Service meter & Disconnect on utility pole

[ckdckd]

Please forgive me if this has been previously discussed. We are working on a project for a client to install a small electronic piece of equipment on a utility pole just below the typical height of the telco wires. (I don't have exact height, but suffice it to say it is well out of reach while standing on the ground). The client wants a 100A, single phase electric service for the equipment, and they want the meter and disconnect to be located high on the pole near the equipment (so that it is out of reach). We are on the 2011 NEC, and I can not see how this location complies with 230.70(A)(1) as readily accessible, or 404.8(A) being "not more than 6'-7" above floor or working platform. Yet, I have seen several of these installations (by others) and I wonder if there is an exception I am missing. Any thoughts??

 

[Iron_Ben]

Who owns the pole? Sounds like the POCO. All electric utilities have their own policies of course, but this was ours: cable TV and telco can do pretty much whatever they want. We had long standing "joint use" agreements with them. Anybody else, no chance. The liability issues were too much to overcome. We had a 40+ page document for a prospective "attacher" to fill out and I never saw another party get through the process successfully. So if it is a POCO pole, check with them first.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I don't see how the utility will allow the meter up high-- I would check with them. There is an exception in 240.24 for overcurrent protective device adjacent to utilization equipment they supply. I would run this by the authority having jurisdiction and the utility.

 

[iwire]

I don't see how the utility will allow the meter up high-- I would check with them. There is an exception in 240.24 for overcurrent protective device adjacent to utilization equipment they supply. I would run this by the authority having jurisdiction and the utility.

If the installation is covered by the NEC it is a violation

If the installation is covered by the NESC it is likely a violation.

Who owns this pole?

Now say if this client is a utility ... say a cable provider and they need power in a pole for an amplifier or some other equipment the power company has ways to handle that without a meter at all and the NEC would not apply to any of it.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

You are probably correct Bob since this is a service. I believe the overcurrent protective device could be there under 240.24 but the service would have to be accessible.

 

[Little Bill]

The POCOs here only allow a max height of 6' to the center of meter.
Don't know about special circumstances such as other utility equipment though.

 

[ckdckd]

Thanks for the replies. Here's a few clarifications.

1) This will be a multi-location project on poles in several states. Some poles are owned by the electric utility company, some are by the landline telephone utility company.

2) All permissions for locating on the poles have been granted via appropriate leasing documents with a zillion lawyers signing off on everything. (The leases do not specify the height of devices that we are discussing beyond saying that they need to meet code and pass inspection .... or some generic language that gives leeway for a "proper" install.)

3) The poles are existing and located in various publicly accessible locations.

4) The client is not a public utility, by definition. And, all of their other installations (not on poles) are designed to meet NEC, an therefore, I do not believe it falls under the 90.2(B)(4).

5) I did some looking at some of the project docs, and see that the meter will be at 5', so the only question I have is regarding the disconnect. And, it looks like 404.8(A) Exception No. 2 permits the disconnect being installed adjacent to the equipment cabinet, as long as it is accessible with a ladder....which it will be.

Thanks for everyone's input.