The NEC that the local power coop goes by is 40" below neutral for a conductive cable, and 30" for non-conductive.
On Friday, June 23, 2017, Chuck McCown <ch...@wbmfg.com> wrote: > The zone around primary conductors that you have to keep out of. Rule of > thumb is 10 feet, but there are legal specs. Actually secondary too but > that is normally 12-18 inches. > > *From:* Adam Moffett > *Sent:* Friday, June 23, 2017 11:43 AM > *To:* af@afmug.com > *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Avoid 'make ready' by using my own poles > > This is going to be an ignorant question, but what is the clearance zone? > > > ------ Original Message ------ > From: ch...@wbmfg.com > To: af@afmug.com > Sent: 6/23/2017 1:16:21 PM > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Avoid 'make ready' by using my own poles > > > You can’t force them to use your pole. > Your pole cannot encroach on the clearance zone. > > You can always put your own poles in ROW that is clear from other pole > lines. > Across the street is probably fine depending on easements. > > You can always go underground for a span or two. That will be less > expensive. > > *From:* Adam Moffett > *Sent:* Friday, June 23, 2017 11:09 AM > *To:* af@afmug.com > *Subject:* [AFMUG] Avoid 'make ready' by using my own poles > > So, our most common make ready issue so far has been old poles that are > relatively short and we can't stay the required distance from the power > equipment and also be far enough above the existing phone line. Sometimes > we can use a standoff or other solutions to avoid the issue, but sometimes > the pole needs to be replaced. It's never less than $5,000, could be as > much as $10,000. > > What I'm wondering is this: We can get a new 35' pole for $800. We can > get a new 50' pole for $1500. Is there any reason I couldn't just avoid > make ready expense by setting our own pole instead of using theirs? Even > with guy wires, permit, and easements it's almost guaranteed to be less > expensive. Maybe I would put a 35 footer on the opposite side of the road, > for example. Or maybe we set the new 50 footer right next to theirs and > even let them move onto our pole if they want to. It seems too easy and > I'm wondering if there's a catch I'm not thinking of. > > > >