PSEG Residential Service (north Brunswick, nj)

[infinity]

I've been going back and forth with the State DCA on this. Here is a summary of my correspondence:

Their answer :

My follow-up e-mail :

I'll post a reply if I get one.

Thanks for the update. IMO if they removed complete service installations from rehab that would solve the problem. I don't see how replacing an entire service from the service point falls under rehab in the first place. Changing just the panel maybe but not replacing the whole service.

 

[Foof2023]

Not sure why I haven’t joined this site earlier. You guys are awesome with all the help.
So I did the job yesterday. I changed the panel to 200 amps. I installed 2/0 thhn copper in rigid conduit. Bonding bushings on both sides. The incoming SEC’s from pseg are 1/0(when the customer asked, they said it’s sufficient). As far as the GEC…I did not change that. They had a #6 copper going to ground rod outside, and what looked like a #2 bare aluminum going to water main in basement. Hopefully I’m all good

 

[infinity]

I changed the panel to 200 amps. I installed 2/0 thhn copper in rigid conduit. Bonding bushings on both sides. The incoming SEC’s from pseg are 1/0(when the customer asked, they said it’s sufficient). As far as the GEC…I did not change that. They had a #6 copper going to ground rod outside, and what looked like a #2 bare aluminum going to water main in basement. Hopefully I’m all good

You're good with the #2/0 copper but I'm thinking that there may be a problem with the #1/0's feeding the meter because they're still covered under the NEC. What size panel did you replace? The GEC's are properly sized for #2/0 SEC's. You could have saved a few bucks because only needed one bonding bushing.

 

[goldstar]

No further reply from the DCA - to date. The silence is deafening :-(

 

[Ken_S]

No further reply from the DCA - to date. The silence is deafening :-(

The website says that the rehab code is due for an update release on 3/6, so hopefully that provides some direction when it's released

 

[goldstar]

OK. So, here's the UNOFFICIAL version that I received from an inspector in my contractors' association, who is in constant contact with the DCA. NJ is PLANNING on releasing the 2020 Rehab Code on or about March 6, 2023. At that point in time you will begin a 6-month grace period under which you can continue to replace 1 and 2 family electrical services without having to install an outdoor disconnect. You would have to indicate that you are filing under the 2017 Rehab Code on the permit app. This will apply to complete service upgrades (SE cable, meter pan, ground rods and main breaker panel). If you are changing out a panel only you will not be required to install an outdoor main disconnect. This rule will not apply to multi-family housing or condos.

That said, I'm guessing there will have to be some exceptions to this rule. For example, when you have houses that are dense-packed together (i'e. Hoboken and Jersey City) installing outdoor disconnects is usually not possible.

Remember, this is unofficial. EI's may not follow this directive unless it's carved in granite !!! Bulletins and Code Communicator articles, while they may provide important information, are not enforcalbe.

 

[infinity]

OK. So, here's the UNOFFICIAL version that I received from an inspector in my contractors' association, who is in constant contact with the DCA. NJ is PLANNING on releasing the 2020 Rehab Code on or about March 6, 2023. At that point in time you will begin a 6-month grace period under which you can continue to replace 1 and 2 family electrical services without having to install an outdoor disconnect. You would have to indicate that you are filing under the 2017 Rehab Code on the permit app. This will apply to complete service upgrades (SE cable, meter pan, ground rods and main breaker panel). If you are changing out a panel only you will not be required to install an outdoor main disconnect. This rule will not apply to multi-family housing or condos.

That said, I'm guessing there will have to be some exceptions to this rule. For example, when you have houses that are dense-packed together (i'e. Hoboken and Jersey City) installing outdoor disconnects is usually not possible.

Remember, this is unofficial. EI's may not follow this directive unless it's carved in granite !!! Bulletins and Code Communicator articles, while they may provide important information, are not enforcalbe.

Thanks for the update. Let's hope we get an official document from the DCA.

 

[Ken_S]

OK. So, here's the UNOFFICIAL version that I received from an inspector in my contractors' association, who is in constant contact with the DCA. NJ is PLANNING on releasing the 2020 Rehab Code on or about March 6, 2023. At that point in time you will begin a 6-month grace period under which you can continue to replace 1 and 2 family electrical services without having to install an outdoor disconnect. You would have to indicate that you are filing under the 2017 Rehab Code on the permit app. This will apply to complete service upgrades (SE cable, meter pan, ground rods and main breaker panel). If you are changing out a panel only you will not be required to install an outdoor main disconnect. This rule will not apply to multi-family housing or condos.

