Missouri Code of State Regulations › Title 20 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE › Division 4240 - Public Service Commission › Chapter 23 - Electric Utility Operational Standards › Section 20 CSR 4240-23.030 - Electrical Corporation Vegetation Management Standards and Reporting Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 14, July 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This rule sets forth requirements that
				  electrical corporations shall follow in managing vegetation in proximity to an
				  energized distribution conductor and sets reporting requirements for
				  transmission line vegetation management in order to promote a safe, efficient
				  and reliable supply of electric power. The requirements in this rule provide
				  the minimum standards for the vegetation management programs of electrical
				  corporations. Each electrical corporation must have a vegetation management
				  plan and keep appropriate records to ensure that timely vegetation management
				  is accomplished. These records must be made available to the Missouri Public
				  Service Commission (commission) upon request.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The secretary of state has
				  determined that the publication of the entire text of the material which is
				  incorporated by reference as a portion of this rule would be unduly cumbersome
				  or expensive. This material as incorporated by reference in this rule shall be
				  maintained by the agency at its headquarters and shall be made available to the
				  public for inspection and copying at no more than the actual cost of
				  reproduction. This note applies only to the reference material. The entire text
				  of the rule is printed here.
(1) Definitions. The following words and
				terms, when used in this rule, shall have the following meaning unless the
				context clearly indicates otherwise.
(A)
				Arboriculture means the cultivation of trees, shrubs and other woody
				plants.
(B) Contractor means a
				person or entity, other than the commission, with which electrical corporation
				contracts to perform work, furnish information and/or material. This term
				includes all subcontractors engaged by a contractor to perform any of the
				obligations required by a contract.
(C) Distribution line means a primary
				electric voltage line, wire or cable, energized at less than two hundred
				thousand (200,000) volts. However, any distribution line subject to this rule
				shall thereafter be exempt from this rule at such time the electrical
				corporation provides the commission written proof that such distribution line
				has been deemed "critical to the reliability of the region" by the Federal
				Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a regional reliability organization or the
				North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC).
(D) Energized conductor means an electric
				circuit or equipment through which electricity is flowing or usually flows
				within the transmission or distribution system.
(E) Electrical corporation means electrical
				corporation as defined in section
				386.020(15),
				RSMo Supp. 2007.
(F) Right-of-way
				means less than fee interest in property, which gives a public utility a
				limited right to use land owned by another person or entity for the purpose of
				transmitting or distributing electricity. This right is typically memorialized
				in an easement.
(G) Rural means
				those areas in which there are fewer than thirty-five (35) customers per
				circuit mile.
(H) Transmission line
				means an electrical line, wire or cable (including the supporting structures),
				and appurtenant facilities which transmits electricity from a generating plant
				to electric distribution lines, and is operated at or above two hundred
				thousand (200,000) volts.
(I) Tree
				means a woody plant at least twelve feet (12') tall at maturity with one (1)
				main stem and having a distinct head in most cases.
(J) Urban means those areas in which there
				are thirty-five (35) or more customers per circuit mile.
(K) Vegetation means trees, shrubs and other
				woody plants.
(L) Vegetation
				management means the removal of vegetation or the prevention of vegetative
				growth to maintain safe conditions around energized conductor(s) and ensure
				reliable electric service. Vegetation management consists of biological,
				chemical, cultural, manual and mechanical methods to control vegetation in
				order to prevent hazards caused by the encroachment of vegetation on energized
				conductor(s), and to provide utility access to the conductor.
(M) Volts means nominal voltage levels,
				measured phase-to-phase.
(N) Woody
				plant means any vascular plant that has a perennial woody stem and supports
				continued vegetative growth above ground from year-to-year and includes
				trees.