Oregon Public Utility Commission
Safety & Reliability Section
Oregon Public Utility Commission
Safety & Reliability Section
J.R. Gonzalez, P.E., Manager
Jerry Murray, Sr. Utility Analyst
Gary Putnam, Utility Analyst
John
Utility Analyst
Electric
andWallace,
Communications
Program
J.R. Gonzalez, P.E., Manager
Jerry Murray, Sr. Utility Analyst
Gary Putnam, Utility Analyst
John Wallace, Utility Analyst
Current Review for Compliance with the
Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 860
Division 24
Rule: 860-024-0010 Every operator shall construct,
operate, and maintain electrical supply and
communication lines in compliance with the standards
prescribed by the 2007 Edition of the National Electrical
Safety Code approved June 16, 2006, by the American
National Standards Institute.
Oregon Public Utility Commission Staff currently do field
reviews of areas where power supply operators have
performed a detailed inspection of their facilities for the
purposes of validating the accuracy of the operators
inspection program. Subsequently staff prepares a written
report identifying violations of the NESC that were
observed during the inspection with specific time frames
for corrections. Communication companies attaching to the
poles identified by the power supply company with NESC
violations will also be cited with specific time frames
specified for corrections.
2
OPUC Field Reviews and Training
Presentations Seven Year Statistics
2001 - 2007
Year
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
Total
Number
Reports
44
81
64
74
101
94
85
543
Average
Number Probable Inspection Average
Number
Training/
Probable Violations Days In Field Days Training/
Presentation
Violations Per/Report The Field Per Report Presentations
Days
1199
27
110
3
20
20
1953
24
109
1
19
30
2026
32
140
2
35
63
2209
30
161
2
52
69
2339
23
155
2
41
55
2710
29
190
2
39
55
2977
35
128
2
36
52
15413
28
993
2
242
344
Ten Most Common NESC Violations 2000-2007
7000
Number of violations
6000
5892
5000
4000
3000
1621
2000
1342
1242
1137
749
1000
42%
12%
10%
9%
8%
714
5%
475
5%
439
3%
403
3%
0
Wo
ty
afe
s
r
rk e
ne
zo
Tre
e
nt
d
n
s
s
e
e
e
e
a
c
ce
r
uy
p
ti e
r
l in
m
i
n
n
l
s
i
e
h
a
a
G
d
f
r
r
c
d
s
un
fa c
t ta
lea
Mi
an
l ea
o
d
r
r
a
c
c
t
e
g
nd
w
ble
on
ow
i ng
u
o
d
d
a
l
d
o
c
n
r
an
be
ee
H
wi
b
t/g
/
n
r
f
O
A
e
o
/
o
s
e
h
/ro
ble
ol e
s tr
t
us
a
s
l
P
f
c
w
a
t
m
Lo
no
ai d
l
e
t
s
a
nd
qu
rod
ou
e
r
d
d
n
G
Ina
ou
r
G
i ng
m
tri m
3%
Ten Most Common NESC Violations by Year 2000-2007
1400
Number Violations
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
2000
2001
2002
Worker Saf ety Zone
Mid-span
Ground Laid/OH Attachment
Street/ground Clearance
Ground Rods
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Trees
Pole Transf ers
Roof /mast/w indow Clearance
Guys
Abandoned Facilities
Inspection of Electric Supply and
Communication Facilities
Rule: 860-024-0011
1) An operator of electric supply facilities or an operator of
communication facilities must:
(a) Construct, operate, and maintain its facilities in
compliance with the Commission Safety Rules; and
(b) Conduct detailed inspections of its overhead facilities to
identify violations of the Commission Safety Rules.
