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.
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 customer, then customer must provide and install the needed equipment.
Meter Bases
Customer 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 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 customer 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 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 customer 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 Primary and/or Service (up to 400 amp service entrance)
If no existing 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. CES will specify the routing of all new lines, following the shortest and most direct path. Primary and/or service extensions in excess of one span each must be paid for at full installed cost by the customer.
Underground Primary and/or Service (up to 400 amp service entrance)
If single-phase underground primary facilities are desired by customer and approved by CES, customer must pay the difference in cost (including transformer, conductor and labor costs) between the cost of the first equivalent overhead span of primary and the corresponding length of underground construction. All circuit lengths in excess of the first equivalent span of overhead primary must be paid in full.
CES will provide up to 125 feet of underground service conductor from existing overhead or pad mount transformers for a flat service. An additional “per foot” service fee must be paid for underground services in excess of 125 feet.
The underground primary and service lines and conduits 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 developers to pay 100% 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. 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 the 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.
PERMANENT COMMERCIAL THREE-PHASE SERVICE
Overhead Primary and/or Service
CES will require commercial developers to pay 100% of the estimated total installed costs of materials, labor, equipment and related overheads necessary to build electrical facilities to serve any new commercial developments. 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 the 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.
Underground Primary and/or Service
CES will require commercial developers to pay 100% of the estimated total installed costs of materials, labor, equipment and related overheads necessary to build electrical facilities to serve any new commercial developments. 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 the 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 specify the routing of all new lines, following the shortest and most direct path.
CES will provide up to 125 feet of underground low-voltage service conductors to three-phase 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 three-phase services exceeding 400 amps, customer shall provide and install all low-voltage service conductors and compression connectors from their facility switch gear to the transformer secondary bushings. 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 customer’s load. If CES is required by customer to install a transformer with capacity greater than customer’s load, then customer will be billed monthly for excess capacity charges.
The underground primary and service lines and conduits must be installed in compliance with CES underground installation specifications. Please contact CES Engineering and Operations Department for current underground installation specifications.
