Page 39 - IEC Insights Mar-April2020

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR Figure 1

ELECTRICAL SERVICE POINT?

Photo 1 Photo 1

Photo 2
Figure 2

Photo 1

Photo 3

via splice conductors between the point? The utility is responsible for this men are in a great paying job and free
service drop (utility responsibility) specification (see figure 1 and figure 2). from the college debt that encumbers
and the service-entrance conductors many individuals who decided to go to
(the homeowner’s responsibility). Now imagine what we have previously college and not a career in the trades.
covered above. The homeowner that is But that is another story. They spend
The definition of service point is also accustomed to waking up and expecting a few minutes assessing the situation
found in Article 100 of the 2017 NEC electricity to be present only to find and then return to their truck for the
and defined as “the point of connection out that this is suddenly not the case. tools necessary to complete the work.
between the facilities of the serving After hours or days without electricity, The crew returns to carefully cut the
utility and the premises wiring.” An the electric utility trucks and crews are conductors at the customer’s overhead
important informational note clarifies heard and seen coming down the street. service and tape them up. They proceed
that the service point is, “the point of Excitement brews, champagne bottles to roll up the service conductors and
demarcation between where the serving are readied, and everyone is on edge attach them to the utility pole at a height
utility ends and the premises wiring knowing that restoration of power is where they will not harm anyone. A
begins. The serving utility generally imminent. The afternoon viewing of Judge note is left on the door, and they drive
specifies the location of the service point Judy or Dr. Phil may happen just yet! away. Tears begin to fall as all hope of
based on the conditions of service.” electricity returning has suddenly been
The truck rolls up, and two strapping dashed (see photo 2 and photo 3).
Did you catch that? Who generally young men approach the home. These
specifies the location for the service

www.ieci.org | March/April 2020 | Insights Magazine 37