Transcript It's Time for a Change! More than 700 changes have been proposed for the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC).

It's Time for a Change!
More than 700 changes have been proposed for the National
Electrical Safety Code (NESC). These changes impact many
areas of interest including undergrounding of electric lines,
tree trimming, and interconnections for solar photovoltaic
facilities. Speakers will brief us on the changes that have
proved the most controversial in the IEEE's committee
discussions and explain how States can provide input as
IEEE develops changes to be effective in 2017.
Sue Vogel - Senior Manager
National Electrical Safety Code
Mike Hyland - Sr. VP of Engineering
American Public Power Association
1
National Electric Safety Code® Update
NARUC Annual Meeting
Staff Subcommittee on Electric Reliability
Mike Hyland, Chair-NESC Committee
Sr VP-Engineering, APPA
Sue Vogel, Senior Manager, NESC
IEEE Standards Association
16 November 2014
Contents
• Background: A Century of Safety
• Why We Are Here
• NESC Purpose and Scope
• NESC Committee, NARUC Representation, Code,
Schedule, and Preprint
• NESC 2012 Edition: NARUC Survey
• NESC 2017 Revision Cycle and NESC Preprint
– Change proposals to note
• NESC Summit: Future of the NESC
• Significance to NARUC
BACKGROUND: A
CENTURY OF SAFETY
–4
NESC: 100 Years of Safety
• Congressional mandate
— In 1913, US Congress requested the National Bureau of Standards
(NBS) to develop the NESC to bring consistency and safety to the
design, construction, operation, maintenance and use of electric
supply and communications throughout the United States
• Industry consensus sought
― NBS brought together representatives from electric utilities,
telephone utilities, railroads, and factory owners to identify and
discuss commonalities between systems, common problems, and
potential solutions
• Standardization needed
— Early electric supply and communication systems were isolated
systems constructed without standardization of clearances,
strengths of materials, construction methods or operation, causing
problems for both public vehicles and electrical workers travelling
from one area to another or working in different manufacturing
facilities
–5
National Electrical Safety Code
• The National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) sets the
ground rules for practical safeguarding of persons
during the installation, operation, or maintenance of
electric supply and communication lines, and associated
equipment.
• In 1972, IEEE was designated as the secretariat for the
NESC
• Performs all administrative functions
• Publisher and NESC copyright owner
• The NESC continues to be a stronghold in the U.S.
electrical industry and communications utility field, and
serves as an authoritative source on safety
requirements for power, telephone, cable TV, and
railroad signal systems
–6
2014: NESC 100th Anniversary
•Press release
•Preprint info
•100th
anniversary
Infographic
(timeline)
•History of the
NESC
1 August 1914-2014
See
https://standards.ieee.org/about/nesc/100/index.html
–7
WHY ARE WE HERE?
WHY NOW?
–9
Changing our own culture
• NESC has been status quo for decades
• A good job sometimes = a lower profile
• Moving from a reactive to proactive posture
• Community engagement
• Outreach with members/stakeholders
• NESC Summit 2015
• “Visioning the NESC future” sessions
• Increase opportunity for public comment
• Increased visibility and public relations
• Ensure continued relevance and viability of the NESC
• Be responsive to industry needs, changing landscape
• NARUC involvement is important
–10
Getting the Word Out—NESC Articles
Date
Publication
Title
Link
July/Aug
2014
Electricity Today
Living Up to Safety Standards
http://online.electricitytoday.com/doc/electricitytoday/et_july_august_2014_d
igital/2014073101/#92
August
2014
Electric Energy
T&D Mag
Advancing Work Rules in the
NESC
http://www.utilityproducts.co
m/articles/print/volume18/issue-8/featurestories/steady-current.html
Sept
2014
Utility Products
Keeping the National
Electrical Safety Code®
Relevant for All Utility
Workers
http://www.utilityproducts.co
m/articles/print/volume18/issue-8/featurestories/steady-current.html
Sept
2014
Electric Co-Op
Today
Safety Code Turns 100,
Seeks Input on Next
Century
http://www.ect.coop/topstory-home-page/nationalelectrical-safety-code-turns100/73562
January
2015
Electric Light &
Power Magazine
The Financial Stakes of the
National Electrical Safety
Code
TBD
–11
NESC PURPOSE AND SCOPE
–12
NESC: Purpose
The purpose of the NESC is the practical safeguarding of
persons, utility facilities, and affected property during the
installation, operation, and maintenance of electric supply and
communication facilities, under specified conditions.
