A composite cable (10, 10A, 10B, 70A, 70B) for conveying electrical energy and optical signals to a plurality of electrically energized units (62A-62D) which process the optical signals, each of said units (62A-62D) having predetermined electrical current and predetermined voltage requirements, the cable (10, 10A, 10B, 70A, 70B) having a longitudinal axis and comprising: at least one longitudinally extending plastic buffer tube (12, 82) loosely containing at least one optical fiber for optical signal service to at least two of said electrically energized units (62A-62D), wherein the number of optical fibers is at least two; at least one longitudinally extending layer of a plurality of insulated electrical conductors (20, 21, 122, 130), wherein said conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) are S-Z stranded in side-by-side relation around said buffer tube (12, 82) to provide a layer of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) having a radial thickness substantially equal to the thickness of a conductor (20, 21, 122,130), wherein a pair (20, 20A) of said conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) has a resistance selected so that when the sum of the predetermined current for at least two (62A, 62B, 62C) of said electrically energized units (62A-62D) flows therein, the voltage between said pair (20, 20A) of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) is at least equal to said predetermined voltage, the resistance being obtained by a wire gage of the conductors (20, 21,122, 130) of 18 AWG or less for copper wire or an equivalent thereto wherein said pair (20, 20A) of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) has a safe current carrying capacity of at least 0.4 amperes for the current required by said at least two (62A, 62B, 62C) of said electrically energized units (62A-62D) and wherein the number of pairs of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) is less than the number of optical fibers; a plastic jacket encircling the layer of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130); and at least one strength member (5, 88) extending longitudinally of said cable (10, 10A, 10B, 70A, 70B) and disposed inwardly of the outer surface of said jacket. at least one longitudinally extending plastic buffer tube (12, 82) loosely containing at least one optical fiber for optical signal service to at least two of said electrically energized units (62A-62D), wherein the number of optical fibers is at least two; at least one longitudinally extending layer of a plurality of insulated electrical conductors (20, 21, 122, 130), wherein said conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) are S-Z stranded in side-by-side relation around said buffer tube (12, 82) to provide a layer of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) having a radial thickness substantially equal to the thickness of a conductor (20, 21, 122,130), wherein a pair (20, 20A) of said conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) has a resistance selected so that when the sum of the predetermined current for at least two (62A, 62B, 62C) of said electrically energized units (62A-62D) flows therein, the voltage between said pair (20, 20A) of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) is at least equal to said predetermined voltage, the resistance being obtained by a wire gage of the conductors (20, 21,122, 130) of 18 AWG or less for copper wire or an equivalent thereto wherein said pair (20, 20A) of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) has a safe current carrying capacity of at least 0.4 amperes for the current required by said at least two (62A, 62B, 62C) of said electrically energized units (62A-62D) and wherein the number of pairs of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130) is less than the number of optical fibers; a plastic jacket encircling the layer of conductors (20, 21, 122, 130); and at least one strength member (5, 88) extending longitudinally of said cable (10, 10A, 10B, 70A, 70B) and disposed inwardly of the outer surface of said jacket.