FINAL BILL REPORT

                     EHB 2053

                                 C 240 L 92

                            Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Exempting electrical utilities and contractors from licensing requirements for certain work involving electrical transmission lines.

By Representatives Heavey, Fuhrman, G. Fisher, Grant, D. Sommers, Cooper, Mielke, Wood, Orr, Day, Ludwig and Silver.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  It is unlawful for any person or entity to engage in the business of installing or maintaining wires or equipment to convey electric current, or installing or maintaining equipment to be operated by electric current as it pertains to the electrical industry without having a valid electrical contractor's license issued by the Department of Labor and Industries.  However, an electrical contractor's license is not required from a utility for installing or maintaining lines to transmit electricity from the source of supply to the point of contact at the property to be supplied.

This exemption does not apply to the installation or maintenance of power lines on the property being supplied with power.

Electrical inspections are conducted by the Department of Labor and Industries, or by cities or towns with qualified electrical construction ordinances.

Summary:  No license is required from a utility because of work in connection with the installation, repair, or maintenance of:  (1) lines, wires, apparatus, and equipment owned by a commercial, industrial or public customer if the equipment is an integral part of a transmission or distribution system providing service to the customer, the equipment is located outside of a structure, and the utility does not initiate the sale of services to perform the work; or (2) lines and wires, together with ancillary apparatus and equipment, that is owned by an independent power producer who has entered into an agreement for the sale of electricity to a utility and that is used in transmitting electricity from an on premises generating unit to the point of interconnection with the utility system.

No inspection is authorized of any wiring, appliance, device, equipment, or installation by a utility or any person employed by a utility in connection with the installation, repair, or maintenance of lines, wires, apparatus, or equipment owned by or under control of the utility.  All electrical work falling within the National Electrical Code is subject to inspection by the Department of Labor and Industries.

An employee of a utility or employee of a contractor retained by a utility and performing utility type work need not obtain a journeyman electrician certificate so long as he or she is registered with or has graduated from a state-approved outside lineman apprenticeship course and that is recognized by the Department of Labor and Industries and that qualifies a person to perform such work.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 96    2

Senate   39    8    (Senate amended)

House 92    4    (House concurred)

Effective:     June 11, 1992