When multiple risers or service masts are installed to support a single electric entrance, it is the customer's reponsibility to provide the connector that ties the customer's conductors together and allows for a single point of connection (possibly multiple openings) for the MP conductors.

• When service is less than or equal to 200 amps and underground to a padmount transformer or secondary pedestal, the customer shall install the conductor to within 1 foot of the front or front side of the transformer or secondary pedestal. Minnesota Power personnel will dig the remaining trench length, dig under the transformer or secondary pedestal and land the conductor within the transformer or secondary pedestal.
   
• When service is greater than 200 amps and underground to a padmount transformer or secondary pedestal, the customer shall install the conductor to within 1 foot of the front or front side of the transformer or secondary pedestal. After Minnesota Power personnel have de-energized the transformer or secondary pedestal, the customer's contractor will dig the remaining trench length, dig under the transformer or secondary pedestal and in conjunction with Minnesota Power personnel, land the conductor within the de-energized transformer or secondary pedestal.
   
• When service is less than or equal to 200 amps and underground to pole mounted transformer(s) or secondary wires, the customer shall install the conductor to the base of the pole and assemble the necessary conduit, weatherhead, etc. at the bottom of the pole. Minnesota Power personnel will secure it to the pole and connect the customer-owned service wires as appropriate.
  
• When service is greater than 200 amps and underground to pole-mounted transformer(s) or secondary wires, the customer shall install the conductor to the base of the pole and assemble the necessary conduit, weatherhead(s), etc. at the bottom of the pole. Minnesota Power personnel in conjunction with customer's contractor shall jointly install the riser(s), secure it (them) to the pole. Minnesota Power personnel will connect the customer-owned service wires as appropriate.

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A separate request for an electrical inspection form with the required fees must be submitted to the State Board of Electricity or local authority at or before commencement of any electrical installation that is required by law to be inspected. The blue copy of this request must be filed with Minnesota Power.

Lot Line Metering Situations:

If the customer service representative has chosen to use lot line metering for a project, a customer will take temporary service from the meter panel provided by Minnesota Power. Our lot line metering panels are fused at 200 amperes and provide lugs for 3 sets of conductors; however, they do not provide space for individual breakers for temporary service. You and/or your electrical contractor will need to arrange to obtain and install an outdoor weatherproof load center, GFCI breakers, GFCI outlets, and grounding for temporary service.

All Other Situations

Minnesota Power prohibits foreign attachments to our poles unless specifically covered in a Joint Use Agreement because of obvious safety hazards for our line personnel. Extenuating circumstances sometimes exist where the only option is to use our poles to construct a temporary service. Please consult your customer service representative and/or engineer to discuss the circumstances so that a solution can be reached that works for both the utility and the customer.

Customer provides the temporary service structure including, but not limited to, proper timber construction with sufficient bracing and approved meter socket. Temporary services should be located within 10’ of the permanent service location.

Please work with your customer service representative and/or engineer in regard to temporary services to assist in location and costs.

Residential:

The following information concerns “Temporary Electric Service” to residential construction sites. If a site is being served via a lot line meter pedestal or pole, please disregard this information.

• Temporary overhead service to be transferred to permanent overhead service .....$285
• Temporary underground service to be transferred to a permanent underground service  .....$385
• Temporary facilities (10’ to 100’ of triplex wire in and out) .....$400
• Temporary facilities (101’ to 250’ of triplex wire in and out) .....$550
• Temporary overhead service to be transferred to a permanent underground service (Actual installation cost plus actual removal cost)

These charges will be in addition to the charge for electric service supplied under Minnesota Power’s Standard Electric Service Rate Schedule and will be included on the customer’s first billing for electric service (excess footage charges will be billed at time of transfer to permanent service).

Commercial and Industrial:

Commercial and Industrial temporary services will continue to be billed actual installed costs plus actual removal costs.