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)
3. Utility facilities
4. Electric supply and communication equipment connected
to utility facilities, and
5. Other facilities or premises adjacent to or containing
utility facilities.
–13
NESC Scope (Covered)
The NESC covers:
1. Supply and communication facilities (including metering)
and associated work practices employed by a public or
private electric supply, communications, railway, trolley,
street and area lighting, traffic signal (or other signal),
irrigation district or other community owned utility, or a
similar utility in the exercise of its function as a utility.
2. The generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity,
lumens, communication signals and communication data through
public and private utility systems that are installed and
maintained under the exclusive control of utilities or their
authorized representatives.
3. Utility facilities and functions of utilities that (a) either generate
energy or signals or accept energy or signals from another entity
and (b) provide that energy or signals through a delivery point to
another entity.
–14
Scope: Figure 011-1
–15
NESC COMMITTEES,
MEMBERSHIP, SCHEDULE
AND PREPRINT
–16
NESC Committee Members
The NESC consists of:
• The NESC Main Committee
• 7 Technical Subcommittees
• The Executive Subcommittee
• An Interpretations
Subcommittee
Over 150 participants
–17
NESC Main Committee Members
Members of the
Committee are
organizations,
associations,
and government
agencies which
are national in
scope, all having
a direct and
material interest
in the activities
of the
Committee, for
example:
• American Public Power Association
• Alliance of Telecommunication
Industry Solutions
• Edison Electric Institute
• International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers
• IEEE
• National Association of Regulatory
Commissioners
• National Cable Television
Association
• National Electrical Contractors Assn
• Bonneville Power Administration
• Tennessee Valley Authority
• Independent Electrical Contractors
• Others
–18
NARUC Membership Status
•
NARUC organizational member slot on NESC Main
Committee is currently vacant
– NESC Main Committee approves final NESC
– Seeking NARUC replacement
•
Only NARUC representation is on Subcommittee
4, Overhead Lines-Clearances
– Darren Gill, PA PUC
•
Previous SC representation declined due to
attrition, retirements
•
NARUC participation is valued and welcome by
NESC—both Main Committee and Subcommittees
–19
New Member
•
First new NESC Main Committee
member in 25+ years
– SEIA (Solar Energy Industries
Association)
–20
NESC Subcommittees (SCs)
SC
SC Topic/Title
Section/Part
SC1
Coordination between
technical SCs, Scope/Purpose,
Definitions, References
Sections 1, 2 and 3
SC2
Grounding Methods
Section 9
SC3
Electric Supply Stations
Part 1/Sections
10-19
SC4
Overhead Lines - Clearances
Part 2/Section 2023
SC5
Overhead Lines - Strength and
Loading
Part 2/Sections
24-27
SC7
Underground Lines
Part 3/Sections
30-39
SC8
Work Rules
Part 4/Sections
40-44
–21
Maintenance of NESC
The NESC is revised every 5 years
• Current edition is 2012, published 1
August 2011
• A fixed schedule for revision is
published
• Next edition will be 2017, published
1 August 2016
–22
NESC Meeting Schedule
• NESC Main Committee meets about 3 times
in a 5-year revision cycle
• Next meeting 29 April 2015
• (with NESC Summit)
• January 2016
• pre-NESC Main Committee ballot to
approve final draft
• NESC Technical Subcommittees meet twice
in a 5-year revision cycle
• August-October 2015
• @ IEEE, Piscataway, NJ
–23
2017 NESC Revision Schedule
15 July 2013
Final date to submit change proposals
Sept/Oct 2013
Subcommittees meet to consider change
proposals and make initial recommendations
1 September
2014
Preprint is published
1 May 2015
Final date to submit comments
Sept/Oct 2015
Subcommittees meet to consider comments and
make final recommendations
15 January
2016
Proposed revision of NESC submitted to NESC
Main Committee for letter ballot and concurrent
ANSI public review
15 May 2016
Submit to ANSI for recognition as an American
National Standard
1 August 2016
Publication of 2017 NESC
Where we
are now
–24
NESC Preprint
• A preprint of change proposals for incorporation into the
2017 Edition of the NESC published 1 Sept 2014
– 8-month public comment period opened
• Over 700 change proposals received
