Private Poles in Ausgrid's Franchise Area

NW000-S0066 UNCONTROLLED IF PRINTED of 27

Network Standard

NETWORK

Document No Amendment No Approved By Approval Date Review Date

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NW000-S0066 0 Chief Engineer 19/06/2015 19/06/2018

NW000-S0066 EXTERNAL ANNEXURE M – NS145 PRIVATE POLES IN AUSGRID’S FRANCHISE AREA

NS145 Annexure M – NS145 Private Poles in Ausgrid’s Franchise Area Amendment No 0


ISSUE

For issue to all Ausgrid and Accredited Service Providers’ staff involved with the inspection of Ausgrid owned pole assets and is for reference by field, technical and engineering staff.

Ausgrid maintains a copy of this and other Network Standards together with updates and amendments on www.ausgrid.com.au.

Where this standard is issued as a controlled document replacing an earlier edition, remove and destroy the superseded document

DISCLAIMER

As Ausgrid’s standards are subject to ongoing review, the information contained in this document may be amended by Ausgrid at any time. It is possible that conflict may exist between standard documents. In this event, the most recent standard shall prevail.

This document has been developed using information available from field and other sources and is suitable for most situations encountered in Ausgrid. Particular conditions, projects or localities may require special or different practices. It is the responsibility of the local manager, supervisor, assured quality contractor and the individuals involved to make sure that a safe system of work is employed and that statutory requirements are met.

Ausgrid disclaims any and all liability to any person or persons for any procedure, process or any other thing done or not done, as a result of this Standard.

All design work, and the associated supply of materials and equipment, must be undertaken in accordance with and consideration of relevant legislative and regulatory requirements, latest revision of Ausgrid’s Network Standards and specifications and Australian Standards. Designs submitted shall be declared as fit for purpose. Where the designer wishes to include a variation to a network standard or an alternative material or equipment to that currently approved the designer must obtain authorisation from the Network Standard owner before incorporating a variation to a Network Standard in a design.

External designers including those authorised as Accredited Service Providers will seek approval through the approved process as outlined in NS181 Approval of Materials and Equipment and Network Standard Variations. Seeking approval will ensure Network Standards are appropriately updated and that a consistent interpretation of the legislative framework is employed.

Notes: 1. Compliance with this Network Standard does not automatically satisfy the requirements of a Designer Safety Report. The designer must comply with the provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (NSW - Part 6.2 Duties of designer of structure and person who commissions construction work) which requires the designer to provide a written safety report to the person who commissioned the design. This report must be provided to Ausgrid in all instances, including where the design was commissioned by or on behalf of a person who proposes to connect premises to Ausgrid’s network, and will form part of the Designer Safety Report which must also be presented to Ausgrid. Further information is provided in Network Standard (NS) 212 Integrated Support Requirements for Ausgrid Network Assets.

2. Where the procedural requirements of this document conflict with contestable project procedures, the contestable project procedures shall take precedent for the whole project or part thereof which is classified as contestable. Any external contact with Ausgrid for contestable works projects is to be made via the Ausgrid officer responsible for facilitating the contestable project. The Contestable Ausgrid officer will liaise with Ausgrid internal departments and specialists as necessary to fulfil the requirements of this standard. All other technical aspects of this document which are not procedural in nature shall apply to contestable works projects.

INTERPRETATION

In the event that any user of this Standard considers that any of its provisions is uncertain, ambiguous or otherwise in need of interpretation, the user should request Ausgrid to clarify the provision. Ausgrid’s interpretation shall then apply as though it was included in the Standard, and is final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into with any person disputing the meaning of the provision published in the Standard or the accuracy of Ausgrid’s interpretation.

KEYPOINTS

This standard has a summary of content labelled “KEYPOINTS FOR THIS STANDARD”. The inclusion or omission of items in this summary does not signify any specific importance or criticality to the items described. It is meant to simply provide the reader with a quick assessment of some of the major issues addressed by the standard. To fully appreciate the content and the requirements of the standard it must be read in its entirety.

AMENDMENTS TO THIS STANDARD

Where there are changes to this standard from the previously approved version, any previous shading is removed and the newly affected paragraphs are shaded with a grey background. Where the document changes exceed 25% of the document content, any grey background in the document is to be removed and the following words should be shown below the title block on the right hand side of the page in bold and italic, for example, Supersedes – document details (for example, “Supersedes Document Type (Category) Document No. Amendment No.”).



External Annexure M Network Standard NS145

Private Poles in Ausgrid’s Franchise Area

Contents

PRIVATE POLES ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.0

JOINT USE POLES ............................................................................................................................... 4 2.0

STREET LIGHTING POLES .................................................................................................................. 5 3.0

IDEAL IDENTIFIED PRIVATE POLES .................................................................................................. 6 4.0

TRANSPORT FOR NSW POLES .......................................................................................................... 7 5.0

TELSTRA COMMUNICATION LINE POLES ........................................................................................ 9 6.0

ROAD AND MARITIME SERVICES POLES ....................................................................................... 12 7.0

LOCAL COUNCIL OWNED/MAINTAINED PUBLIC LIGHTING POLES ............................................ 14 8.0

URD STREET LIGHTING .................................................................................................................... 19 9.0

PROPERTY OWNERS POLES ........................................................................................................... 20 10.0

SYDNEY WATER POLES ................................................................................................................... 25 11.0

ENDEAVOUR ENERGY POLES ......................................................................................................... 26 12.0

RECORDKEEPING ............................................................................................................................. 27 13.0

AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES .......................................................................................... 27 14.0

DOCUMENT CONTROL...................................................................................................................... 27 15.0



PRIVATE POLES 1.0

Only Ausgrid owned poles and private poles under Rural Subsidy Schemes shall be inspected and treated as a part of the process prescribed in NS145 Pole Inspection and Treatment.

