2022-026 - Elecric Service Standards (ESS) PromulgationApril 22, 2022 Report No. 2022-026
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Delegation of authority to Denton Municipal Electric related to any future amendments or newly
promulgated Electric Service Standards (“ESS”).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
DME has prepared a consent agenda item [22-889] requesting the City Council consider adoption
of an ordinance that would delegate authority to amend or update the Electric Service Standards.
This would enable a faster response to changes in the National and State electrical codes and
regulations that govern electrical utility work.
DISCUSSION:
DME’s Electric Service Standards govern installation practices of the electric utility in accordance
with numerous codes but notably the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and the National
Electric Code (NEC). Other potential codes revisions that could require modification to the ESS.
include:
• Denton Development Code (for clearance zones, easement requirements, accessory
dwelling unit rules)
• Texas Administrative Code (highway crossing restrictions)
• ANSI C.12 “Electric Metering”
• UL 1741 “Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for
Use with Distributed Energy Resources”
• IEEE 1547 “Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy
Resources with Associated Electric Power System Interfaces”
• Internal DME Manuals (Line Extension Policy, Distributed Generation Manual)
Code requirements are updated frequently, often causing a need for changes to the ESS. Since the
2014 version of the ESS was approved by the City Council [2014-086], the NEC was revised twice
and the NESC was revised once. Significant revisions were made to the Denton Development
Code as well.
The latest revision to the ESS was approved by City Council on December 14, 2021 [21-2632]
during which the ESS and the Line Extension Policy were separated.
Because the standards of the ESS are driven by national, state, and local requirements, DME
desires to ensure that the ESS is current at all times as changes to these codes are intended to
protect the public and reduce risk to the Denton community. An ESS that is current at all times
will promote developer adherence to changes and reduce risk to the public and the Denton
community. DME requests that Council delegate the authority to amend the ESS to DME in order
to provide a faster and more efficient response to these regulatory changes. DME will provide
notice to the public of changes via social media and the City of Denton web pages.
April 22, 2022 Report No. 2022-026
CONCLUSION:
DME recommends adoption of consent agenda item [22-889] in to simplify and streamline updates
to the Electric Service Standards. DME believes that the speedy adoption of regulatory changes
will benefit customers and developers by reducing confusion and ambiguity during transitions
which in turn will reduce rework and unnecessary expenditures on incompliant work.
STAFF CONTACT:
Prepared by Aaron Bennion, Distribution Engineer, 940-349-7117.
For information concerning this item, contact Jerry Fielder, P.E., DME Engineering Division
Manager; 940-349-7173.
REQUESTOR:
Staff Initiated
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT:
2 hours