ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 163
BY REPRESENTATIVE TEMPLET
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Louisiana Public Service Commission to study and report on the
feasibility of adopting the National Electrical Safety Code for the installation,
operation, and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical facilities.
WHEREAS, a utility pole is a pole used to support overhead power lines and various
other public utilities and private facilities, such as cable, fiberoptic cable, and related
equipment such as transformers and street lights; and
WHEREAS, utility poles can be made of wood, metal, concrete, or composites like
fiberglass; and
WHEREAS, utility poles located in Louisiana are subjected to the potential
damaging effect of weather including extreme rain, extreme wind, ice storms, and
hurricanes; and
WHEREAS, damage to a utility pole and its attachments could potentially lead to
fires or injury to persons and property from falling poles, lines, or related equipment; and
WHEREAS, the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) is the standard for the safe
installation, operation, and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical utility
facilities nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Part II of the NESC deals with safety rules for the installation and
maintenance of overhead electric supply and communication lines, and it contains a number
of topics including inspections, arrangements, and clearances; and
WHEREAS, electric utilities are required to maintain specific clearances between
their overhead electrical wires and the ground below them including roadways, driveways,
parking lots, railroad tracks, and other services that may be found underneath wires; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 163
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WHEREAS, in order to ensure that the required clearances are maintained after
initial installation, a considerable amount of the NESC is devoted to strength and structural
integrity issues; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Public Service Commission is empowered by Article IV,
Section 21(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana to regulate public utilities; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Public Service Commission has jurisdiction over publicly
owned utilities providing electric, water, waste water, natural gas, and telecommunications
services; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Public Service Commission is charged with ensuring a
regulatory balance that enables utilities to provide customers with safe, adequate, and
reliable services, at rates that are just, reasonable, equitable, and economically efficient; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the regulation provided by the Louisiana Public Service
Commission relative to electricity and other services, the commission is also in a unique
position to harmoniously interact with other regulatory agencies and local municipalities
which also provide oversight and enforcement in these areas; and
WHEREAS, the failure of a utility pole can cause a serious interruption of the
delivery of vital public utilities to the citizens of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, an adequate, reliable, and reasonably priced supply of electricity and
other public utilities is essential to the continued economic prosperity of the state and its
citizens; and
WHEREAS, while the Louisiana Public Service Commission has not formally
adopted the National Electrical Safety Code, all electric utilities in Louisiana abide by the
NESC; and
WHEREAS, additionally, the staff of the Louisiana Public Service Commission uses
the NESC in investigations, when necessary.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Louisiana Public Service Commission to study and report on the
feasibility of adopting the National Electrical Safety Code for the installation, operation, and
maintenance of overhead and underground electrical facilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Public Service Commission shall
report its findings to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on ENROLLEDHCR NO. 163
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Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs prior to the final adjournment
of the 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana Public Service Commission.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE