Safety Standards for Electrical Corporations, Telecommunications Companies, and Rural Electric Cooperatives

PURPOSE: This rule prescribes minimum safety standards relating to the operation of electric utilities, telecommunications companies, and rural electric cooperatives. Adoption of this rule will inform the utilities of the minimum safety standards required by the commission and will be of assistance to the commission staff in carrying out its assigned duties. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The secretary of state has determined that publication of the entire text of the material that is incorporated by reference as a portion of this rule would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. This material as incorporated by reference in this rule shall be maintained by the agency at its headquarters and shall be made available to the public for inspection and copying at no more than the actual cost of reproduction. This note applies only to the reference material. The entire text of the rule is printed here. (1) The minimum safety standards relating to the operation of electrical corporations, telecommunications companies, and rural electric cooperatives are Parts 1, 2, and 3 and Sections 1, 2, and 9 of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), 2023 Edition, as approved by the American National Standards Institute on August 1, 2022, and published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., 3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5997. The NESC is composed of four (4) different parts and four (4) sections, each of which pertain to different aspects of the electric and telecommunications industries. Part 1 specifies rules for the installation and maintenance of equipment normally found in electric generating plants and substations. Part 2 pertains to safety rules for overhead electric and communication lines. Part 3 contains safety rules for underground electric and communication lines. Section 1 is an introduction to the NESC, Section 2 defines special terms, and Section 9 requires certain grounding methods for electric and communications facilities. The full text of this material is available at the Industrial Analysis Division - Engineering Analysis Department of the Public Service Commission, Suite 700, 200 Madison, Jefferson City, Missouri. This rule does not incorporate any subsequent amendments or additions. (2) Electrical corporations, telecommunications companies, and rural electric cooperatives subject to regulation by this commission pursuant to Chapters 386, 392–394, RSMo shall comply with the safety standards established by this rule for new installations and extensions as described in the NESC. (3) Incident reporting requirements for electrical corporations and rural electric cooperatives are found in 4 CSR 240-3.190(4). (4) Those who excavate near underground facilities or conduct activities within ten feet (10') of overhead power lines are required to notify area utilities prior to engaging in such action, pursuant to the Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act, section 319.010, RSMo, and the Overhead Power Line Safety Act, section 319.075, RSMo. AUTHORITY: sections 386.250, 386.310, and 394.160, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 240-18.010. Original rule filed March 15, 1978, effective Oct. 2, 1978. Amended: Filed April 8, 1981, effective Oct. 15, 1981. Amended: Filed Feb. 9, 1984, effective June 15, 1984. Amended: Filed June 12, 1987, effective Sept. 15, 1987. Amended: Filed Jan. 5, 1990, effective April 13, 1990. Amended: Filed March 23, 1993, effective Oct. 10, 1993. Amended: Filed Aug. 27, 1999, effective Feb. 29, 2000. Amended: Filed Oct. 14, 2003, effective April 30, 2004. Amended: Filed May 2, 2008, effective Nov. 30, 2008. Amended: Filed Aug. 1, 2013, effective Feb. 28, 2014. Amended: Filed July 27, 2017, effective Feb. 28, 2018. Moved to 20 CSR 4240-18.010, effective Aug. 28, 2019. Amended: Filed April 14, 2023, effective Nov. 30, 2023. *Original authority: 386.250, RSMo 1939, amended 1963, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996; 386.310, RSMo 1939, amended 1979, 1989, 1996; and 394.160, RSMo 1939, amended 1979.