Electric Service Standards - CenterPoint Energy

NOTES: ARRANGEMENT OF RESIDENTIAL UNDERGROUND EQUIPMENT
1. Meter mounting device shall be furnished by the Customer and installed by
the Customer or Customer's electrical contractor. Location shall be on the side
of the house or garage where accessibility, height, working clearance, etc.
comply with Section 400 of the Service Standards.
2. Customer's contractor shall furnish and install service to the following
specifications:
A. Refer to ARTICLE 415 for conductor requirements.
B. Cable shall be installed a minimum of 2 ft. below grade if using direct
burial cable. Bottom of trench and backfill immediately above cable shall
be fine soil or sand, free of rocks, concrete, or hard objects which might
damage cable. Aluminum and aluminum alloy cables require the utmost
care in handling and installation, most installations are especially
susceptible to nicks and scratches, and careless handling may result in
failure of the cable.
3. Customer's contractor shall install service cable to within 1 ft. of secondary
service hole or transformer pad. (Contractor shall contact Distribution
Operations for proper location of service cable connections, if not apparently
evident on ground.) Service brought to transformer pads shall be left opposite
the small notched "V" mark on transformer pad. Ten (10) feet of service cable
shall be left for connection to a secondary pedestal or transformer. The cable
shall be coiled and secured to a stake as to be clear of the ground. Cut ends
shall be made watertight by an approved sealing method immediately after
cutting. Caution should be observed when digging within the area to avoid
damage to telephone, other cables, and gas pipe coatings. Damage to any
utility equipment shall be immediately reported to owner of utility.
CenterPoint Energy will not be responsible for damage by persons other than
its own personnel.
4. Temporary service poles shall be set outside the confines of the utility
easement.
5. For temporary services only, the height of the meter mounting device on
temporary meter poles in URD areas may be reduced below the requirements
of ARTICLE 420, but in no event shall the center line of the meter mounting
device be lower than 3 ft. above grade.
6. All services shall be properly grounded.
7. Breaker box may be installed either outside or inside building.
8. Construction in areas where electrical installations are governed by city
ordinance shall meet requirements of all applicable ordinances and codes.
9. The service entrance conduit may be schedule 40 or greater, rigid nonmetallic
conduit, rigid metal conduit, or intermediate metal conduit except where
subject to physical damage, such as near a parking area, driveway, or gate.
Only schedule 80 rigid nonmetallic conduit, rigid metal conduit or
intermediate metal conduit may be used for the service entrance conduit
where subject to physical damage. (See Illustration 10-Arrangement of Meter
Mounting Device, page 28).
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