Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 860 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Division 24 - SAFETY STANDARDS
Section 860-024-0011 - Inspections of Electric Supply and Communication Facilities
Universal Citation: OR Admin Rules 860-024-0011
Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) An Operator of electric supply facilities or an Operator of communication facilities must:
(a) Construct, operate, and maintain its
facilities in compliance with the Commission Safety Rules; and
(b) Conduct detailed inspections of its
overhead facilities to identify violations of the Commission Safety Rules.
(A) The maximum interval between detailed
inspections is ten years, with a recommended inspection rate of ten percent of
overhead facilities per year. During the fifth year of the inspection cycle,
the Operator must:
(i) Report to the
Commission that 50 percent or more of its total facilities have been inspected
pursuant to this rule; or
(ii)
Report to the Commission that less than 50 percent of its total facilities have
been inspected pursuant to this rule and provide a plan for Commission approval
to inspect the remaining percentage within the next five years. The Commission
may modify the plan or impose conditions to ensure sufficient inspection for
safety purposes.
(B)
Detailed inspections include, but are not limited to, visual checks, pole test
and treat programs (only required for pole Owners) or practical tests of all
facilities, to the extent required to identify violations of Commission Safety
Rules. Where facilities are exposed to extraordinary conditions (including High
Fires Risk Zones) or when an Operator has demonstrated a pattern of
non-compliance with Commission Safety Rules, the Commission may require a
shorter interval between inspections.
(c) Conduct detailed facility inspections of
its underground facilities on a ten-year maximum cycle, with a recommended
inspection rate of 10 percent of underground facilities per year.
(d) Maintain adequate written records of
policies, plans and schedules to show that inspections and corrections are
being carried out in compliance with this rule and OAR 860-024-0012. Each
Operator must make these records available to the Commission upon its
request.
(2) Each Operator of electric supply facilities must:
(a)
Designate an annual geographic area (including High Fire Risk Zones if
identified by Operators of electric supply facilities) to be inspected pursuant
to subsection (1)(b) of this rule within its service territory;
(b) Provide timely notice of the designation
of the annual geographic area to all Owners and Occupants. The annual coverage
areas for the entire program must be made available in advance and in
sufficient detail to allow all Operators with facilities in that service
territory to plan needed inspection and correction tasks. Unless the parties
otherwise agree, Operators must be notified of any changes to the established
annual geographic area designation no later than 12 months before the start of
the next year's inspection. For High Fire Risk Zones, Operators must be
notified of any changes to the designation of a High Fire Risk Zone no later
than 60 days before the start of the year's inspection; and
(c) Perform routine safety patrols of
overhead electric supply lines and accessible facilities for hazards consistent
with Good Utility Practice and of detection quality materially equivalent to
onsite inspection. The maximum interval between safety patrols is two years,
with a recommended rate of 50 percent of lines and facilities per
year.
(d) Inspect electric supply
stations on a 45 day maximum schedule.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, ORS 756, ORS 757 & ORS 759
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 757.035
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Oregon may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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