• A count of CPs by Subcommittee is as follows:
 SC1, Scope, Purpose, Definitions: 75
 SC2, Grounding Methods: 39
 SC3, Electric Supply Stations: 45
 SC4, Overhead Lines-Clearances: 300
 SC5, Overhead Lines-Strength & Loading: 175
 SC7,Underground Lines: 68
 SC8, World Rules: 74
 Public comment can influence final Subcommittee
recommendations
–25
NARUC Complimentary Preprint Access
• The IEEE Standards Association is pleased to
provide complimentary download access to all
state commissions/NARUC principals for the
purpose of reviewing proposed revisions and
providing comment
• Access information provided to commissions
via Kim Jones and Pat Poli
• NESC website and comment template for
submitting comments
• http://standards.ieee.org/about/nesc/erp/in
dex.html
–26
NARUC SURVEY:
ADOPTION OF THE NESC
–27
NARUC Survey: State Adoption of the
NESC
• As secretariat to the National Electrical Safety
Code, IEEE-SA gathers feedback from state
regulators regarding adoption of the NESC
• For the 2012 NESC, published August 1, 2011:
– Survey launched October 26, 2012
– Closed January 25, 2013
• State Commissioners and Utility Regulators
― 63 participants
― 41 with full completion
• Seeking to better understand regulatory status
–28
Participants by State
Alaska
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
District Of
Columbia
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Iowa
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Montana
North Carolina
North Dakota
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Wyoming
*Blue states represent
Non-participating states
(11)
–29
Adoption of NESC
 Well over three-quarters of respondents (83%) have adopted
the NESC within their state.
Yes
83%
Not Sure
Hasn't adopted, no
plan to do so
5%
10%
Hasn't adopted, but
plan to do so
2%
Q1. Has your State adopted any edition of the NESC?
–30
n=63
Adoption of NESC: Year of Release
 A new National Electrical Safety Code is released every 5
years. Most respondents (78%) have adopted the 2007 or the
2012 version. Many participants selected all of the versions
that they had used at some time in the past.
Percent of Respondents
60%
40%
44%
34%
20%
24%
18%
8%
0%
2012
2007
2002
1997
1993
Q2. Please indicate which edition(s) of the NESC your State has adopted?
n=50
–31
Adoption of NESC: Year of Release
(cont’d.)
 Note: While a significant number still indicate using prior year
releases of NESC, many selected any and all that they have used
in the past and are not necessarily using that version today.
Percent of Respondents
20%
10%
12%
12%
10%
10%
8%
6%
6%
1977
1973
0%
1990
1987
1984
1981
Not Sure
Q2. Please indicate which edition(s) of the NESC your State has adopted?
–32
n=50
Automatic Adoption
 58% do not automatically adopt the NESC
 Less than half (40%) of respondents indicate their states
automatically adopt a new standard without some type of rule
making proceeding.
No, my state holds a rule making
proceeding for a new edition of
the NESC.
50%
Yes
No my state does not hold a rule
making proceeding
2%
8%
Not Sure
40%
Q8. Does or would your State automatically adopt each new edition of
n=48
the NESC?
–35
Concluding Thoughts on Survey
• For the 2017 NESC survey, we hope that
• we will have increased our knowledge and
awareness of the state adoption processes
• NESC and NARUC/state commissions will have
better relationships that will produce a more
informed survey with additional results and
data points
• NARUC participation on the NESC Main and
Subcommittees and in the public comment
process will have an impact on state adoption
practices
–38
SEEKING COMMENT ON
NESC CHANGE PROPOSALS
–39
Specific Change Proposals for Review
CP4610, Rules 250C and 250D
This change proposal addresses removing the Extreme wind
and Ice load rules for utility poles under 60 foot.
NESC Subcommittee 5 desires industry review and
comments for this change proposal, which would eliminate
the present exemption for structures (including supported
facilities) not exceeding 60 ft. in height from consideration of
“Extreme wind loading” and “Extreme ice with concurrent
wind loading”. For Rule 250 C (Extreme wind loading), the
required wind speed for such structures would be limited to
that which produces wind-blown debris (e.g., Category 1
hurricane).
–40
Specific Change Proposals for Review
2. CP4701, Rule 215C2-C8
This change proposal addresses guy wires which, if
electrified, could harm the public.
