NESC Updates

Chris DiLiberto Osmose utilities services Brenda Sears TRC NESC – National Electrical Safety Code

• What is the NESC • Who is responsible for the NESC • Why is it important • Who relies on it • How does it get updated • Examples of Change Proposals (CP) NESC – National Electrical Safety Code

• The purpose of the NESC is the practical safeguarding of persons and utility facilities during the installation, operation, and maintenance of electric supply and communication facilities, under specified conditions. • The NESC has provided these standards for more than 100 years. • NESC rules contain the basic provisions, under specified conditions, that are considered necessary for the safeguarding of: • The public, • Utility workers (employees and contractors), and • Utility facilities NESC – National Electrical Safety Code

• The NESC is a voluntary standard in the United States that has been adopted into law by individual state legislatures and public utility commissions. At the federal level it has become the standard for all cooperatives financed by the Rural Utilities Service (USDA). • The NESC influences all new construction and provides a guide of how and when maintenance is performed on electric and communication systems. • “The NESC is often used as a basis for the OSHA rules that govern the construction and maintenance of power supply and communication facilities, as well as the joint-use of structures, rights-of-way and other facilities.” - IEEE IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the world's largest technical professional organization develops, maintains, updates, and publishes the NESC. IEEE: The world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity

• More than 422,000 members in more than 160 countries • ~123,000 Student members • 339 Sections in ten geographic Regions worldwide • 2,430 Chapters that unite local members with similar technical interests • 3,284 Student Branches at colleges and universities in over 100 countries • 2,266 Student Branch chapters of IEEE technical societies A sample of IEEE Programs: • Big Data Community • Blockchain Community • Brain Community • Cloud Computing Community • Cybersecurity Community • Digital Reality Community • Entrepreneurship Exchange Community • Environmental Engineering Community • Future Networks Community • Global Earth Observing System of Systems Community • Internet of Things Community • Life Sciences Community • Rebooting Computing Community • Smart Cities Community • Smart Grid Community • Software Defined Networks Community • Sustainable ICT Community • Symbiotic Autonomous Systems Community • TechEthics Community • Transportation Electrification Community Why is the NESC Important?

• It is the building blocks for most if not all state and federal utility regulation. Nearly all of the states in the U.S. use the NESC in whole or in part by way of legislative, regulatory, or voluntary action • The NESC is a ‘consensus standard’ that depends on the involvement of motivated volunteers to provide the industry with accurate and impactful guidance. • The NESC has been in continuous use since the first edition was issued in 1915. • It contains four main ‘parts’ that contain specific rules for electric supply stations, overhead lines, underground lines and safety-related work practices • It is reviewed updated and published every 5 years Why is the NESC Important?

• Its documented and open “Change Proposals” (CP) process ensures that it is aligned and includes new and ever changing technologies such as: • 5G / Small Cells • Solar and Wind • Micro Grids • Battery Energy Storage • IOT (Internet of Things) • Being comprised of industry leaders and allowing for public comment makes it a transparent and inclusive process • It is accepted in more than 100 countries as the standard used to develop local standards Who relies on the NESC? • State and Public Utility Commissions – From the STATE OF NEW YORK Public Service Commission

The National Electric Safety Code (NESC) is the national standard for the installation, construction, maintenance, and operation of electric utility facilities.

To ensure that there is no confusion as to the minimum safety standards that will be acceptable in New York State, the Commission will formally require all utilities to adopt and fully comply with the NESC.

However, in order not to reduce the level of safety applicable to electric utility operations in New York State, where the utilities' safety procedures are more stringent than the NESC, the utilities will comply with their own procedures. Who relies on the NESC? Electric Utilities and Telecommunication companies build their own standards off the NESC Examples ❖ “Specifications for Electrical Installations” • The switch shall be in accordance with ANSI Standard C37 for Power Switching Equipment…. The ice test shall pass for ½” ice loading, NESC Heavy • The safety precautions outlined in the NESC ANSI C2, OSHA and local requirements shall be strictly adhered to. • Circuit interrupting devices containing flammable materials shall be adequately segregated from other equipment and buildings to limit damage in the event of an explosion or fire, see NESC ANSI C2. Who relies on the NESC?

• Cable TV providers • Wireless Companies • Internet providers • Renewable Energy providers (Wind and Solar) • Service providers of Electric Utilities and Communication Companies How does it get updated?

