Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 199 - Utilities Division › Utilities and Transportation Divisions › Chapter 25 - Iowa Electrical Safety Code › Rule 199-25.3 - Inspection and Maintenance Plans

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1)
Filing of plan.
Each electric utility shall adopt and file
				with the commission a written plan for inspecting and maintaining its electric
				supply lines and substations (excluding generating stations) in order to
				determine the necessity for replacement, maintenance, and repair, and for tree
				trimming or other vegetation management. If the plan is amended or altered,
				revised copies of the appropriate plan pages shall be filed.
(2)
Annual report.
Each
				investor-owned, rate-regulated utility shall include as part of its annual
				report to the commission, as required by 199-Chapter 23, certification of
				compliance with each area of the inspection and maintenance plan required by
				subrule 25.3(1) or a detailed statement on areas of noncompliance.
(3)
Contents of plan.
The
				inspection plan shall include the following elements:
a.
General.
A listing of all
				counties or parts of counties in which the utility has electric supply lines in
				Iowa. If the utility has district or regional offices responsible for
				implementation of a portion of the plan, the addresses of those offices and a
				description of the territory for which they are responsible shall also be
				included.
b.
Inspection of
				lines, poles, and substations.
(1)
				Inspection schedules. The plan shall contain a schedule for the periodic
				inspection of the various units of the utility's electric plant. The period
				between inspections shall be based on accepted good practice in the industry,
				but for lines and substations shall not exceed ten years for any given line or
				piece of equipment. Lines operated at 34.5 kV or above shall be inspected at
				least annually for damage and to determine the condition of the overhead line
				insulators.
(2) Inspection
				coverage. The plan shall provide for the inspection of all supply line and
				substation units within the adopted inspection periods and shall include a
				complete listing of all categories of items to be checked during an
				inspection.
(3) Conduct of
				inspections. Inspections shall be conducted in a manner conducive to the
				identification of safety, maintenance, and reliability concerns or
				needs.
(4) Instructions to
				inspectors. Copies of instructions or guide materials used by utility
				inspectors in determining whether a facility is in acceptable condition or in
				need of corrective action or further investigation.
c.
Tree trimming or vegetation
				management plan.
(1) Schedule. The
				plan shall contain a schedule for periodic tree trimming or other measures to
				control vegetation growth under or along the various units of the utility's
				electric plant. The period between inspections shall be based on accepted good
				practice in the industry and may vary depending on the nature of the vegetation
				at different locations.
(2)
				Procedures. The plan shall include written procedures for vegetation
				management. The procedures shall promote the safety and reliability of electric
				lines and facilities. Where tree trimming is employed, practices shall be
				adopted that will protect the health of the tree and reduce undesirable
				regrowth patterns.
d.
Pole inspections.
Pole inspections shall periodically include
				an examination of the poles that includes tests in addition to visual
				inspection in appropriate circumstances. These additional tests may include
				sounding, boring, groundline exposure, and, if applicable, pole
				treatment.