New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 14 - PUBLIC UTILITIES
Chapter 3 - ALL UTILITIES
Subchapter 8 - EXTENSIONS TO PROVIDE REGULATED SERVICES
Section 14:3-8.4 - Requirement to put certain extensions underground

(a) This section governs whether an extension, as defined at 14:3-8.2, shall be made underground or overhead.

(b) An extension for water, wastewater treatment, or gas service shall be underground in all cases.

(c) An extension of high-capacity main line electric distribution facilities with a capacity of four megavolt amps (MVA) or more may be made overhead.

(d) An extension of electric or telecommunications service to residential development shall be made underground if both of the criteria below are met. Portions of the extension that do not meet these criteria may be made overhead:

(e) If a building that would require underground service under (d) above is located on a lot that abuts an existing street on which overhead facilities are already installed, the building may be served overhead, at the discretion of the regulated entity.

(f) Underground service shall be reasonably equivalent to comparable overhead service, and shall ensure that the customer will receive safe, adequate and proper service while minimizing the difference in cost between overhead and underground service.

(g) If underground electric or telecommunications service is required by this section, or an applicant desires underground electric or telecommunications service where it is not required under (d) or (e) above, the construction costs shall be distributed in accordance with this subsection, regardless of who actually performs the construction. The additional cost for underground extensions of service, over and above the amount it would cost to serve those customers overhead, shall be a nonrefundable contribution in aid of construction, paid by the applicant according to 14:3-8.9(h). The remainder of the cost of the service, that is the amount which overhead service would have cost, shall be shared between the applicant and the regulated entity in accordance with 14:3-8.5.

(h) If unusual circumstances would unreasonably delay a regulated entity's ability to provide underground service, the regulated entity may install temporary facilities in whatever manner is most practical under the circumstances. However, the regulated entity shall replace such temporary facilities as soon as practical with permanent underground service in accordance with this subchapter. The cost of the installation and removal of the temporary facilities is governed by 14:3-8.9(h).

(i) All street lighting in a development with underground electric service shall also be served underground.

(j) When the requirement that an extension be located underground will result in hardship, inequity, or will be discriminatory to other affected parties, the regulated entity or applicant may request from the Board a special exemption, or approval of special conditions. The Board may require that the requesting party submit, as part of such a request, documentation that the requesting party has deposited in an escrow account an amount up to the estimated difference in cost between underground and overhead service.

(k) Where affected regulated entities determine that it is practical, electric cables, communication cables, and cable television cables shall be installed in the same trench, if this can be done consistent with all applicable codes and regulations, and in particular those pertaining to safety.

(l) When an extension is installed underground, certain components may be installed above ground if necessary for safety or to provide reasonable access for maintenance. Examples are interconnecting points and pedestals, and electric transformers.