(A) Parallel Lines. Underground power and communication lines may be permitted parallel to the centerline of conventional County highways under the following conditions:
The installation shall be located as near the right of way line as practicable and no more than five (5) feet (1.5m) from the right of way line.
- Cable may be installed by trenching or plowing with special consideration given to crossing improved entrances and side roads.The applicant for permit shall submit his plans and proposed construction methods.
- If the buried electric power cable used it to operate at three hundred (300) volts to ground or greater, it must include a bare grounded conductor in continuous contact with the earth. This conductor shall be adequate for the magnitude and duration of the fault current imposed and shall be either shielded or multiple concentric conductors closely spaced circumferentially.
- Above-ground appurtenances constructed as component parts of underground communications or electric power lines shall be located within one (1) foot (0.3m) of the right of way line or as near as practicable.
(B) Underground Crossings. Underground power and communication lines will be permitted to cross County highways under the following conditions:
- The design materials and construction methods shall be those that can be expected to provide maximum maintenance-free service life.
- Capacity for foreseeable future expansion needs shall be provided in initial installation.
- Encasement shall be provided between jacking or bore pits, if the crossing is installed by boring or jacking.
- Encasement may be eliminated under the following conditions:
- The crossing is installed by the use of “moles”, “whip augers” or other approved method which compress the earth to make the opening for cable installation.
- The installation is by the open trench method. This method is only permitted prior to the roadway construction.
- If the power cable used is to operate at three hundred (300) volts to ground or greater, it must include a bare grounded conductor in continuous contact with the earth. This conductor shall be adequate for the magnitude and duration of the fault current imposed and shall be either shielded or multiple concentric conductors closely spaced circumferentially.
- Installations shall have a minimum cover of thirty (30) inches (0.8m)except that communication lines installed by the plowed method shall have a minimum cover of twenty-four (24) inches (0.6m).