what's the minimum wire height from the pole to the meter?

[Hobby_Man22]

How tall is the power line going to the power meter supposed to be? Mine is like 9 or 10ft. Had the power company out there the other day to see if they would take the slack out of the line to raise it up a couple feet (that's how far it's sagging) and they wanted to install a taller pole and probably charge me. They wouldn't touch anything and I think they just wanted to go home for the day. I just wanted to be able to back the boat under it and and make it 14ft tall which is the legal limit for anything going down the road. I'm not sure why the guy had such a piss poor attitude with me and hung up the phone on me. All I wanted them to do was pull the wire in like 6in and that would probably raise it up another 2-3ft. Right now it barely clears the windshield of the boat and I know it's 9ft high and about 11.5 if I have the bimini on.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Deleted...

 

[wyliesdiesels]

unfortunately, the PoCo doesn't have to abide by NEC codes and there is no standard for drop height.... best thing you could do is push them to fix it on the grounds of safety....

What is the height of the pony pole? That could be your issue here

 

[Bretny]

The wire is at 9ft? How do you get any delivery trucks going down the driveway?

I had a old phone line sagging down to about 11ft that I actualy removed from both poles a ladder and a set of cutters saved me alot of grief over the years..not saying you should do this with power.

 

[83VillageRepair]

unfortunately, the PoCo doesnt have to abide by nec codes and there is no stndard for drop heigth... best thing you could do is push them to fix it on the grounds of safety

What is The height of the pony pole? That could be your issue here

They are not bound by the NEC but they do have to abide by the NESC and 16.0ft is the minimum height in areas subject to truck traffic depending on how you interpret the code.

 

[vavet]

Let me make sure I understand...you're wearing a bimini and you want a longer pole?

That should really be confined to your bedroom with other consenting adults

Think about the children!

 

[bbbarracuda]

Found this online. Not sure how accurate it is.

What is the minimum overhead electric service drop height/clearance to a house?

,,,,,,,,,,,,

www.howtolookatahouse.com

But this line in the article:
"The local electric utility may have different standards, which would override the NEC code."
Again, not sure of accuracy.

 

[rlmartinson]

From what I remember from the NESC code at the utility I worked, is 15' if there could be heavy truck traffic and 12' min over grass/yard. They should not charge you to get it up to code.
You can see if TX or your area has a utilities board to file a complaint with?

Good luck!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

They are not bound by the NEC but they do have to abide by the NESC and 16.0ft is the minimum height in areas subject to truck traffic depending on how you interpret the code.

doubt that code applies to private driveways...

 

[nadogail]

Are you trying to get the utility to solve your problem on their nickel?

If you can afford a boat, you can afford a proper place to keep it.

If you can’t afford a proper place to keep your boat, you can’t afford a boat.

 

[83VillageRepair]

doubt that code applies to private driveways...

It applies to any area "subject to truck traffic" which is the part that is open to interpretation but most AHJ's count driveways. If the utility owns the wires they are responsible for the clearance violation. If the customer owns the wires then they are responsible improving the clearance.

As a practical matter though if it is insulated triplex or duplex secondary service drop without any bare primary above a stick of PVC with a slot in one end is often used as a prop stick to raise the wires for a load to pass under. Not advising it just saying it is often done.,

 

[Hobby_Man22]

I know building is 11ft at the gutters and the line hangs like 2ft below that because my boat is right at 9ft at the windshield.

 

[southalabama]

Our local power company has online regulations. Buried in that somewhere would be the answer if yours has regulations posted.

 

[southalabama]

Pay for underground service is another option.

 

[BillK]

Ask them if you can put a weatherhead up and raise it a few feet. They will probably charge you something to come and hook it up but it will be cheaper than a new pole. Thats how almost all the houses were in our old neighborhood.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It applies to any area "subject to truck traffic" which is the part that is open to interpretation but most AHJ's count driveways. If the utility owns the wires they are responsible for the clearance violation. If the customer owns the wires then they are responsible improving the clearance.

As a practical matter though if it is insulated triplex or duplex secondary service drop without any bare primary above a stick of PVC with a slot in one end is often used as a prop stick to raise the wires for a load to pass under. Not advising it just saying it is often done.,

Yeah so its subjective dependent on who’s making the call.

good luck getting it fixed...

 

[83VillageRepair]

Yeah so its subjective dependent on who’s making the call.

good luck getting it fixed...

True, although if you raise enough hell they will fix it just to make you go away.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Are you trying to get the utility to solve your problem on their nickel?

If you can afford a boat, you can afford a proper place to keep it.

If you can’t afford a proper place to keep your boat, you can’t afford a boat.

Not all boats are 200k expenses with lots of maintenance every month. Mine was 15k. Notice how I didn't say investment.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

I'm just going to tell them I'm going to raise it myself. Maybe that will get their wheels turning.

 

[mike93lx]

How about adding another pole midway?

Moving it underground would cost money, but think of how nice it would be to not ever have to worry about this again

 

[shawhite]

there is not enough information in this post for me to make recommendation. Who owns the pole? Does the service wire go to a meter pole or mast? Is 9ft over grass or a paved driveway? The NESC is usually the standard. Here is what we use @ work.

https://www.ojua.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Standards-Trifold-revised-8.5x11-5-18-2016.pdf

 

[Hobby_Man22]

It goes to a meter pole with a mast. Technically it crosses over the driveway to my property but the last owner fenced it in and we use the side rd to get to the lot instead. I believe in my area the power company runs the power lines for free the home owner just pays for the meter pole.