• Anyone can submit a change proposal • Organizations, companies, individuals, NESC Subcommittees/Working Groups/Task Forces • Over 700 change proposals received for the 2017 revision cycle • IEEE provides direction and an electronic form for Change Proposals (CP) on their website • https://standards.ieee.org/products- services/nesc/form.html How does it get updated?

All CPs are reviewed by the NESC Secretary • Acknowledge receipt Subcommittee Primary Responsibility Part/Section • Determine if properly 1 Scope, Purpose, Definitions & 1,2, 3 formatted, complete, or Coordination does not meet the 2 Grounding Methods 9 requirements 3 Electric Supply Stations 1 4 Overhead Line Clearances 2 Sections 20-33 • Distribute to each 5 Overhead Line Strength and 2 Sections 24-28 member of the Loading appropriate NESC 7 Underground Lines 3 Subcommittee 8 Rule for Safeguarding Workers 4 and the Public Understanding Subcommittees

❖ Subcommittee 4 structure (Overhead Line Clearances) ❖ Comprised of 23 Members representing • Investor Owned Electric Utilities • Public Electric Utilities • Communication • Government Electric Utilities • Rural Co-Operatives • Electrical Workers Union (IBEW) • Public Utility Commissions • Consultants ❖ Received ~230 CPs all of which were considered by the Subcommittee Subcommittees and CPs ❖ NESC Subcommittee will consider each proposal • Endorse the CP • Prepare a proposed revision for the NESC • Refer the CP to a technical working group • Request coordination with other Subcommittees • Recommend rejection of the proposal with stated reasons • Each will be accompanied with a voting statement by all members of the Subcommittee ❖ Preprint of Change Proposals which will contain • The original CP • Recommendations on the CP including voting statement • Directions on how submit comments The preprint will be distributed to all members of the NESC subcommittees and representatives of organizations comprising NESC Committee. Copies are also offered for sale to any interested parties. Subcommittees and CPs ❖ Following the public comment period each subcommittee will review all comments received • No new CP are accepted at this point • Each CP will have a vote for adoption or rejection • When additional technical consideration is need it will be referred to a working group for resolution • Publish all comments and actions taken on them ❖ Final Approval • Provide a draft revision of the NESC to all Committees • 30 day approval by ballot • American National Standards Institute (ANSI) reviews for 45 day public review • Final comments from ballot and public review are reviewed by appropriate Subcommittee • If no consensus on comments CP is carry over to next cycle ❖ New Revision of the NESC is provided/printed Timeline of Updates Change Proposals for the 2022 Revision SC1 CP 5103 Rule 010. Purpose

010. Purpose A. The purpose of the NESC is the practical safeguarding of persons and utility facilities during the installation, operation, and maintenance of electric supply and communication facilities, under specified conditions. NOTE: NESC rules are globally recognized and intended to provide a practical standard of safe practices that can be adopted by public utilities, private utilities, state or local utility commissions or public service commissions, or other boards or bodies having control over safe practices employed in the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of electric supply, communication, street and area lighting, signal, or railroad utility facilities. B. NESC rules contain the basic provisions, under specified conditions, that are considered necessary for the safeguarding of: 1. The public, 2. Utility workers (employees and contractors), and 3. Utility facilities to the extent they may affect the safety of the public and utility workers. SC1 CP 5103 Rule 010. Purpose

C. This Code is not intended as a design specification or as an instruction manual. However, the electrical and structural safety criteria contained herein may be used as baseline parameters in design and engineering calculations for the network. D. Although issues such as reliability and resiliency are not directly addressed in the NESC, the electrical and structural safety criteria provide a foundational level of structural robustness that, in turn, makes a positive contribution to overall system reliability and resiliency. SC1 CP 5542 Changes to Metric Values SC1 CP 5542 Changes to Metric Values

Two Options:

Place the metric values of measure following the English values SC1 CP 5542 Changes to Metric Values

Two Options:

Place the metric values of measure following the English values

Move all metric tables and other references of measurement to an Appendix SC1 CP 5542 Changes to Metric Values

SC1 voted to accept option 2; Place metric tables in a normative annex SC1 CP 5105 Rule 214.A.1. Inspection

Current Rule 214.A.1. Inspection Lines and equipment shall be inspected at such intervals as experience has shown to be necessary. SC1 CP 5105 Rule 214.A.1. Inspection

Current Rule 214.A.1. Inspection Lines and equipment shall be inspected at such intervals as experience has shown to be necessary.