NESC Subcommittee 4 solicits specific comments on CP4701,
which contains a complete reorganization of the guy insulator
rules.
–41
Specific Change Proposals for Review
CP4702, Rule 220B1
CP4584, Rule 224A
These change proposals impact worker safety issues that
comes into play due to conflicting communications and
supply spaces.
NESC Subcommittee 4 solicits specific comments regarding
the communication space above the supply space. CP4702
also deals with the relative levels of supply and
communication cables similar to CP 4584 (Rule 224A).
–42
Addressing Jurisdiction Issues
• In recent years, NESC and NEC (NFPA) have worked
together to address gray areas between the two Codes,
regarding “who covers what”
• There is a need to clarify various issues; avoid industry
and AHJ confusion
• Promote good cooperation between NESC and NEC
• For the 2012 NESC and 2011 NEC, a scope matter
between the two Codes was jointly addressed by a Task
Force of members of each committee, resulting in
proposals for both Codes that clarified their respective
scopes
• Education about both codes and what they cover is
important
–43
Addressing Jurisdiction Issues
Current Issue: Large Scale PV Systems
• NESC and National Electric Code (NEC) members
are working together to clarify jurisdiction
between the two Codes related to large scale PV
systems and requirements
– NEC Large Scale PV Task Force proposals
submitted for 2017 NEC
– NESC will consider mechanisms for 2017
NESC, possibly via public comments,
Tentative Interim Amendment process, or
other
–44
NESC FUTURE DIRECTION:
NESC SUMMIT
–45
NESC Summit
The National Electrical Safety Code (NESC): Past, Present, and Future
Dates: April 28-29, 2015
Venue: Hilton Alexandria Old Town
Alexandria, VA
The NESC Summit will examine issues that impact the NESC and the
industry it supports today:
• Keynote speakers
• Panel sessions
• Continue visioning sessions to envision the NESC’s future
• Social reception
NESC Summit Objectives:
• Raise awareness of NESC to relevant stakeholders, including
government, industry (non-utility), trade associations, other;
• Raise awareness/inform of the importance and value of NESC to
utilities and the public;
• Seek input on the future direction of the NESC
Visioning the NESC’s Future
• NESC Main Committee met 13 February 2014
–Hosted by Southern California Edison
• Received reports from Subcommittee chairs on NESC
Change Proposals and recommendations
• Toured the First Solar Desert Center Solar Farm the day
before
• Total planned output is 500MW by end of 2014
• 8 million panels
• Solar membership (SEIA) discussed
• Identified jurisdiction issues between NESC and NEC
• Held a first-ever Visioning Session to brainstorm the
future of the NESC
Visioning the NESC’s Future
• Three topics identified:
• FUTURE: What should the NESC look like in 2037 or 2042?
What subjects need to be looked at for inclusion in the
NESC’s future? (E.g., developments in renewable generation,
microgrids, etc.)
• PROCESS: Does today's NESC process, supporting a current
5-year revision cycle, serve adequately to address rapidly
developing technology advancement and keep the NESC
relevant and viable? What should the process look like for
the future?
• DESIGN vs SAFETY: Is the NESC being considered by utilities
as a construction or design guide vs a safety Code? Should it
be?
–48
NESC Summit
• NARUC attendance and participation at the NESC Summit is
desirable and welcome
• Topics to include
• Resiliency
• Safety
• Reliability
• Design
• Further visioning of NESC future
• Opportunity to participate on a panel session
• E.g., “How is the NESC used today?
• Industry can learn from regulatory perspective
• And vice versa: Regulatory community can gain
knowledge regarding industry views via a national
consensus standard
–49
SIGNIFICANCE TO NARUC
–50
Significance to NARUC
• Each new edition of the NESC drives a higher level of
safety
• Citing an up-to-date Code increases safety for workers
and the public
• Regulatory input via participation and the public comment
process can influence the final Code
• Participate in consensus process to approve the NESC
• The NESC will be ever-changing in an integrated grid
landscape
• Resiliency safety may be incorporated going forward
• Increase understanding of the Code and its development
• How and why rules are revised
• Stay on top of changes that impact industry, regulation
–51
Questions?
How can we help?
Thank you, sincerely!
Contact
Mike Hyland, [email protected]
Sue Vogel, [email protected]
–52
NARUC
Celebrating 125 Years of Public Service
Staff
Subcommittee
on
Electric Reliability