I received a notice today about the overhead being too low in the backyard of a resident's property. I always thought that the requirement is at least 10 ft. high minimum. The notice from the power company wants it to be 12 feet high. There's no driveway in the yard, just grass. I've never been required to take it this high.
Residential Service Entrance Overhead Clearance
- Thread starter euclid43
- Start date
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
The utility uses the National Electrical Safety Code. I Though the clearance requirements were the same as in the NEC, but maybe not.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Why are you receiving a notice from the power company? Is the point of attachment too low? The drop does not fall under the NEC so it sounds like their problem not yours.
The point of attachment is 12 ft high. I agree with you on being their problem, thanks. I just thought that the minimum clearance is 10 anyway.
hbiss
EC, New York NEC: 2017
- Location
- Little Falls, New York NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- EC
If the point of attachment is 12 ft that means that the low point of the sag is going to be less. You are responsible for installing the point of attachment, no? Probably what they are complaining about.
-Hal
Thus, circling back to 10 feet minimum.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Isn't the NEC ground clearance for all residential properties 12'? If the POCO has the same requirement I can see why there is a problem.
230.34(B) lists the NEC clearances for service drops.
Its 10' minimum at lowest part of drip loop and over pedestrian only areas with the voltage to ground being 150V or less.
Its 12' minimum for residential property and driveways, and commercial areas not subject to truck traffic and the max voltage to ground can be 300V. This gets bumped to 15' if the voltage to ground is above 300V.
Its 15' minimum over streets, alleys, roads, parking areas with trucks, driveways other than residential, and open raw land.
So POCO could be confused about the details of the property unless there is a back fence with a gate wide enough to allow vehicles in the back yard which would bump the requirement to 12'. It may be hard for them to remember all the permutations and rules and just put 12' in their brain.
Its 10' minimum at lowest part of drip loop and over pedestrian only areas with the voltage to ground being 150V or less.
Its 12' minimum for residential property and driveways, and commercial areas not subject to truck traffic and the max voltage to ground can be 300V. This gets bumped to 15' if the voltage to ground is above 300V.
Its 15' minimum over streets, alleys, roads, parking areas with trucks, driveways other than residential, and open raw land.
So POCO could be confused about the details of the property unless there is a back fence with a gate wide enough to allow vehicles in the back yard which would bump the requirement to 12'. It may be hard for them to remember all the permutations and rules and just put 12' in their brain.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Sounds like all residential buildings are 12' minimum.