GENERAL INFORMATION
Deposit Requirements
All residential customers must provide a deposit of $300.00. The deposit must be maintained for as long as the customer receives electrical service.
For commercial accounts, CES policy requires a cash deposit based upon two times the customer’s peak monthly bill. A bank irrevocable letter of credit or surety bond is also acceptable. The deposit must be maintained for as long as the customer receives electrical service.
Three-Phase Power Contract
A power contract outlining conditions of service must be executed for all commercial and industrial three-phase services with contract demands of 50 kW or greater. The contract has an initial term of five years, automatically renewable annually thereafter.
New Line Construction
CES will specify the routing of all new lines, following the shortest and most direct path.
Motor Starting
In order to avoid system disturbances to neighboring customers, CES policy does not allow motors in excess of 30 kW to start directly across line. Therefore, the customer must install suitable current-limiting motor starting devices for motors exceeding 30 horsepower (or a group of motors exceeding a total of 30 horsepower designed to start simultaneously). A method of reducing surges or disturbances on power lines shall be employed regardless of cause (motors, resistive loads, arc welders, etc.). CES shall be notified in writing prior to the installation of such equipment and the above provisions shall apply unless specifically waived in writing by CES. Waiver of these provisions shall not relieve the customer of the obligation to comply with these provisions if later required by CES, whose judgment shall be final.
Protection From Single-Phasing
CES does not offer protection against single-phasing. Should single-phase protection be required by the customer, then the customer must provide and install the needed equipment.
Meter Bases
Customers must purchase overhead or underground meter bases (up to 400 amps) from CES, or provide their own UL-listed meter base that meets CES approval. CES does not repair/replace customer-owned meter bases or service risers. Service requirements in excess of 400 amps will require current transformer metering, with the customer to pay the full installed cost of the metering installation.
Electrical Wiring and Inspections
All electrical wiring must meet the minimum standards set forth by the National Electrical Code, as well as any requirements set forth by the City of Covington or CES. Electrical permits may be purchased on the TN Department of Commerce & Insurance website “core.tn.gov”.
CES will not connect electrical service lines or install metering on any service equipment until such has been inspected and approved by the Deputy Electrical Inspector (an employee of the State of Tennessee, Department of Commerce and Insurance, Division of Fire Prevention). However, should existing services be upgraded, or should repairs be required due to storm damage, CES will reconnect said service following the purchase of the appropriate electrical permit by the homeowner/electrician. A grace period of seven days is allowed in which to have the upgraded/repaired service inspected. Should an inspection not be completed within the seven-day grace period, CES will disconnect the service until all inspections are complete and approved. CES will not reconnect electrical service to a building if disconnected due to a fire or at the request of the fire department or the code enforcement department until the building and its service has passed inspection by the ruling authority.
TEMPORARY SERVICE FOR CONSTRUCTION POWER
CES must specify the physical location of all temporary and permanent service equipment.
Temporary Service – New Home Construction
CES does not provide temporary service poles normally used during the construction of a new home. Such equipment must be provided by the homeowner or contractor. CES will provide one service drop to the customer-furnished temporary service pole if the materials (including transformers) needed for said service are in our inventory. However, due to material shortages and long lead times on materials, CES may not be able to provide this service drop and customers should be prepared to provide generators for construction purposes.
Temporary Service – Commercial or Industrial Construction
CES does not provide temporary service poles normally used during the construction of a new business. Such equipment must be provided by the contractor. CES will provide one service drop to the customer-furnished temporary service pole if the materials (including transformers) needed for said service are in our inventory. However, due to material shortages and long lead times on materials, CES may not be able to provide this service drop and customers should be prepared to provide generators for construction purposes.
If temporary service for commercial or industrial construction requires the construction of new electrical facilities in excess of one service drop, CES will charge the up and down labor costs and associated overheads for all primary lines installed to provide service to customer-owned temporary construction poles. There will be no charge for salvageable materials if normal types of temporary service lines are utilized and if said lines are retired within a reasonable time (normally one year).
Multiple services will be C.T. metered at one central point (transformer pole) if possible.
