WAC Authorizing Licensed Electricians to Pull Meters in Washington State

[Tradesmanx]

I've been told by an electrical contractor I trust there is a WAC authorizing licensed electricians to pull meters. But I can't find the WAC & I would imagine there are conditions and exceptions if it exists at all. Does anyone know the WAC? This question is only for Washington State & I would appreciate it if building inspectors and utility employees keep out of this thread unless you know the WAC and are willing to cite it. Whether Utilities have to follow the WAC's is a separate issue. Thanks.

 

[tortuga]

I don't think electricians need permission to pull a meter per a WAC or other law, as its not prohibited unless the EC has a no hot work policy.
It may violate the TOS of the utility.
Here for years we pulled them if there was an emergency or emergency repair or to inspect for damage but now they changed from a simple tag we can cut to a ultra tamper proof lock.
Now there is no way to access the meter without calling the utility. And even then if there is no account, say a vacant apartment it can be extremely difficult to get access.

 

[marmathsen]

I'm gonna say LNI made it pretty clear in the September Electrical Currents newsletter that they don't approve of 01 (or any other specialty) electricians working on ANY live parts. And I'd consider pulling a meter to be "work[ing] on or with exposed energized lines or parts of equipment operating at 50 volts or more" as referenced in the letter.

PSE has never allowed us to pull the meter as long as I've been doing services in their territory. They made that VERY clear the first time I pulled one of their meters.

Seattle City Light never had any issues with us pulling meters or swinging service drops over to new masts or making secondary connections at the weather head. In fact they have encouraged it!

SnoPUD has never given us a hard time either.

Since the September newsletter, we're making efforts to just coordinate our service changes such that we don't need to do any of that work, and just leave it to the utility.

Rob G
Seattle

 

[Tradesmanx]

I'm gonna say LNI made it pretty clear in the September Electrical Currents newsletter that they don't approve of 01 (or any other specialty) electricians working on ANY live parts. And I'd consider pulling a meter to be "work[ing] on or with exposed energized lines or parts of equipment operating at 50 volts or more" as referenced in the letter.

PSE has never allowed us to pull the meter as long as I've been doing services in their territory. They made that VERY clear the first time I pulled one of their meters.

Seattle City Light never had any issues with us pulling meters or swinging service drops over to new masts or making secondary connections at the weather head. In fact they have encouraged it!

SnoPUD has never given us a hard time either.

Since the September newsletter, we're making efforts to just coordinate our service changes such that we don't need to do any of that work, and just leave it to the utility.

Rob G
Seattle

I haven't read that newsletter. So, I'm not sure about that. But define live part. Only the top lugs are hot. We wouldn't be working on the live hot lugs, just the lower lugs which aren't hot. All you have to do to protect yourself from the lower ones is put a piece of cardboard in there. If someone is saying the entire meter base is a live part, well that would make every part live including the lower portion of an electric panel when you turn off the 200 main breaker. Is this what this has come to?

 

[Tradesmanx]

I'm gonna say LNI made it pretty clear in the September Electrical Currents newsletter that they don't approve of 01 (or any other specialty) electricians working on ANY live parts. And I'd consider pulling a meter to be "work[ing] on or with exposed energized lines or parts of equipment operating at 50 volts or more" as referenced in the letter.

PSE has never allowed us to pull the meter as long as I've been doing services in their territory. They made that VERY clear the first time I pulled one of their meters.

Seattle City Light never had any issues with us pulling meters or swinging service drops over to new masts or making secondary connections at the weather head. In fact they have encouraged it!

SnoPUD has never given us a hard time either.

Since the September newsletter, we're making efforts to just coordinate our service changes such that we don't need to do any of that work, and just leave it to the utility.

Rob G
Seattle

I dunno. I couldn't find anything about that in the September Electrical Currents record. There was a question about work on the utility side...upstream. But nothing more. There is a WAC that encourages lock-out tag-out, but it also seemed to provide a means for working on live parts where the electrician is wearing the proper safety clothing. But the section was long and involved and I got tired of going through the whole thing.