 

[shawhite]

Sounds like the utility company is within NESC specs. A little surprised the troubleshooter didn’t just pull it up for you unless the transformer pole was hard to get to or your meter pole was towards the end of life and he didn’t want to have to buy you a new one when he pulled it over.

 

[Showkey]

Guarantee at 9-10’ sometime, someone, some how will take the line down. No one is looking for a line that low. No trees in Texas so it might be seen.

Guy carrying a ladder might do the trick and kill themselves in the process.

 

[quickfarms]

How old is the pole?

How old is the house?

 

[Hobby_Man22]

How old is the pole?

How old is the house?

Like 2018 but I question if maybe that lonely pole has been their a while back when it was just a mobile home on the lot.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Guarantee at 9-10’ sometime, someone, some how will take the line down. No one is looking for a line that low. No trees in Texas so it might be seen.

Guy carrying a ladder might do the trick and kill themselves in the process.

I almost took it out with the tractor the last time I was back there. Had the bucket up a bit high.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

I still can't believe they couldn't take some slack out. He was like if we take 2" out it's going to change this and that. I forgot what the reason was. It's a shame I wasn't home when they came out. It would have been fixed just to retain his ego.

 

[Sumboodie]

In a driveway usually it's at least 12ft. But that's really low, considering a dump truck is right at that height.

 

[Sumboodie]

I'm just going to tell them I'm going to raise it myself. Maybe that will get their wheels turning.

Rip it down a few times with a dumptruck. They'll get the hint.

 

[Sumboodie]

How tall is the power line going to the power meter supposed to be? Mine is like 9 or 10ft. Had the power company out there the other day to see if they would take the slack out of the line to raise it up a couple feet (that's how far it's sagging) and they wanted to install a taller pole and probably charge me. They wouldn't touch anything and I think they just wanted to go home for the day. I just wanted to be able to back the boat under it and and make it 14ft tall which is the legal limit for anything going down the road. I'm not sure why the guy had such a piss poor attitude with me and hung up the phone on me. All I wanted them to do was pull the wire in like 6in and that would probably raise it up another 2-3ft. Right now it barely clears the windshield of the boat and I know it's 9ft high and about 11.5 if I have the bimini on.

I dealt with a **** attitude from a public worker recently. They changed their tune when I sent an email to the head of the department.

 

[Zeke]

I think a 12' 2x4 is in order here. Cut a V in the end and push the line up and out of your way. Blame it on someone who came out to polish your boat.

 

[quickfarms]

Like 2018 but I question if maybe that lonely pole has been their a while back when it was just a mobile home on the lot.

The life expectancy of a pole is approximately 50 years but some of the newer environmentally safe poles are sowing insect damage much sooner

 

[shawhite]

Like 2018 but I question if maybe that lonely pole has been their a while back when it was just a mobile home on the lot.

The pole will have a birthmark telling you class/size/date and species. Generally speaking we don’t see meter poles unless it’s a mobile home or temporary structure. Most of the time when a house is built the meter pole is removed and meter is moved to the new structure by either underground pipe or aerial to a mast pole above the roof. There is a lot that could have went into his decision span length, attachment height, current sag, if the pole is guyed and size/class of pole and depth of set and age.

 

[shawhite]

Rip it down a few times with a dumptruck. They'll get the hint.

Yep and will charge you every time. As long as it meets NESC minimum requirements damage is billed back to the person at fault. We do it daily. You can email whoever you want if it meets NESC minimum you don’t have a leg to stand on.

 

[shawhite]

If it were my house and this was truly an inconvenience I would probably just bury pipe from where I want my meter on the house assuming it’s not a mobile home to the transformer pole and pay to have my service converted to buried or you could add a mast like mentioned above. I guess you could always temporarily remove the fence and call the power company back out and tell them they need to make it 12ft over the driveway but this could turn into a ******* match.

 

[Sumboodie]

Yep and will charge you every time. As long as it meets NESC minimum requirements damage is billed back to the person at fault. We do it daily. You can email whoever you want if it meets NESC minimum you don’t have a leg to stand on.

Is 9ft even reasonable? A person could touch that.
We ripped 3 lines down with an oversize load. Was about 15 tall. Power lines are supposed to be at least 17ft, same as bridges here. Power Company had it fixed and raised and were gone before we even got back with the 2nd load, never saw a bill or anything.

 

[Sumboodie]

The pole will have a birthmark telling you class/size/date and species. Generally speaking we don’t see meter poles unless it’s a mobile home or temporary structure. Most of the time when a house is built the meter pole is removed and meter is moved to the new structure by either underground pipe or aerial to a mast pole above the roof. There is a lot that could have went into his decision span length, attachment height, current sag, if the pole is guyed and size/class of pole and depth of set and age.

It's common here for the meter to be on a pedestal. Like my meter is about 1/2 way between the shop and house pad (house not built yet). I'd guess the power line runs near the road, if so, that'd a good 400ft from the pedestal.

 

[shawhite]

Is 9ft even reasonable? A person could touch that.
We ripped 3 lines down with an oversize load. Was about 15 tall. Power lines are supposed to be at least 17ft, same as bridges here. Power Company had it fixed and raised and were gone before we even got back with the 2nd load, never saw a bill or anything.

Well I would say since you’d load was 15ft and power lines are suppose to be 17ft that is probably the reason you didn’t see a bill. 9ft may not sound reasonable but what if his meter pole is a 7/20 meaning roughly 15ft above ground with a max attach height of 14ft. 9ft does not sound too unreasonable.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

In a driveway usually it's at least 12ft. But that's really low, considering a dump truck is right at that height.

That must be the magic number because that's how high he said it was when i was talking to him on the phone. How convenient