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 4240-23.020 - Electrical Corporation Infrastructure Standards
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, March 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This rule establishes the minimum requirements for the transmission and distribution facilities of electrical corporations as defined in section 386.020(15), RSMo Supp. 2007 regarding inspection (including maximum allowable inspection cycle lengths), condition rating, scheduling and performance of corrective action, record keeping, and reporting, in order to provide safe and adequate electrical service. These requirements shall be based on factors such as applicable industry codes, national electric industry practices, manufacturer's recommendations, sound engineering judgment and past experience.
(1) Applicability. This rule applies to all electrical corporations as defined in section 386.020(15), RSMo Supp. 2007.
(2) Definitions. For the purpose of this rule:
(3) Standards for Inspection, Record Keeping, and Reporting.
(4) In the event an electrical corporation incurs expenses as a result of this rule in excess of the costs included in current rates, the corporation may submit a request to the commission for accounting authorization to defer recognition and possible recovery of these excess expenses until the effective date of rates resulting from its next general rate case, filed after the effective date of this rule, using a tracking mechanism to record the difference between the actually incurred expenses as a result of this rule and the amount included in the corporation's rates, or if there is no identifiable amount included in the corporation's rates, the amount reflected in the appropriate accounts for infrastructure inspection and maintenance on the corporation's books for the test year (as updated) from the corporation's last rate case will be used to determine the amount included in current rates. In the event that such authorization is granted, the next general rate case must be filed no later than five (5) years after the effective date of this rule. Parties to any electrical corporation request for accounting authorization pursuant to this rule may ask the commission to require the electrical corporation to collect and maintain data (such as actual revenues and actual infrastructure inspection expenses) until such time as the commission addresses ratemaking for the deferrals. The commission will address the ratemaking of any costs deferred under these accounting authorizations at the time the electrical corporation seeks ratemaking in a general rate case.
(5) Variances. A variance from a provision of this rule may be granted for good cause shown. Nothing in this rule shall prevent an electrical corporation from proposing and the commission from approving an alternative infrastructure inspection program varying from the table, included herein, titled "Electrical Corporation System Inspection Cycles (Maximum Intervals in Years)" if the electrical corporation can establish that the alternative infrastructure inspection program has previously produced equal to or greater reliability performance than what would be produced under this rule or that the alternative infrastructure inspection program shall produce equal to or greater reliability performance in the future than what would be produced under this rule.
Electrical Corporation System Inspection Cycles (Maximum Intervals in Years)
Patrol |
Detailed |
Intrusive |
Notes |
||||
Urban |
Rural |
Urban |
Rural |
Urban |
Rural |
||
Poles/Overhead Structures |
|||||||
Wood |
4 |
6 |
... |
- |
12 |
12 |
Note 1 |
Non-wood |
4 |
6 |
12 |
12 |
- |
- |
Note 2 |
Conductors, Transformers, Reclosers, Regulators, Capacitors, SwitchingiTrotective Devices, and StreetUghting |
|||||||
Overhead |
4 |
6 |
8 |
12 |
- |
- |
|
Overhead (with real-time remote monitoring) |
- |
- |
12 |
12 |
- |
- |
|
Underground-direct buried and conduit |
4 |
6 |
8 |
12 |
- |
- |
Note 3 |
Underground-direct buried and conduit (with real-time remote monitoring) |
- |
- |
12 |
12 |
- |
- |
Note 3 |
Underground Networks |
4 |
- |
8 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Underground Networks (with real-time remote monitoring) |
- |
- |
12 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Manholes, vaults, tunnels, and Other underground structures |
4 |
6 |
8 |
12 |
- |
- |
|
Note 1: No intrusive inspection required for first 12 years after installation, however, intrusive inspection required between years 12 and 18. For poles/structures greater than 12 years of age at inception of program, intrusive inspections must be completed within 12 years. |
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Note 2: No detailed inspection required for first 12 years after installation, however, detailed inspection required between years 12 and 18. For poles/structures greater than 12 years of age at inception of program, detailed inspections must be completed within 12 years. |
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Note 3: Some components of underground-direct buried and conduit distribution systems are above ground (e.g., pad-mounted transformers, pad-mounted switches, pad-mounted reclosers, etc.) The inspection intervals also apply to these above ground devices. These inspection requirements do not apply to direct-buried cable or cable installed in underground conduit. |
*Original authority: 386.040, RSMo 1939; 386.250, RSMo 1939, amended 1963, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996; 386.310, RSMo 1939, amended 1979, 1989, 1996; 393.130, RSMo 1939, amended 1949, 1967, 1969, 2002; and 393.140, RSMo 1939, amended 1949, 1967.