02 • Description of Service


Adopted: 1976-03-01
Revised: 2009-01-14
Reviewed: 1998-08-21


RULE NO. 2

 

          DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE

 

A.       General:

           1.       Alternating current service at 60-hertz (cycles per second) frequency will be supplied.

 

          2.      The character of service available at a particular location should be ascertained by inquiry at the company's office.

 

          3.       All voltages hereinafter referred to on the rate schedules are nominal and refer to the voltage between energized conductors unless stated otherwise.  Following are the voltages at which service is supplied, although not all of them are available at each delivery point:

 

                   A.       For Lighting and Power 120/240,120/208 and 277/480 volts.

 

                  

                    B.      For combination single-phase lighting and power, and three-phase power: 120/240 four-wire delta, 120/208, four wire wye, volts and 277/480 four wire wye.

 

                   C.     For primary service: 7,200/12,470 wye and 14,400/24,900 wye.

 

                   D.       For transmission deliveries: the voltage of existing lines at points of delivery.

 

          4.      Where three wire single phase or three-phase service is supplied, the load must be as nearly balanced as practicable between the two sides of a single-phase service or the phases of a three-phase service, respectively.  In no case is the load on any one phase of a three-phase service to be greater than ten percent (10%) of any other.

                   

 

B.       Lighting, Heating, Cooking and Miscellaneous Service:

                  

          1.     Single phase, three wire service 120/240, 120/208 will otherwise be supplied to all single-phase loads where the capacity of the service entrance does not exceed 400 amperes.

 

          2.      Three phase service will be supplied for all loads when the single phase capacity of the service is greater then 400 amperes, except where existing company facilities or unusual circumstances make single phase supply necessary.

 

C.       Power Service:

 

          1.      Single phase120/ 240 volt service will be supplied where the size of any single motor does not exceed 7 1/2 HP or 100 amperes starting current at 240 volts and the size of the transformer required does not exceed 50 KVA.

 

          2.      Three phase service will be supplied to all permanent installations comprising three phase motors or an aggregate capacity of at least 7½ HP except where, in the opinion of the company, existing facilities make single phase supply necessary.

 

          3.       Voltage for three-phase service will be as follows:

 

                   A.     Single motors not exceeding 50 HP and group installations of such motors not exceeding an aggregate capacity of 150 HP will generally be supplied at 208 or 240 volts.

 

                   B.      All power service other than described in (A) immediately above will be supplied at 480 volts except where the rate schedule specifies a higher voltage or where existing conditions require a 208 or 240-volt supply.

 

D.       Combination single phase and three phase service will be supplied three phase four wire through a single watt-hour meter when provided for in company's rate schedule.

 

          1.       Three phase, four wire  wye connected service giving 120/ 208 volt single phase for lighting and single phase power and  208 volt three phase for three phase power will be supplied where the capacity of the service entrance is 300 amperes or less.

 

          2.      Three phase, four-wire  delta connected service giving 120/ 240  volts for lighting and single-phase power and  240 volts for three phase power may be supplied if requested.

 

          3.     Service at other voltages may be supplied on request by special arrangements with the company.

 

E.       Resistance Heating Equipment:

 

          1.      Any heating unit in excess of 1.65 KW shall be rated at 240 volts and shall be thermostatically controlled.  The resistance heating load place in and out of service shall be in steps of not more than 7 KW in single-phase installations and not more than 21 KW in three phase installations.

 

          2.      Water heaters shall be of the storage type and approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

 

          3.       Water heaters of one heating unit will be limited to a maximum of 4500 watts.

 

          4.      Water heaters with heating units of a combined capacity greater than 4500 watts shall have the units interlocked so that only one at a time can be energized.

 

F.       Furnaces, Welders, X-Ray Apparatus, Radio Transmitters, Signs and Similar Apparatus over 10 KW:

 

          1.    This type of equipment, because of its operating characteristics, may at times interfere with satisfactory service to other member/owners.

 

          2.      Application shall be made to the company in each case to determine the class of service and conditions under which service to such equipment will be supplied, together with the special precautions that must be observed by the member/owner.

 

G.       Impairment or Interference of Service to other Consumers:

 

          1.     The company shall have the right to refuse service to installations having a load of such nature that may impair or interfere with the service to other member/ owners.  Where the type of load is such that it causes power frequency distortion, wide fluctuations in its demand on the company's system, or other problems deemed detrimental, the member/ owner will be required to:

 

A.                 Install equipment, which will limit this wide variation in demand to a reasonable degree; or guarantee the payment of minimum bills upon the KVA rating of transformer capacity which the company deems necessary to absorb such fluctuations.

 

                   B.       Limit power frequency distortion as defined by IEEE-519 "Recommended Practices and Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electric Power Systems."  The established power frequency distortion limits apply to the customer/company interface.  These requirements cannot guarantee that interference will not occur to other member/ owners.  The installation causing the interference to other member/owners will be required to mitigate the interference.

 

                   C.      The consumer shall reimburse the company for any engineering, investigation, or consultation costs associated with the consumer's impairment or interference problems.

