Page 41 - IEC Insights Mar-April2020

Figure 6 Figure 7

collecting garbage and other household purchase at the mall is interrupted in my book! Giving up their personal
items discarded by the homeowner. because the credit card machine will not time with family and friends in your time
work, or the family outing to the movie of need, carrying on the tradition of
The typical components of an electrical theater ends early. We, as a society, keeping your family electrically safe.
service are numerous. Figure 7 shows suffer without our precious electricity.
these components, alerting the reader So, the next time that the power goes
to just what is the responsibility of the However, think about the other side of the off, grab a book for a relaxing afternoon
utility and what is the responsibility of coin. What about those brave man and of reading. Or, better yet, grab your
the homeowner. As you can see from our women who respond to these outages so fishing pole and go to the pond or
discussion about the term service point, that the electrical service can be restored? creek and fish awhile. Get back in
the majority of the components in figure These are some of the most professional touch with the activities of your past
7 are the responsibility of the homeowner. and dedicated people society has to offer. relatives who did not need electricity
An exception in some instances is the They are engaging with this invisible force to have a good time. And know that
meterbase. In some cases, the utility of electron movement, which can bring soon, the power will be back on!
provider provides the meterbase as enjoyment as well as electrocution if not
part of the service requirements for a appropriately handled — working in the 1 NFPA 70, 2017 National Electrical Code.
building. Always speak to your service rain, snow and freezing temperatures to
electric utility for their service installation get the electrons flowing again. All part
guidelines and requirements. In the of the sometimes “invisible” workforce of Joseph Wages, Jr., is the technical advisor,
Education, Codes and Standards for
end, these requirements will make or electrical professionals working to keep International Association of Electrical
break your ability to get the electrical you and your family electrically safe. Inspectors. He represents IAEI on NFPA’s
service at the building connected, NEC Code Making Panel 2 for the 2020
even if the electrical inspector has Envision electrical contractors, electrical NEC Code cycle. He served previously on
passed the service inspection. inspectors, and electrical utility personnel Code Making Panel 3 for the 2014 and
working hand in hand to bring you back 2017 NEC code cycle. He also serves on
your electricity — what a beautiful image the Underwriters Laboratory Electrical
After the Storm or this relationship brings to mind. I’m Council and several UL Technical Standard
Emergency Event sure some are democrats, and some are Panels. He is an ICC Certified Building
republicans, but, in the end, they are all Official and holds certifications as building
When electricity distribution is disturbed, working to achieve one goal— getting the plans examiner, building inspector, chief
the average person loses their mind. We power back on to the customer who pays building code analyst, and one- and
as a society have become so accustomed an electric bill. They are relying on their two-family dwelling inspector. He is also
to the benefits of this technology that training and the requirements found in the an IAEI Certified Electrical Inspector for
we don’t know how to act without it. The National Electric Code and the National one- and two-family dwellings. You can
Saturday or Sunday afternoon of television Electric Safety Code (NESC) as guidelines connect with him on Twitter @jwages23
viewing comes to an abrupt end, the to do it safely. These people are heroes or LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/
joseph-wages-jr/23/4b5/937.r

www.ieci.org | March/April 2020 | Insights Magazine 39