HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5761

BYSenate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Warnke, Vognild, Newhouse, Moore, Bender and Cantu)

Deleting certain rules governing electrical installations.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do Pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisch, Fisher, R. King, O'Brien, Patrick, Sanders, Sayan, C. Smith and Walker.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 9, 1987

BACKGROUND:

New technology has made certain rules obsolete under the statute governing the construction and operation of electrical apparatus. Many of the obsolete rules conflict with the updated provisions found in the administrative electrical construction code and electrical workers' safety rules.

SUMMARY:

The following requirements are deleted from the statutory electrical apparatus rules:  (1) pole steps on electrical poles; (2) oil switches at electrical stations or substations;  (3) cutout switches on primary and secondary wires in manholes where wires are connected with transformers;  and (4) maintaining guards on electrical wires at corners.  Neutral wires are exempted from the provisions specifying placement of wires on electrical poles.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Tom Paine, Washington Water Power Company;  Dave Rogers, Washington Public Utility Districts Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The changes in the electrical rules are needed to conform the statute with the advances in electrical construction technology.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.