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Michael A. Terrell

wrote:

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
...

Bob F wrote:

The permits are the city, the power utility is the city. What's
laughable?

I've never lived anywhere where "the power utility is the city", so
you are laughable.

I've lived where the power utility was owned by the city- it's not uncommon.
However, the utility's mandate is on it's side of the metering. Permits
apply to your side of the metering and code compliance /inspection covers
your ass with the insurance company if something goes wrong. If the utility
underestimated load growth and diversity- it is their problem (which will
filter down to the customer base as a whole, rather than the individual).
Whatever, I agree, it is laughable-the utility can't even detect the
possibility of a grow-op until suspicious meter readings appear or the
secondaries to the house of concern let out magic smoke.

No kidding. Local code requires a 200 amp service around here, yet
the primaries are still designed and fused for 60 amp service. This
subdivison was built in the mid '60s, and was designed for about 18 A @
240 V average per home. That was fine when the houses used propane to
cook and for heat. No one had air conditioning or electric stoves. A
60 A fuse in the primary around the corner goes on a regular basis.
Usually on Friday evenings and within a few minutes of 5:00 PM when
everyone gets home from work. They turn up the AC and start cooking.
Then you hear the fuse explode like a shotgun.

It isn't as bad right now because several of the houses are vacant.
It is a mostly senior subdivision and they are empty, awaiting probate.
Others were bought by snowbirds, so they are empty through the summer
but it still goes about once a month.

Most utility workers are trained for a very narrow range of work, and
have little or no idea of the engineering behind the company or the
rules & regulations they set.

--
Greed is the root of all eBay.