 

 

H.       Electric Motors:

 

          1.     Motor Protection: Certain protective devices considered necessary for adequate motor protection are recommended hereunder:

 

                   A.       Line Starting Protection:  Any motor which, in starting, might be damaged by the full line voltage requires some type of protective device to disconnect it from the line during interruptions in service thus protecting the motor when service is restored.  The company further recommends that such a device be equipped with a time delay mechanism so that the motor will not be discontinued by momentary fluctuations in voltage which cannot injure it.

  

                   B.       Overload Protection:  Since the intense heat caused by overload might seriously damage the motor, member/owner should install a device that will disconnect the motor if overload occurs.  Fuses, thermal relays or circuit breakers which are specially designed to operate when excessive current occurs, are the devices used for this purpose.  Where member/owner receives three-phase service, the company recommends that such protective devices be connected in all phases.

 

                   C.     Single Phasing Protection:  Where member/owner receives three phase service, a relay should be installed which will disconnect the motor from the lines in the event one phase of the line becomes open.

 

D.                Reverse Phasing Protection:  For three phase installations of electric cranes, hoists, elevators, pumps and the like, member/owners should install relays which will disconnect the motor from the line in the event of accidental phase-reversal.

 

          2.       Power Factor Correction: Power factor correction capacitors will be required on all electric motors 20 horsepower and above.  Correction is required to 95% power factor minimum.  It will be the responsibility of the member/owner to obtain the size of the recommended power factor correction capacitors from the manufacturer of the motor.  Power factor correction capacitors are to be installed on the motor side of the magnetic contactor or installed such that when the motor is on line the capacitors are on line and when the motor is off line the capacitors are off line.

 

                         A.        For reduced voltage soft start motor controls, the power factor capacitors  may be installed in such a way during the motor start the capacitors are off line until the motor reaches full line voltage. Then they must be switched on and remain on as long as the motor is running.

                                   

 

I.        Irrigation & Large Power Pumps:

 

          1.       Required pump panel specifications:

 

                   A.       Lightning Arrestors

                   B.       Surge Capacitors

                   C.       Magnetic Contractor of Proper Rating

                   D.       (3) Fuses or (3) Pole Breakers of Proper Size

                   E.       Phase Failure Relay

                   F.       Phase Reversal Relay

                   G.       (3) Ambient Compensated Overload Relays

                   H.       Time Delay Relay or Backspin Protection

                   I.        Power factor correction capacitors will be required on all pumps 20 horsepower and above.  Correction is required to 95% power factor minimum.

 

                             It will be the responsibility of the member/owner to obtain the size of the recommended power factor correction capacitors from the manufacturer of the motor.  Power factor correction capacitors are to be installed on the motor side of the magnetic contactor or installed such that when the motor is on line the capacitors are on line and when the motor is off line the capacitors are off line.

 

          2.       The basic panel must be rain tight and proper N.E.M.A. size for the motor.

 

          3.      The company requires a suitable type of reduced voltage starting on any pump motor installation over 100 HP.

 

          4.      These are general specifications and much additional protection is available and may be beneficial if desired by the purchaser.

 

          5.      Failure to provide the above equipment on a pump panel or equipment improperly installed will allow Wells Rural Electric Company the right to disconnect or refuse to connect such pump.

 

J.       Metering at Primary Service Voltages:

 

          Where a transformer bank having a capacity of 750 KVA or more is installed exclusively to serve one member/owner, or it is in the company's best interest as determined by the company, the company may meter such service at primary service voltage.

 

K.       Consumer Equipment Tolerance to Power Frequency Distortion:

 

Member/owners equipment must be capable of operating within the power frequency guidelines of IEEE-519 "Recommended Practice and Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electric Power Systems."  The power frequency distortion limits recommended establish the maximum voltage distortion at the point of customer/company interface.  Equipment susceptible to power frequency distortion, such as electronic and computer equipment, must be protected with proper filtering equipment.  It is the member/owners responsibility to provide the proper protection filtering equipment.

 

L.       Miscellaneous:

 

          1.      The member/owner shall, at his own risk and expense, furnish, install, inspect and keep in good and safe conditions all electrical wires, apparatus, and equipment of any kind or character which may be required for (1) receiving electrical energy from the lines of the company regard­less of the location of the transformers, meters, or other equipment of the company; and (2) applying and utilizing such energy including all necessary protective devices and suitable housing therefore.  Member/owner shall so transmit and deliver and be solely responsible for the transmission and delivery of all electric energy over or through member/owner's wires and equipment regardless of the place where such electric energy may be transformed or metered.  All of member/owner's wires, apparatus and equipment shall be selected to supply safety, efficiency good voltage regula­tion, and the highest practicable power factor.

 

          2.       The company shall not be responsible for the transmission and delivery of electric energy over or through member/ owner's wires and equipment, or for any loss or damage occasioned thereby, whether to the member/owner or third persons or otherwise or at all.

 

3.       If, for any cause, a member/owner applies for and receives service under a rate schedule not applicable to the class of service taken, on discovery of such error, all bills rendered during the preceding 12 months will be recalculated in accordance with the lowest properly applicable rate schedule, and any excess amount paid by the member/owner shall be refunded by the company, or any balance shall be paid by the member/owner, as the case may be.

 

 


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