Maybe one of you Power Co guys can help me with this

[sfav8r]

Greetings,

I just did something that I was apparently not supposed to. On overhead rewires, we always use a boom truck, ladder, whatever, and get to the poco lines and make a temporary connection...no big deal.

I just did an underground rewire (first one I have personally done as my normal area is all OH. I didn't even give it a thought. I pulled 2/0 copper to the PG&E box through the existing 2" conduit and made the temp. connections. As per usual, I faxed the service upgrade to PGE so they would set the new meters.

Imagine how pleased they were to find I had already made their connections for them


So that is my first question. Why does the poco have no problem with me fighting my way up a 30' ladder to make a temporary connection, but a perfect simple connection standing on the sidewalk requires their "assistance." I don't get it and nobody seemed to know the answer.

The second question is the real painful and expensive one.

Our poco (PG&E), says that the 2" conduit is not acceptable for 3 2/0 wires. They also say that 2/0 copper is not acceptable. Their answer is simple...it's because "the green books says so".

They require a minimum of 3" conduit for any service connection to one of their vaults. So, for this box which is 42" from the building, they are requiring us to jackhammer the sidewalk, trench, remove the 2" conduit and install 3" conduit, backfill the trench, repour the concrete. Then THEY WILL come and pull the wires! Instead of 2/0 copper they will pull 4/0 al.

Can someone share with me the poco side of this? I honestly don't get it. It seems like a huge waste of time and money to me. Why would the poco require a 3" conduit??? Why isn't 2/0 copper OK? Why, since the service is in and "complete" would they require this to be done?

Am I supposed to through an extra few thousand dollars on every service upgrade to cover trenching to install a 3" conduit for 200a service?

Any thoughts?

 

[curt swartz]

Re: Maybe one of you Power Co guys can help me with this

I have had the pleasure of working with PG&E for the last 22+ years. They are responsible for installing and maintaining the underground service conductors so they want it done their way.

A typical single family dwelling service takes 4-6 months to go through their engineering department. After the engineering is complete the customer is responsible for installing the underground substructures and getting them inspected by a PG&E inspector. 2-4 weeks after the inspections are complete (trench, mandrel test & mule tape) they will schedule a line crew to install the service conductors. If you have a meter release from the AHJ the line crew will also install the meter. If you don?t have the release another trip to install the meter will be required.

Unfortunately you stuck playing by their rules if you want power. I don?t know who told you it is ok to reconnect overhead services because they do not permit this. The meter and any wiring on the line side of the meter are off limits. As electrical contractors we have to either break PG&E?s rules or tell our customer they will not have power for a week. Even when we break the rules they usually don?t care unless we have created a hazardous situation or are enabling theft of service.

To resolve your current problem ask if they will allow the service conduit and conductors to remain as a customer owned service. I have done several customer owned services recently but have always worked this out with PG&E in advance.

 

[iwire]

Re: Maybe one of you Power Co guys can help me with this

Originally posted by sfav8r:
Any thoughts?

None that will save you changing this.

It's 'their' power and they can make pretty much what ever rules they want.

At this point because you broke the rules they have a chip on their shoulder and are likely going to make you follow the green book to the letter as a lesson to you.

All I can say is I have been there and it stinks.

 

[shortcircuit2]

Re: Maybe one of you Power Co guys can help me with this

Any thoughts...DEREGULATION

When the government released these mammoth utility companys to run business as they so please, the result is ovious, it has cost the consumer more...

shortcircuit2