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How are localities handling service reconnects to houses where the power has been off for a while?Do they require a permit and an inspection?Is there a length of time and who determines this time frame.
If Service has been off for six months or more we will do a courtesy inspection. If the inspection discovers violations, the a permit is required to make the corrections.
I am not aware of the VUSBC providing any authority to inspect existing electrical services prior to energizing where no new work has been performed.
When you wish to initiate the Electrical Service back on a building that has previously been shut down and meter removed by the local power company the process is really up to the power company. If no additional work has been performed then quite possibly the power company will simply reconnect. However, the power company (depending on where you live) may wish to have what they like to call a “confirmation” inspection. While the local AHJ may not care about this they will gladly issue a permit for an inspection to release to the power company if requested (at least with most AHJ’s). While this is not really required and is a wasted expense in the eyes of the AHJ, the power company holds all the reconnect cards in the end and they may demand it…the AHJ is just assisting in the process so that you can get power back on. Did the AHJ really have to do anything, NO. But they have to pay an inspector to come look on behalf of the AHJ so you have to pay the minimum fee in most jurisdictions. Again this may change from power company to power company and AHJ to AHJ but that’s the general rule based on my experience as a Code Supervisor in more than one jurisdiction.
Paul W. Abernathy/ Regional Electrical Code Specialist/ National Electrical Manufacturers Association[NEMA]
It seems to me if the AHJ takes this on they would have to evaluate the power coming into the building and possibly even further. There are far too many worms in that can.
I feel it is up to the owner to have an electrician take a look at their service and circuits to make sure it is safe to apply power to the meter once again. if at that point repairs are needed that require a permit the electrician can come in and get one.
In our areas, AEP will not reconnect anything that has been disconnected for over 60 days without an inspection. For liability reasons we will not inspect something without a permit, therefore we issue a permit and inspect reconnects (if over 60 days off). Kind of a “Catch 22″.
So much for the “UNIFORM” Statewide Building Code.
Under the USBC you have no authority to reinspect a service. If the power company won’t hook up, shame on them. We do not let the power company force us to issue permits for no work being done. We do not have that right to require one. I simply call the power company and inform them that we are not here to be their safety inspectors. They have understood the rules so far.
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