6
Inspection of Electric Supply and Communication
Facilities (continued) Rule: 860-024-0011
(A) The maximum interval between detailed inspections is
ten years, with a recommended inspection rate of ten
percent of overhead facilities per year. During the fifth
year of the inspection cycle, the operator must:
(i) Report to the Commission that 50 percent or more of its
total facilities have been inspected pursuant to this rule; or
(ii) Report to the Commission that less than 50 percent of
its total facilities have been inspected pursuant to this rule
and provide a plan for Commission approval to inspect the
remaining percentage within the next five years. The
Commission may modify the plan or impose conditions to
ensure sufficient inspection for safety purposes.
7
Inspection of Electric Supply and Communication
Facilities (continued) Rule: 860-024-0011
(B) Detailed inspections include, but are not limited to,
visual checks or practical tests of all facilities, to the
extent required to identify violations of Commission
Safety Rules. Where facilities are exposed to
extraordinary conditions or when an operator has
demonstrated a pattern of non-compliance with
Commission Safety Rules, the Commission may require a
shorter interval between inspections.
(c) Conduct detailed facility inspections of its
underground facilities on a ten-year maximum cycle, with
a recommended inspection rate of 10 percent of
underground facilities per year.
(d) Maintain adequate written records of policies, plans
and schedules to show that inspections and corrections
are being carried out in compliance with this rule and
OAR 860-024-0012. Each operator must make these
records available to the Commission upon its request.
8
Inspection of Electric Supply and Communication
Facilities (continued) Rule: 860-024-0011
(2) Each operator of electric supply facilities must:
(a) Designate an annual geographic area to be inspected
pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this rule within its
service territory;
9
(b) Provide timely notice of the designation of the annual
geographic area to all owners and occupants. The annual
coverage areas for the entire program must be made
available in advance and in sufficient detail to allow all
operators with facilities in that service territory to plan
needed inspection and correction tasks. Unless the
parties otherwise agree, operators must be notified of
any changes to the established annual geographic area
designation no later than 12 months before the start of
the next year's inspection; and
Inspection of Electric Supply and Communication
Facilities (continued) Rule: 860-024-0011
(c) Perform routine safety patrols of overhead electric
supply lines and accessible facilities for hazards to the
public. The maximum interval between safety patrols is
two years, with a recommended rate of 50 percent of
lines and facilities per year.
(d) Inspect electric supply stations on a 45 day maximum
schedule.
10
Prioritization of Repairs by Operators of Electric
Supply Facilities and Operators of
Communication Facilities Rule: 860-024-0012
(1) A violation of the Commission Safety Rules that poses
an imminent danger to life or property must be repaired,
disconnected, or isolated by the operator immediately
after discovery.
(2) Except as otherwise provided by this rule, the
operator must correct violations of Commission Safety
Rules no later than two years after discovery.
11
Prioritization of Repairs by Operators of Electric
Supply Facilities and Operators of
Communication Facilities (continued)
Rule: 860-024-0012
(3) An operator may elect to defer correction of violations
of the Commission Safety Rules that pose little or no
foreseeable risk of danger to life or property to correction
during the next major work activity.
(a) In no event shall a deferral under this section extend
for more than ten years after discovery.
(b) The operator must develop a plan detailing how it will
remedy each such violation.
c) If more than one operator is affected by the deferral,
all affected operators must agree to the plan. If any
affected operators do not agree to the plan, the
correction of violation(s) may not be deferred.
12
Prioritization of Repairs by Operators of Electric
Supply Facilities and Operators of
Communication Facilities (continued) Rule:
860-024-0012
(4) For good cause shown, or where equivalent safety
can be achieved, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the
Commission may for a specific installation waive the
requirements of OAR 860-024-0012.
13
Proposed record keeping for deferring a
Commission Safety Rule beyond 2 years
If an operator other than the pole owner is not directly
involved in the proposed violation deferral they only
need to sign off on the proposed plan. They would not
be required to maintain the plan of correction and
signed approval forms until violation is corrected. This
statement applies to the following scenarios.
14
Scenario #1:
Pole owner violation on pole owner's pole with
no joint use attachment
1.
