20060814_1641.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:CO MMISSI 0 NER KJELLAND ER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
FROM:DON HOWELL
DATE:AUGUST 11,2006
SUBJECT:UPDATING COMMISSION SAFETY AND ACCIDENT REPORTING
RULE 101 BY ADOPTING THE 2007 EDITION OF THE NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL SAFETY CODE, CASE NO. 31-1101-0601
The Commission s Safety and Accident Reporting Rules (IDAPA 31.11.01) adopt by
reference several national safety codes and federal safety regulations. In particular, Rule 101
adopts the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) by reference. The Commission s current rule
adopts the 2002 Edition.
On August 1 , 2006, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers published
the 2007 Edition of the NESc. The major revisions to the 2007 Edition include: steel pole
grounding; moving line sag calculations to Section 23; moving guy and span wires insulator
rules to Section 21; phasing out of the alternative method for calculating load factors and
strength factors; phase-to-phase cover-up when guarding against phase-to-phase contact; and
minimum approach distance tables. Section 9 of the NESC ("Grounding Methods for Electric
Supply and Communications Facilities ) deletes metallic water piping systems as a preferred
grounding electrode.
Part 2 of the NESC contains a new approach for calculating clearances in Section 23
and Appendix B. Part 3 now requires the same radial separation of 300 millimeters (12 inches)
for supply and communication cables from all pipelines that transport flammable material, not
only fuel lines. Substantive changes in the 2007 Edition are identified by a bar in the left-hand
margin of the Code sections.
Staff recommends that the Commission update Rule 101 by the adoption of the 2007
Edition of the NESC.
DECISION MEMORANDUM
COMMISSION DECISION:
Should Rule 10 1 of the Commission s Safety and Accident Reporting Rules by
updated by the adoption of the 2007 Edition of the National Electrical Safety Code? Does the
Commission wish to implement this change with an effective date of April l , 2007?
Don Howell
blslN:31-IIOI-O601 DecMemo
DECISION MEMORANDUM