Chapter PSC 114

Register January 2008 No. 625

Chapter PSC 114

WISCONSIN STATE ELECTRICAL CODE, VOLUME 1

Subchapter I — Administration and Enforcement

PSC 114.001   Definitions and general information.

PSC 114.002   Purpose and scope.

PSC 114.003   Authority and statutory references.

Subchapter II — General Requirements

PSC 114.004   General requirements.

PSC 114.005   Application of rules.

PSC 114.006   Adoption of standard by reference.

Subchapter III — Omissions, Changes or Additions to NESC-2017

PSC 114.007   Omissions, changes, additions to NESC-2017.

PSC 114.010   Omissions.

PSC 114.02   Definitions of special terms.

PSC 114.092   Point of connection of grounding conductor.

PSC 114.094   Grounding electrodes.

PSC 114.096   Ground resistance requirements.

PSC 114.097   Separation of grounding conductors.

PSC 114.099   Additional requirements for grounding and bonding of communication apparatus.

PSC 114.102   Application of rules.

PSC 114.103   Referenced sections.

PSC 114.114   Fire-extinguishing equipment.

PSC 114.202   Application of rules.

PSC 114.210   Referenced sections.

PSC 114.215   Grounding of circuits, supporting structures, and equipment.

PSC 114.219   Marking of poles and structures carrying high voltage supply lines.

PSC 114.230   General.

PSC 114.231   Clearance of supporting structures from other objects.

PSC 114.232   Vertical clearances of wires, conductors, cables, and equipment above ground, roadway, rail, or water surfaces.

PSC 114.234   Clearance of wires, conductors, cables, and equipment from buildings, bridges, rail cars, swimming pools, and other installations.

PSC 114.235   Clearance for wires, conductors, or cables carried on the same supporting structure.

PSC 114.242   Grades of construction for conductors.

PSC 114.250   General loading requirements and maps.

PSC 114.253   Load factors for structures, cross arms, support hardware, guys, foundations, and anchors.

PSC 114.302   Application of rules.

PSC 114.310   Referenced sections.

PSC 114.317   Outdoor location of oil-insulated padmounted transformers near buildings.

PSC 114.350   General.

PSC 114.352   Installation.

PSC 114.353   Deliberate separations—Equal to or greater than 300 mm (12 in) from underground structures or other cables.

PSC 114.354   Random separation — separation less than 300 mm (12 in) from underground structures or other cables.

PSC 114.381   Design.

PSC 114.402   Referenced sections.

PSC 114.410   General requirements.

Ch. PSC 114 Note Note 2: Chapter PSC 114 as it existed on April 30, 1991 was repealed and a new chapter PSC 114 was created effective May 1, 1991; Chapter PSC 114 as it existed on December 31, 1993, was repealed and a new chapter PSC 114 was created effective January 1, 1994. Chapter PSC 114 as it existed on September 30, 1997 was repealed and a new chapter PSC 114 was created effective October 1, 1997. Corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., 6. and 7., Stats., Register, September, 1997, No. 501. Chapter PSC 114 as it existed on June 30, 2003 was repealed and a new chapter PSC 114 was created effective July 1, 2003. Chapter PSC 114 as it existed on January 31, 2008, was repealed and a new chapter PSC 114 was created Register January 2008 No. 625, effective February 1, 2008. Chapter PSC 114 as it existed on June 30, 2014, was repealed and a new chapter PSC 114 was created Register June 2014 No. 702, effective July 1, 2014.

subch. I of ch. PSC 114 Subchapter I — Administration and Enforcement

PSC 114.001 PSC 114.001 Definitions and general information.

PSC 114.001(1) (1) Definitions. In this chapter:

PSC 114.001(1)(a) (a) “Commission” means the public service commission.

PSC 114.001(1)(b) (b) “Ordinary high water mark” has the meaning given in s. NR 115.03 (6).

PSC 114.001(1)(c) (c) “Utility” means “public utility” as defined in s. 196.01 (5), Stats.

PSC 114.001(2) (2) Administrative authorities. The Wisconsin State Electrical Code is issued and administered by the commission and the department of safety and professional services, division of safety and buildings as part of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. The commission has primary responsibility for issuance and administration of Volume 1 as found in this chapter. The department of safety and professional services, division of safety and buildings has similar responsibility for issuance and administration of Volume 2 which is found in ch. SPS 316.

PSC 114.001(3) (3) Availability of state electrical code. The commission has adopted the 2017 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC-2017) with certain deletions, changes and additions which are found in Volume 1, Wisconsin State Electrical Code. Copies of the NESC may be purchased from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., IEEE Service Center, 445 Hoes Lane, P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331 (telephone [phone]-IEEE) or the American National Standards Institute, 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018 (telephone [phone]). Copies of the NESC may be ordered online at http://standards.ieee.org/nesc. Copies of Volume 1, Wisconsin State Electrical Code, may be ordered from the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Document Sales, 202 S. Thornton Avenue, Madison, WI 53702 (telephone [phone]). Unofficial copies of the rules can be obtained online at http://docs.legis.wi.gov/code/admin_code/psc/114/.