15
Pole owner would develop a plan of correction and
maintain plan of correction until violation is corrected,
not to exceed ten years from discovery.
Scenario #2:
Violation affecting electric supply operator
(pole owner) and licensee
16
1.
Operator causing violation would develop a plan
detailing how it will remedy each violation.
2.
Present plan to all affected operators on pole for
review.
3.
If any affected operators do not agree to the plan, the
violation may not be deferred.
4.
If all operators are in agreement obtain written
approval from all affected parties.
5.
Pole owner and affected parties creating violation will
maintain plan of correction and signed approval forms
until violation is corrected, not to exceed ten years from
discovery.
Scenario #3:
Violation affecting electric supply licensee and
communication operator (pole owner)
17
1.
Operator causing violation would develop a plan
detailing how it will remedy each violation.
2.
Present plan to all affected operators on pole for review.
3.
If any affected operators do not agree to the plan, the
violation may not be deferred.
4.
If all operators are in agreement obtain written approval
from all affected parties.
5.
Pole owner and affected parties creating violation will
maintain plan of correction and signed approval forms
until violation is corrected, not to exceed ten years from
discovery.
Scenario #4:
Violation affecting communication licensees
only (electric supply operator is pole owner)
18
1.
Operator causing violation would develop a plan
detailing how it will remedy each violation.
2.
Present plan to all affected operators on pole for review.
3.
If any affected operators do not agree to the plan, the
violation may not be deferred.
4.
If all operators are in agreement obtain written approval
from all affected parties.
5.
Pole owner and affected parties creating violation will
maintain plan of correction and signed approval forms
until violation is corrected, not to exceed ten years from
discovery.
Scenario #5:
Violation affecting communication operators
only (communication operator is pole owner)
19
1.
Operator causing violation would develop a plan
detailing how it will remedy each violation.
2.
Present plan to all affected operators on pole for review.
3.
If any affected operators do not agree to the plan, the
violation may not be deferred.
4.
If all operators are in agreement obtain written approval
from all affected parties.
5.
Pole owner and affected parties creating violation will
maintain plan of correction and signed approval forms
until violation is corrected, not to exceed ten years from
discovery.
Minimum Vegetation Clearance Requirements
Rule: 860-024-0016
(2) The requirements in this rule provide the minimum
standards for conductor clearances from vegetation to
provide safety for the public and utility workers,
reasonable service continuity, and fire prevention. Each
operator of electric supply facilities must have a
vegetation management program and keep appropriate
records to ensure that timely trimming is accomplished
to keep the designated minimum clearances. These
records must be made available to the Commission upon
request.
20
Incident Reports Rule: 860-024-0050
(1) As used in this rule:
(a) "Serious injury to person" means, in the case of an
employee, an injury which results in hospitalization. In
the case of a non-employee, "serious injury" means any
contact with an energized high-voltage line, or any
incident which results in hospitalization. Treatment in an
emergency room is not hospitalization.
21
Incident Reports (continued)
Rule: 860-024-0050
22

(A) Damage to operator and non-operator property
exceeding $100,000; or

(B) In the case of a gas operator, damage to property
exceeding $5,000; or

(C) In the case of an electricity service supplier (ESS) as
defined in OAR 860-038-0005, damage to ESS and non-ESS
property exceeding $100,000 or failure of ESS facilities that
causes or contributes to a loss of energy to consumers; or

(D) Damage to property which causes a loss of service to
over 500 customers (50 customers in the case of a gas
operator) for over two hours (five hours for an electric
operator serving less than 15,000 customers) except for
electric service loss that is restricted to a single feeder line
and results in an outage of less than four hours.
Incident Reports (continued)
Rule: 860-024-0050
(2) Except as provided in section (5) of this rule, every reporting operator
must give immediate notice by telephone, by facsimile, by electronic
mail, or personally to the Commission, of incidents attended by loss of
life or limb, or serious injury to person or property, occurring in Oregon
upon the premises of or directly or indirectly arising from or connected
with the maintenance or operation of a facility.