Proposed Rule 214.A.1. Inspection and maintenance Lines and equipment shall be inspected and maintained to retain electrical and structural compliance with these safety rules, referencing Rule 013B, at such intervals that align with industry good practice. SC1 CP 5105 Rule 214.A.1. Inspection

ThisCurrent proposal Rule 214.A.1.was rejected, Inspection however, will be revisited. TheLines subcommittee and equipment comment shall be inspectedmentioned at suchthis is intervals an inspectionas experience rule, has not shown maintenance to be necessary. forgetting that the substation rule titled “Inspection” also addresses maintenance.Proposed Rule 214.A.1. Inspection and maintenance AlsoLines cited and Ruleequipment 214.A.5 shall addresses be inspected correction and maintained of defectsto retain but electrical that is andnot structuralmaintenance. compliance with these safety rules, referencing Rule 013B, at such intervals Alsothat alignciting with that industry “align with good good practice. industry practice” is not defined while “as utility experience has shown to be necessary” is a clearer guideline. SC3 CP 5006 Rules 140 – 146 Storage Batteries

Rewrite of Section 14 • Current rules based on lead acid batteries • Incorporates new battery technologies, applications and hazards • Differentiates between back-up batteries and storage batteries SC3 CP 5452 Emerging Generation Technologies

Existing Section 19. Surge arrestors deleted New Section 19. Photovoltaic generating stations 190. General 191. Location 192. Grounding configurations 193. Vegetation management 194. DC overcurrent protection 195. DC conductors SC3 CP 5452 Emerging Generation Technologies

Existing Section 19. Surge arrestors deleted New Section 19. Photovoltaic generating stations 190. General New rules to 191. Locationaccommodate large-scale 192. Grounding solarconfigurations projects 193. Vegetation management 194. DC overcurrent protection 195. DC conductors SC7 CP 5520 Rule 380.E. (Underground Equipment SC7 CP 5520 Rule 380.E. (Underground Equipment

New Rule 380.E (Equipment. General) The installation of mineral oil filled pad-mounted equipment shall utilize one or more of the following methods to minimize fire hazards. The method to be applied shall be according to the degree of the fire hazard. Recognized methods are the use of less flammable liquids, space separation, and/or fire-resistant barriers. Supporting Comment Adding language to Rule 380, which is similar to existing Rule 152.A.2, will provide equipment location guidance to Part 3, based on that used in electric supply stations. SC7 CP 5520 Rule 380.E. (Underground Equipment

SCNew 7 Rulerejected 380.E this Inspection CP but would like public comment. The installation of mineral oil filled pad-mounted The SC felt this CP has the potential to require utilities to equipment shall utilize one or more of the following maintain different types of transformers with different methods to minimize fire hazards. The method to be insulating liquid types. applied shall be according to the degree of the fire hazard. RecognizedIt is also felt methods that Rule are 152A the isuse with of less regard flammable to substations liquids, spacegenerally separation, under the and/or control fire of-resistant a single barriers. entity and differs from the conditions associated with pad-mounted equipment near buildings. SC7 is also concerned that use of the term “minimize” is vague as part of a “shall” rule. SC8 CP 5528 Rule 441.A.3.f Safety Rules

Intent of Changes to Rule 441.A.3.f To provide the required protection from phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground differences in potential, the supplemental insulating protective equipment must also be applied to conductive objects, which includes the neutral, within the reach or extended reach of the employee’s work position. SC8 CP 5528 Rule 441.A.3.f Safety Rules

Proposed Changes to Rule 441.A.3.f f. over-up equipment, when used, shall be applied to the all exposed conductive facilities (including the neutral) as the employee first approached the facilities from any direction, be that from the structure or from an aerial device, and shall be removed in the reverse order. This protective cover-up shall extend beyond the reach of the employee’s anticipated work position or extended reach distance. SC8 CP 5528 Rule 441.A.3.f Safety Rules

SC8Proposed rejected Changes this to CP Rule but 441.A.3.f is continuing work and wouldf. Cover -likeup equipment, public comment. when used, shall be applied to the all exposed conductive facilities (including the neutral) as theIt is employee felt that first covering approached neutrals the facilities is required from any in Rule 442.A.3.a.direction, be Morethat from information the structure is or needed from an aerialabout coveringdevice, and conductive shall be removed objects; in the reverse order. This protective cover-up shall extend beyond the reach of the employee’sSC8 will work anticipated with the work submitter position or (APPA) extended to reach responddistance. to SC8’s questions during the comment period. Thank You Heartland Members

Chris DiLiberto Brenda Sears Osmose Utilities Services TRC [email protected] [email protected]