PSC 114.001 Note Note 2: The department of safety and professional services, division of safety and buildings, has similarly adopted the National Electrical Code (NEC) with certain deletions, changes and additions which are found in Volume 2, Wisconsin State Electrical Code. Copies of Volume 2, Wisconsin State Electrical Code, may be ordered from the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Document Sales, 202 S. Thornton Avenue, Madison, WI 53702. See ch. SPS 316 for current availability information for the NEC.

PSC 114.001 History History: CR 07-021: cr. Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 2-1-08; correction in (1) made (4) (b) 6., 7., Stats., Register January 2012 No. 673; correction in (2) made (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register. CR 13-039: r. and recr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14; CR 18-007: am. (3) Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20.

PSC 114.002 PSC 114.002 Purpose and scope.

PSC 114.002(1) (1) Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is the practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation or maintenance of electric supply and communication lines and their associated equipment. This chapter contains basic provisions considered necessary for the safety of employees and the public. This chapter is not intended as a design specification or an instruction manual.

PSC 114.002(2) (2) Scope.

PSC 114.002(2)(a) (a) This chapter applies to supply and communications lines, equipment, and associated work practices employed by an electric supply, communication, railway, or similar utility in the exercise of its function as a utility. In addition, this chapter prohibits the location of buildings, structures, and equipment and prohibits materials storage and change of grade, by any person in violation of the clearance requirements of this chapter. This chapter has also been adopted by the department of safety and professional services as part of Volume 2, Wisconsin State Electrical Code, for application to installations over 600 volts of parties other than utilities.

PSC 114.002(2)(b) (b) This chapter applies to utility facilities and functions up to the service point.

PSC 114.002(2)(c) (c) This chapter applies to street and area lights, supplied by underground or overhead conductors, under the exclusive control of utilities, including their authorized contractors, and municipal electrical departments.

PSC 114.002(2)(d) (d) This chapter does not apply to installations in mines, ships, railway rolling equipment, aircraft, or automotive equipment, or utilization wiring except as covered in Parts 1 and 3, NESC-2017.

PSC 114.002 History History: CR 07-021: cr. Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 2-1-08; correction in (2) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register January 2012 No. 673; CR 13-039: r. and recr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14; CR 18-007: am. (2) (d) Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20.

PSC 114.003 PSC 114.003 Authority and statutory references.

PSC 114.003(1) (1) Statutory authority. Volume 1, Wisconsin State Electrical Code, constitutes a general order of the commission authorized by ss. 196.74 and 227.11, Stats.

PSC 114.003(2) (2) Compliance with electric code.

PSC 114.003(2)(a) (a) A utility must obtain proof of compliance with Volumes 1 and 2 of the Wisconsin State Electrical Code before energizing service. Proof of such compliance shall consist of a certificate furnished by a municipal or other recognized inspection department or officer, or if there is no such inspection department or officer it shall consist of a written statement furnished by the contractor or other person doing the wiring, indicating that there has been such compliance.

PSC 114.003(2)(b) (b) A utility shall comply with Volume 1, Wisconsin State Electrical Code when providing electric service.

PSC 114.003 Note Note 2: The authority for the enforcement of Volume 1, Wisconsin State Electrical Code, is vested in the commission with respect to the installation and operation of circuits or equipment by public utilities and railroads in the exercise of their functions as utilities and railroads.

PSC 114.003(3) (3) Other requirements.

PSC 114.003(3)(a) (a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to deprive a municipality of jurisdiction over utilities, places of employment or public buildings, except that no local requirements shall be less stringent than the requirements in this chapter.

PSC 114.003 Note Note 2: See s. 196.58, Stats.

PSC 114.003(3)(b) (b) A utility may seek commission approval of requirements covering an area related to the subject matter of this chapter that is not specifically addressed by this chapter or the NESC, but such requirements must be acceptable and not less stringent than the requirements of this chapter.

PSC 114.003 Note Note 2: See s. 196.19, Stats. Also, there are state statutes that refer directly to certain electrical construction. Some of these are: ss. 66.0831, 86.16, 134.41, 182.017, 182.0175, 182.018, 196.171, 196.58, 196.67, 196.72, and 941.40, Stats.

PSC 114.003(4) (4) Complaints. If a complaint is filed with the commission by any interested party to the effect that public safety requires changes in construction or methods of operation, the commission shall investigate and make recommendations.

PSC 114.003 Note Note 2: See s. 196.74, Stats., for procedure if changes in utility facilities are necessary.

PSC 114.003(5) (5) Enforcement. The requirements in the code are enforceable in the same manner as other orders of the commission.

PSC 114.003 Note Note 2: See ss. 102.57, 102.58, 195.07, 196.41, 196.64, 196.66, 196.74, and ch. 227, Stats.

PSC 114.003 History History: CR 07-021: cr. Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 2-1-08; CR 13-039: r. and recr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

subch. II of ch. PSC 114 Subchapter II — General Requirements

PSC 114.004 PSC 114.004 General requirements.

PSC 114.004(1) (1) Character of construction, maintenance and operation. All electrical power and communication equipment and lines shall be of such construction, and so installed, operated, and maintained as to minimize the loss of life and fire hazard.