, they have seals and are easily cut. However, some have brookes locks because of proven tampering. We provide and continue to own the meter fittings and will protect our cash registers to the full extent of the law. :)
 
peter d said:
I received a general letter from Northeast Utilities (CT Light and Power) stating that CL&P has noticed a "disturbing increase in non-utility workers opening pad mounts, vaults, manholes, etc." The special barrel locks are being broken and then the cover is destroyed and left with the abiliity to be opened by anyone.

This gist of the letter is that electricians are opening up these enclosures. CL&P's policy is that only linemen are permitted to open a locked enclosure under any circumstances, and apparently this is not being followed.

I wonder if this has more to do with potential copper thieves than it does electricians???
Click to expand...

I have that letter as well, my first thought was, what are guys thinking these days???
 
Here NOBODY opens a transformer except the POCO and then you have to make an appointment. It takes anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. If you want to cut a meter seal you have to call and talk to the Theft Prevention department where your request is documented for prosecution. Somebody here has gone off the deep end. Its nuts.
 
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