That said, I'm guessing there will have to be some exceptions to this rule. For example, when you have houses that are dense-packed together (i'e. Hoboken and Jersey City) installing outdoor disconnects is usually not possible.

Remember, this is unofficial. EI's may not follow this directive unless it's carved in granite !!! Bulletins and Code Communicator articles, while they may provide important information, are not enforcalbe.

This is all consistent with what I was told by a gentleman that is part of the NJ code panel at our last IAEI meeting

 

[Teaser2]

I understand the fact that there is an extra cost associated with doing a "complete" service upgrade or at least adding the emergency disconnect outside; including a whole house surge protector according to NEC 2020 going forward. I would suggest and highly recommend the customer to do it "right". I always try to exceed the NEC requirements (even with the time line) and take the upcoming changes into consideration if there are no concerns. Play it safe.

 

[infinity]

I understand the fact that there is an extra cost associated with doing a "complete" service upgrade or at least adding the emergency disconnect outside; including a whole house surge protector according to NEC 2020 going forward. I would suggest and highly recommend the customer to do it "right". I always try to exceed the NEC requirements (even with the time line) and take the upcoming changes into consideration if there are no concerns. Play it safe

Nothing wrong with exceeding the code requirements as long as you can still get the job. I'd I bid to install the 2020 required disconnect and surge protector some other guy will come along and tell the homeowner that they can do it under the "old code" and save them a grand or two. People are cheap and will almost always take the lower bid.

 

[Teaser2]

Nothing wrong with exceeding the code requirements as long as you can still get the job. I'd I bid to install the 2020 required disconnect and surge protector some other guy will come along and tell the homeowner that they can do it under the "old code" and save them a grand or two. People are cheap and will almost always take the lower bid.

You are absolutely right.

 

[coffeebean]

I was just informed today that the updated rehab code goes into effect 3/6/23 and you have a 6 month grace period.

 

[goldstar]

I was just informed today that the updated rehab code goes into effect 3/6/23 and you have a 6 month grace period.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, NJ is PLANNING on releasing the 2020 Rehab Code on or about 3/6/2023. Seeing is believing. Remember, it's not OFFICIAL until it's OFFICIAL. There are also many EI's that believe we have already been in a 6-month grace period. It should be noted that there will now be two separate 6-month grace periods. The first grace period began in September of 2022 when NJ adopted the 2020 NEC. During that period you were allowed to file an electrical permit under the 2017 NEC. Realizing that there was an issue with the outdoor disconnect requirement, NJ will now allow another 6-month grace period for that requirement. We live in a strange place here in NJ.

 

[infinity]

During that period you were allowed to file an electrical permit under the 2017 NEC. Realizing that there was an issue with the outdoor disconnect requirement, NJ will now allow another 6-month grace period for that requirement.

I'm not taking any chances, I just filed for a new service for my home and I wrote in big red pen "2017 NEC".

 

[Mystic Pools]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, NJ is PLANNING on releasing the 2020 Rehab Code on or about 3/6/2023. Seeing is believing. Remember, it's not OFFICIAL until it's OFFICIAL. There are also many EI's that believe we have already been in a 6-month grace period. It should be noted that there will now be two separate 6-month grace periods. The first grace period began in September of 2022 when NJ adopted the 2020 NEC. During that period you were allowed to file an electrical permit under the 2017 NEC. Realizing that there was an issue with the outdoor disconnect requirement, NJ will now allow another 6-month grace period for that requirement. We live in a strange place here in NJ.

You don't say.......

 

[EeeeVeee]

LB's are used all of the time for services. The POCO might require tamper resistant screws to hold on the LB cover. You would need to check that the LB is listed for #2/0 conductors if using copper or #4/0 if using aluminum.

The requirement for irreversible screws would typically be if the LB was before the meter. But in this instance it is after the meter. I’ve done it this way hundreds of times and PSEG never had an issue.

 

[infinity]

The requirement for irreversible screws would typically be if the LB was before the meter. But in this instance it is after the meter. I’ve done it this way hundreds of times and PSEG never had an issue.

You're correct I should have mentioned that in my post.

 

[mtnelect]

This is what is required in California.