Section 13 Customer’s Special Equipment
13.1 General Comments
So that the Department may provide adequate electric service to all its Customers and avoid unnecessary delays in supplying electric service, it is recommended that the Customer, prior to purchase, submit to the Department information and specifications of any special equipment that might cause interference with the service to the Customer or to others. This prior information is especially important if the special equipment requires additional electric facilities for its satisfactory operation. The Department will not connect electric service until all problems caused by utilization equipment that may cause interference with other Customers has been remedied by the Customer providing the necessary corrective equipment. The Department reserves the right to inspect and test any equipment connected to its lines and to require that such equipment be provided with nameplates showing the voltage, phase, full-load amperes, maximum current, maximum kVA and such other information as may be necessary to determine the operating characteristics of the equipment.
13.2 Additional Electric Facilities
A Customer may desire or require additional facilities (such as emergency service, oversized transformer, separate transformer, dual service, etc.) to minimize voltage fluctuations or interference with other Customers, or to provide satisfactory operation of the Customer’s electric equipment. Such facilities, where practicable, will be furnished by the Department in cases where the Customer agrees to pay in some manner the additional cost of such facilities. Consult the Department for details.
13.3 Radio and Television Antennae
Antennae for radio, radio transmitter, and/or television sets must never be erected over, under, or in close proximity of either side of the Department’s power lines or other wires carrying electric current. Nor should they be constructed in such a place where they may accidentally fall into energized wires. Antenna lead in and other wires shall not cross over and should not cross under Department’s electric conductors. Such location of the Customer’s apparatus may result in serious accidents, damage to the equipment, or poor reception. Where proximity to electric power service conductors cannot be avoided, a ten foot minimum clearance is required. The attachment of antenna systems to poles or service masts carrying the Department’s conductors is strictly prohibited. Such attachments will be removed upon discovery by the Department, and the responsible party will be billed for all removal costs.
13.4 CATV and Carrier Installations
Service for the operation of radio and television transmitting apparatus will be furnished under conditions specified by the Department and conditions of use of such service shall not cause undue disturbance of electric service to other Customers. Where necessary, suitable filters or other devices shall be installed by the Customer in such a manner as to prevent radio, telephone, and television
interference by way of the electrical power supply. Consult the Department for installation of community antenna television (CATV) systems on Department poles. The Customer must sign a Service Agreement and the Department will designate the service locations and specifications for attachment and operation on Department poles.
13.5 Electric Welders and Furnaces
Electric welders and arc furnaces usually have such severe load characteristics that special attention must be given to the service installation to prevent interference and impairment of service to the Customer and others. The Department is prepared to assist the Customer in planning installations of electric welders and industrial type furnaces. It is essential in every case that the Department be consulted when such installations are being planned and before commitment to purchase equipment, so that there will be ample time to determine the electrical supply requirements.
13.6 Radio and Television Transmitters, X-ray, Diathermy, and High Frequency Heating Equipment
Customers using radio and television transmitters, x-ray, diathermy, and high frequency heating equipment must install and maintain devices approved by the Department for protection of transformers, meters, and other service equipment. Should the operation of the Customer’s equipment impair their own or other Customers’ service, then a separate transformer and service entrance connection or other appropriate corrective measures shall be required. The Department shall not be required to furnish or continue service to radio installations, X-ray apparatus, or other apparatus, the operation of which causes disturbances on the Department’s distribution circuits.
It is recommended that X-ray and similar imaging devices be connected to dedicated circuit run directly to the service entrance.
Wired-radio, or any related means of transmitting information, shall not be connected or coupled to the Department’s lines except by special arrangement with the Department.
Consult the Department for service to commercial radio and television facilities.
13.7 Customer’s Capacitors and Other Reactive Equipment
It is desirable and important to maintain the power factor of any load as near unity as possible. Maintaining a high power factor may allow a reduction of conductor sizes and equipment capacities. This may suggest the installation of capacitors. Capacitors must be applied more carefully than most types of electrical equipment in order that satisfactory operation and maintenance will result. When a Customer installs capacitors to improve the power factor, the Customer should provide, or at the request of Department, the Customer shall provide automatic disconnecting of capacitors when the equipment causing the low power factor is not operating. Before any such equipment is installed, the Department shall be contacted.
Where large capacity motors are to be installed, consideration should be given to the use of synchronous type equipment.
13.8 Emergency Standby Generators
13.8.1 General Comments
The Customer may permanently install a standby generator to supply part or all of the load in the event of an interruption in the supply of the Department’s service. The Customer shall furnish the Department complete nameplate data on the generator to be installed and consult with the Department on the method of connection.
Customers having electric generating equipment installed as standby for the electric service taken from the Department shall install and maintain protective devices and equipment as approved by the Department. The protective devices and equipment to be installed in any given installation will depend on the size and characteristics of the Customer’s load and generating equipment. In all cases, the Department must be consulted before the Customer’s equipment is installed.
Generating equipment installed by the Customer shall be connected to the load by means of a double-throw switch or by a circuit breaker interlocked so that the Customer’s generation cannot feed into the Department’s system. Use of the switch or breaker also assures that the re-energizing of the Department’s supply lines after a service interruption will not adversely affect either the Customer’s installation or the Department’s facilities.
13.8.2 Parallel Operation of the Customer’s Generation
When the Customer desires to operate in parallel with the Department’s electric system, the Customer shall execute a Service Agreement with the Department providing for paralleled operation. The Customer shall provide synchronizing, load-control, and other equipment that may, in the Department’s judgment, be required for successful parallel operation. Refer to the Department guideline on distribution co-generation.
13.9 Converters – Operation of Three Phase Motors from Single Phase Electric Supply
The phase converter is used to simulate a three phase voltage from a single phase source. One converter is recommended for each three phase motor. The phase converter must be matched with both the motor horsepower and the motor application. Special consideration must be given to the type of phase converter being used on the motor. The Department must be consulted prior to the installation of a phase converter.
13.10 Dual Feeders and Load Transfer Equipment
The Department must be consulted in those cases where the requirements of certain Customers for extremely high continuity of electric service make it desirable that dual feeders and load transfer equipment be installed. The Customer is responsible for paying all costs associated with such an arrangement including, but not limited to the installation, operation and maintenance of all facilities and reserved substation capacity. Consult the Department for information on the automatic transfer scheme guideline.