- DRAFT LUESA-Code Enforcement held a brown bag “lunch and learn” session at the Hal Marshall
Center on January 12, 2009 to discuss the Department’s Outdoor Utility Transformer Policy
issued 12/4/08 and revised 12/17/08. Over 90 representatives from the industry attended and the
dialog had an emphasis on the residential building and development community issues from
which we gleaned the following:
•
More meeting/focus group/public sessions need to be and/or should have been held prior
to implementation
•
There is a need for more information, clarification and explanation on the details of the
standard, alternate methods and the means available to achieve compliance
•
There is a need for more options and explanations from the utility agencies, for example,
the allowed or disallowed use of FR3 (less flammable) oil as well as utility procedures
and costs
•
LUESA must provide a clear and precise outline of what “We are going to work with
you on a case-by-case basis” actually means with regard to Code Enforcement activities
As a result, the next steps are to:
•
Establish a transformer team consisting of management and field staff to quickly respond
to any and all “case-by-case” opportunities/assessments
•
Create an exclusive web page dedicated to outdoor utility transformers with FAQ’s,
meeting minutes, photos of possible imminent hazard examples, future meeting dates as
well as interpretations from DOI, etc.
•
Schedule meetings which will include officials from Code Enforcement, the utility
agencies and local jurisdictions to discuss issues or concerns that arise
•
Engage PS&I for an “over-arching” public relations strategy which could include but is
not limited to official press releases/conferences, articles, public hearings, etc.
•
Continuous communications between the Department and the utility agency to discuss
the standard and address other mutual issues/concerns
•
Schedule follow-up meetings/focus groups/public sessions as needed
•
Revise Department’s Policy by including the following language:
“Those projects, identified as having been placed on site or approved by a local government
entity will be allowed to be finaled under previous enforcement levels unless the installation
presents a condition of imminent danger, which will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Beginning January 1, 2009, all transformer installations shall meet or exceed the new
standard.”
- DRAFT -