Miscellaneous Charge Items

Often customers are looking for additional services on a piece of property. We ask that you please make every attempt to serve from one service point. If this is not feasible, all costs for an additional service will be charged. Some of the possible costs are listed below:

• Cost of installed meter pedestal ..... $650
• Cost of installed meter pole & meter panel loop ..... $1050
• Cost of meter panel loop on existing pole ..... $600
• Cost of 30’ pole installed ..... $450
• Cost of downguy installed on pole above ..... $400

If you change your mind and ask us to remove facilities that were installed, the above costs also reflect removal charges.

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What we can tell you is that your trench will need to be at least 24” deep and that underground service conductors need to have their location identified by a red warning ribbon placed in the trench at least 12” above the underground installation. Communication cables can be buried in the same trench as long as there is a 12” separation between the electrical and communication cables. Common sense should be used when backfilling a trench so that materials are not placed over the conductor that can damage the insulation.

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• Outdoor metering is required for residential customers with single phase service of 200 amperes or less.
• For outdoor installations with an overhead service drop, the centerline of all meters shall be between 4 and 6 feet from the finished grade.
• For outdoor installations with an underground service lateral, the centerline of all meters shall be between 4 and 6 feet from the finished grade.

When a meter room is being used (such as for an apartment building), locate meters in the basement or another suitable and readily accessible place as near as possible to the point where the service enters the building. Each meter position shall be marked on the outside of the socket or by the breaker (if available) with the address of the unit served.

A 3-foot minimum of unobstructed working space, as measured from the surface on which it is mounted, should be maintained in front of the meter and a minimum of twelve inches of unobstructed space should be maintained on all sides of the meter cover. Ample space shall be provided for all meters, metering equipment, and other apparatus so that they can be safely read, inspected and tested. Any deviation from these space requirements must be mutually agreed to by the customer, electrical contractor, appropriate electrical inspector, and a Minnesota Power metering representative.

Approved Meter Socket List

Minnesota Power does not supply self-contained meter sockets (100, 200 and 320A). Customer-supplied meter sockets, which are approved for installation by Minnesota Power, are listed on the following pages. Each socket type has a general description and an approved manufacturer for that type. The list of approved manufacturers varies with each socket type. Part numbers are for reference only. The prefixes and suffixes may vary for options such as closure plate or hub opening. All sockets must be UL approved.

Effective January 1, 2004, sockets with bypasses are required for all services. All residential and commercial self-contained sockets must now have a jaw clamping lever-type bypass. Horn-type bypasses are not acceptable as a bypass. Customers will not have a power interruption when we change or test a meter with the use of a bypass.

Exceptions to a bypass requirement are:

• Temporary service intended for one year or less when constructing home or business
• Service for illuminating signs or billboards
• Service for street lighting (does not include traffic control lights or semaphores)

To the best of our knowledge, there are no bypass sockets available below 200 amps. For a 100-amp service, use a 200-amp approved bypass socket and use 100-amp-rated wire.

Please call metering personnel at 218-722-2641 or 1-800-228-4966 for questions regarding sockets.

Separate enclosures may be used for voltage transformers.
The cabinet size for all entrances is 22” wide x 22” high x 8” deep.

Busbar-type CT cabinets are preferred, however we will allow the use of J-Box styles with cable—routed, window-type CTs.

Instrument Transformer Enclosure Requirements

1. The top of the transformer enclosure shall be no more than 8 feet and the bottom of the enclosure not less than 4 inches above the floor.
2. Sizes indicated above are minimum. Larger sizes may be required to meet National Electrical Code table for minimum wire bending requirements.
3. Fabrication of the enclosure or cabinet must conform to the National Electrical Code.
4. A hook-on cover, installed with hook at the top, is acceptable if the box is 36” x 32” or smaller and the top of the cabinet is no more than 5 feet above the floor. On larger enclosures, a hinged cover (hinge(s) on the side of the box) is required with a latch and provision for sealing. If the cabinet is 48” or wider, the cover must be installed with sufficient clearance to open to at least 90°.
5. If located outdoors, the cabinet must be weatherproof.
6. Securing the covers with multiple screws or bolts is not acceptable.