(3) Except as provided in section (5) of this rule, every reporting operator
must, in addition to the notice given in section (2) of this rule for an
incident described in section (2), report in writing to the Commission
within 20 days of the occurrence. In the case of injuries to employees, a
copy of the incident report form that is submitted to Oregon OSHA,
Department of Consumer and Business Services, for reporting incident
injuries, will normally suffice for a written report. In the case of a gas
operator, copies of incident or leak reports submitted under 49 CFR Part
191 will normally suffice.
(4) An incident report filed by a public or telecommunications utility in
accordance with ORS 654.715 cannot be used as evidence in any action
for damages in any suit or action arising out of any matter mentioned in
the report.
(5) A Peoples Utility District (PUD) is exempt from this rule if the PUD
agrees, by signing an agreement, to comply voluntarily with the filing
requirements set forth in sections (2) and (3).
23
Contacts:
Commission Web Page www.puc.state.or.us
Oregon Public Utility Commission
Safety & Reliability Section
550 Capitol St NE, Ste 215
Salem OR 97301-2551
J.R. Gonzalez, P.E., Manager
(503) 378-6025
jose.gonzalez@state.or.us
Gary Putnam, Utility Analyst
(503) 373-1832
gary.putnam@state.or.us
Jerry Murray, Sr. Utility Analyst
(503) 373-7451
jerry.murray@state.or.us
John Wallace, Utility Analyst
(503) 373-1016
john.wallace@state.or.us
24
Contacts:
Commission Web Page
www.puc.state.or.us
Oregon Public Utility Commission
Safety & Reliability Section
550 Capitol St NE, Ste 215
Salem OR 97301-2551
J.R. Gonzalez, P.E., Manager
Gary Putnam, Utility Analyst
(503) 378-6025
jose.gonzalez@state.or.us
(503) 373-1832
gary.putnam@state.or.us
Jerry Murray, Sr. Utility Analyst
John Wallace, Utility Analyst
(503) 373-7451
jerry.murray@state.or.us
(503) 373-1016
john.wallace@state.or.us
Contacts:
Commission Web Page
www.puc.state.or.us
Oregon Public Utility Commission
Contacts:
Safety & Reliability Section
Commission Web Page www.puc.state.or.us
550 Capitol St NE, Ste 215
Oregon
Utility Commission
SalemPublic
OR 97301-2551
Safety & Reliability Section
St NE,Putnam,
Ste 215 Utility Analyst
J.R. Gonzalez, P.E., 550 Capitol Gary
Salem OR(503)
97301-2551
Manager
373-1832
(503)
J.R.378-6025
Gonzalez, P.E., Manager
jose.gonzalez@state.or.us
(503) 378-6025
jose.gonzalez@state.or.us
gary.putnam@state.or.us
Gary Putnam, Utility Analyst
(503) 373-1832
gary.putnam@state.or.us
Jerry
Murray,
Wallace,
Analyst
Jerry
Murray,Sr.
Sr.Utility
Utility AnalystJohn
John
Wallace,Utility
Utility Analyst
Analyst
(503)
(503) 373-7451
(503) 373-1016
373-1016
(503)
373-7451
john.wallace@state.or.us
jerry.murray@state.or.us
john.wallace@state.or.us
jerry.murray@state.or.us
Contacts:
Commission Web Page
www.puc.state.or.us
Oregon Public Utility Commission
Safety & Reliability Section
550 Capitol St NE, Ste 215
Salem OR 97301-2551
J.R. Gonzalez, P.E., Manager
(503) 378-6025
jose.gonzalez@state.or.us
Gary Putnam, Utility Analyst
(503) 373-1832
gary.putnam@state.or.us
Jerry Murray, Sr. Utility Analyst
(503) 373-7451
27
jerry.murray@state.or.us
John Wallace, Utility Analyst
(503) 373-1016
john.wallace@state.or.us