RUS Technical Publications

| RUS has issued a number of technical publications    recently. These publications include:

RULES:
7 CFR 1710, Subpart E, "Load Forecasts and Market        Analysis." This proposed rule, published July 7, 1999, will change the        existing load forecasting regulations. The proposed changes are intended to reduce the        overall administrative burden of reporting load forecasts to RUS. The proposed changes        will also allow RUS to accept less detailed analysis for smaller borrowers. 
**7 CFR 1724, "Electric Engineering, Architectural        Services and Design Policies and Procedures." This rule, published on        June 29, 1998, contains RUS requirements on engineering and architectural        services and system design. This rule simplifies RUS requirements relating to        architectural and engineering services and the planning and design of electric        distribution, transmission, and generation systems and facilities owned by RUS borrowers,        and substantially reduces the number of engineering documents that must be submitted to        RUS. These policies and procedures were contained in seven RUS bulletins, which have been        rescinded. 
**Bulletin 1728F-803, "Specifications & Drawings for        24.9/14.4 kV Line Construction" (incorporated by reference). The final rule        covering the revision of this bulletin was published on December 31, 1998. The        revision includes a new drawing assembly designation system as well as a number of        clarifications, modifications, and updates to these drawings. This bulletin was formerly        known as RUS Bulletin 50-3.
**Bulletin 1728F-806, "Specifications & Drawings for        Underground Electric Distribution" (incorporated by reference). The proposed rule        covering the revision of this bulletin was published on April 8. 1998. The        proposed revision includes a number of clarifications, modifications, and updates to these        drawings. Public comments on this proposed rule have been received and are now being        incorporated into the final rule.

GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS:
Bulletin 1726C-115, "Checking Sag in a Conductor by the Return        Wave Method," dated September 24, 1998. This bulletin presents a        convenient and practical method for checking sag in a conductor regardless of span length,        tension, size or type of conductor.
**Bulletin 1728F-800, "Assembly Unit Numbers and Standard        Format," dated December 16, 1998. This bulletin explains and documents        the RUS construction unit numbering scheme and the new numbering format used in new and        revised RUS construction drawings.
**IP 202-1, "List of Materials Acceptable for Use on Systems of        RUS Electrification Borrowers," published in July 1999, and its quarterly        supplements. This document provides a convenient listing of the materials and equipment        that have been accepted by RUS.

If you need any of these publications, please contact RUS' Program    Development and Regulatory Analysis staff at (202) 720-8674. Many RUS publications    are also available via the Internet at:
**http://www.usda.gov/rus/regs.shtml
PUBLICATIONS IN PROGRESS

Timber Specifications: RUS is in the process of revising the      following three bulletins that cover pressure treating poles and crossarms, and their      respective quality control:
1728F-700, "RUS Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs and Anchor Logs,"
1728H-701, "RUS Specification for Wood Crossarms (Solid and Laminated)        Transmission Timbers and Pole Keys"
 (7 CFR 1728.201), and
**1728H-702, "RUS Specification for Quality Control and Inspection of Timber        Products"
 (7 CFR 1728.202).

Topics currently being considered for revision include:
Elimination of the requirement for borrowers to notify RUS of their          timber product purchases during the previous year,
Reinstatement of the acceptance and listing of inspection agencies in          the RUS List of Materials,
Requirement for a heat sterilization during kiln drying or steam          conditioning of poles,
Requirement for inspection agencies to have their company designation          branded or tagged on the pole face,
Elimination of the 10 percent allowance of preservative          retention reduction after shipment to the borrower,
Requirement for all independent inspectors and plant quality control          personnel to be trained and certified by x-ray fluorescence instrument manufacturer,
Requirement for treating plants and inspection agencies to maintain          certain levels of liability insurance and errors and omission insurance, and
Include butt treating of cedar poles as an acceptable method of          treatment for poles.

RUS is hereby soliciting input from electric borrowers and others as to      necessary changes to the aforementioned bulletins. Comments or suggestions should be sent      to H. Robert Lash, Chief, Transmission Branch, RUS, Stop 1569,      1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250-1569, E-mail: [email protected]. All comments are welcome.

RUS is also working on the following publications:
7 CFR 1710, Subpart H, "Demand Side Management and        Renewable Energy Systems." This proposed rule will reflect the changes in the        electric utility industry and provide borrowers with more flexibility in obtaining RUS        financing for demand side management and renewable energy projects. Criteria for an        integrated resource plan acceptable to RUS will also be reduced. For further information,        please contact Georg Shultz at (202) 720-1920.
**RUS Bulletin 1724D-101B, "System Planning Guide, Construction        Work Plans." This bulletin provides guidance to borrowers and engineers in the        preparation of Construction Work Plans (CWP). This revision will update and simplify this        document. For further information, please contact Jim Bohlk at (202) 720-1967.**RUS Bulletin 1724D-112, "The Application of Shunt Capacitors to        the Rural Electric System." This bulletin will examine the application of shunt        capacitors on rural distribution systems and serve as a general guide for capacitor        applications to RUS borrowers and others. The System****Planning Subcommittee of        NRECA’s T&D Committee has been instrumental in the development of this bulletin.        For further information, please contact Chris Tuttle at (202) 205-3655.
**RUS Bulletin 1724D-114, "Voltage Regulator Application on Rural        Distribution Systems." This bulletin will examine the application of voltage        regulators on rural distribution systems and serve as a general guide for voltage        regulator applications to RUS borrowers and others. For further information, please        contact Harvey Bowles at (202) 720-5082.

 

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