Temporary service lines will be installed using overhead conductors from CES as long as voltage drop and code clearances are observed. Consideration must be given to maintaining a clear travel way and operating room for large construction equipment (dozers, cranes, etc.), with a minimum vertical clearance of 18 feet required over roads, travel ways, and the construction zone.
The customer may elect to bring customer-owned individual underground service conductors from each load back to a central switch gear point, with CES providing one metered service drop to the switch gear. All customer-owned wiring must be approved by the Deputy Electrical Inspector, including underground conduit and service conductors.
PERMANENT SINGLE-PHASE SERVICE FOR INDIVIDUAL RESIDENCE
Overhead or Underground Primary and/or Service (up to 400 amp service entrance involving PRIVATE PERSONAL RESIDENCE with no intent to sell or rent. The lot must be platted and in the homeowner’s name. This allowance will be made only once in a five-year term for a homeowner.)
If no existing overhead electrical facilities are available, CES will install one span of overhead single-phase primary conductor (not to exceed 250’), one overhead transformer, and one span of service conductor (not to exceed 125’) at no cost to the customer. Overhead primary and/or service extensions in excess of one span each must be paid for by the customer at 80% of the total installed cost of materials, labor, equipment, and related overheads necessary to build electrical facilities.
If underground primary facilities are desired by the customer and approved by CES, the customer must pay the difference in total installed costs of materials, labor, equipment, and related overheads between the cost of the first equivalent overhead span of primary and the corresponding length of underground primary construction. Underground primary extensions in excess of one equivalent span of overhead primary must be paid for by the customer at 80% of the total installed cost of materials, labor, equipment, and related overheads necessary to build electrical facilities.
CES will provide up to 125 feet of underground service conductor from existing overhead or pad mount transformers for a flat service fee. An additional “per foot” service fee must be paid for underground services in excess of 125 feet.
Additional Underground Installation Requirements
The underground primary conductors, low-voltage service conductors, conduit systems and transformer pads must be installed in compliance with CES underground installation specifications. Please contact CES Engineering and Operations Department for current underground installation specifications.
PERMANENT SINGLE-PHASE SERVICE FOR RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENTS
CES will require residential subdivision developers to pay 80% of the estimated total installed costs of materials, labor, equipment, and related overheads necessary to build electrical facilities to serve any new residential subdivision developments when using CES in-house labor. Should CES be required to utilize the services of a third-party electrical contractor to install the required electrical facilities due to time constraints, workload or other reasons, the developer will be required to pay 100% of the estimated total installed costs. Materials will be ordered upon receipt of payment of estimated installed costs and electrical facilities will be installed when ordered materials are delivered. Due to the volatility of market pricing for electrical facilities, a final calculation of the actual installed costs will be developed following the complete installation of the electrical facilities, with the developer to pay to CES any final excess costs above the estimate or CES to reimburse to the developer any estimated payment in excess of the actual final costs.
PERMANENT COMMERCIAL SERVICE
Overhead or Underground Primary and/or Service
CES will require commercial developers to pay 80% of the estimated total installed costs of materials, labor, equipment, and related overheads necessary to build electrical facilities to serve any new commercial account when using CES in-house labor. Should CES be required to utilize the services of a third-party electrical contractor to install the required electrical facilities due to time constraints, workload or other reasons, the developer will be required to pay 100% of the estimated total installed costs. Materials will be ordered upon receipt of payment of estimated installed costs and electrical facilities will be installed when ordered materials are delivered. Due to the volatility of market pricing for electrical facilities, a final calculation of the actual installed costs will be developed following complete installation of the electrical facilities, with the developer to pay to CES any final excess costs above the estimate or CES to reimburse to the developer any estimated payment in excess of the actual final costs.
CES will provide up to 125 feet of underground low-voltage service conductors to loads of 400 amps or less for a flat service fee. An additional “per foot” service fee must be paid for underground services in excess of 125 feet.
For services exceeding 400 amps, the customer shall provide and install all low-voltage service conductors and compression connectors from their facility switch gear to the transformer’s secondary bushings. The customer shall connect low-voltage service conductors to CES transformer secondary bushings finger tight only, with CES to provide final torque to bolts.
The pad mount transformer will be sized to match the customer’s load. If CES is required by the customer to install a transformer with a capacity greater than the customer’s load, then the customer will be billed monthly for excess capacity charges.