There are many private poles in the Ausgrid franchise area, some examples are:

Transport for NSW (formerly known as Railcorp or SRA) power poles.

Telstra owned communication line poles.

RTA owned light poles on bridges and certain roadways and pedestrian ways.

Local Council owned public lighting in commercial areas and parklands.

Increasingly in newer URD areas, privately owned public lighting is being put in place with decorative lamp posts.

Private poles are also owned by land owners where their POA is long distance from Ausgrid mains, frequently requiring four, five, and sometimes more poles from which to suspend aerial consumer’s mains.

Sydney Water has a number of service poles scattered throughout the districts where their pumping stations require a power supply.

Endeavour Energy poles.

High voltage customers and other utilities are responsible for the maintenance of their private poles in accordance with their Installation Safety Management Plan (ISMP).

Land owners are responsible for the maintenance of private poles on their land. Ausgrid may conduct bush fire risk inspections on these poles in accordance to the process prescribed in NS262 Private Mains Bush Fire Risk Inspection.

This annexure provides information about private poles that are commonly found in the Ausgrid franchise area. This information may be useful in differentiating between Ausgrid poles and private poles.

JOINT USE POLES 2.0

Joint Use Poles exists under agreements between different utilities where their overhead assets are suspended or attached to the same pole. Below lists the general rules associated with joint use poles:

The ownership of a power pole under a joint use agreement is determined by the highest voltage suspended or attached to the pole. The owner of the pole is solely responsible for the maintenance of the pole. E.g. A pole is supporting 33kV mains owned by Transport for NSW (formerly known as Railcorp or SRA), with 11kV and 415 V mains owned by Ausgrid. The owner of the pole is Transport for NSW.

The rule above also applies in the border areas between Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy. In addition, the owner of the lowest voltage is responsible for the maintenance of vegetation clearance.

Where Ausgrid is using a Telstra pole, Ausgrid is allowed to attach an Ausgrid pole ID to the pole ONLY IF the pole has a streetlight mounted on it. If there is only a house service attached then no number is attached to the pole.



STREET LIGHTING POLES 3.0

Street Lighting installations are referred to as either Rate 1, Rate 2 or Rate 3. This classification dictates who financed the installation when it was built and who carries out the maintenance,

The definitions of Rate1, Rate 2 and Rate 3 are as follows:

Rate 1

Ausgrid paid for:

(a) installation and fully maintains the installation. Customer charged for energy (if appropriate),

(b) NUOS (Network Use of System),

(c) lamp maintenance,

(d) capital recovery for the different components,

(e) connection maintenance.

Rate 2

Customer paid for the installation but Ausgrid assumes ownership of the installation. Customer charged for:

(a) energy (if appropriate),

(b) NUOS,

(c) lamp maintenance,

(d) connection maintenance.

Repairs due to damage, and replacement due to age, to be paid for by the customer.

Rate 3

Private installations supplied from Ausgrid's street lighting network and maintained by the customer. Customer charged for:

(a) energy (if appropriate)

(b) NUOS.

Rate 3 lighting is gradually being phased out and as of 2007, no new rate 3 lighting is being created.



ADEQUATELY IDENTIFIED PRIVATE POLES 4.0

Private poles are located in many places throughout Ausgrid’s franchise area. The Service and Installation Rules of NSW have stated that all poles in public places are to be identified as per the rule:

3.7.2.2 Labelling of Private Posts/Poles

A customer’s pole must be clearly labelled to indicate 'PRIVATE POLE' to differentiate it from the electricity distributor and other utility poles. Lettering must be a minimum 20mm high.

(Above, left) Example of an adequately identified private pole. Unfortunately, not all private poles are labelled as clearly as the pole in this example.

Ausgrid owned

Privately owned

(Left) This photo demonstrates how the correct labelling of private poles helps to identify Ausgrid assets in areas where there are a number of separately owned public light poles.



TRANSPORT FOR NSW POLES 5.0

Transport for NSW (formerly known as Railcorp or SRA) poles are generally clearly identified.

Note: It is common for Ausgrid to attaches its overhead equipment to Transport for NSW poles on either side of the rail corridor where the overhead line has to perform an overhead rail crossing.

Ausgrid ID Plate

Transport for NSW ID Plate

(Left) This photo shows both an Ausgrid ID plate and a Transport for NSW ID plate on the same pole.

Transport for NSW 33kV

Ausgrid 11kV

Ausgrid 415 V

Telstra Broadband

(Left) The highest voltage attached to this pole is owned by Transport for NSW, therefore the pole is owned by Transport for NSW.

Poles owned by Transport for NSW shall be recorded in SAP as being owned by “SRA” (a historical name for Transport NSW and Railcorp).

Transport for NSW poles are often located far from the rail corridor. These poles will often have both Ausgrid HV and LV mains, Telstra cables as well as their Transport for NSW 33kV lines, as seen here in this photo.



If a power pole has no Transport for NSW ID plate, but is suspected of being owned by Transport for NSW, the construction method may give an indicator as to who owns the pole.

Transport for NSW uses a different method of cross-arm construction compared to the method that is used by Ausgrid.

On Transport for NSW poles, a ‘U’ bolt method is used for attaching the cross arm to the pole. Ausgrid’s method is a king bolt which is placed through a hole drilled through both the pole and cross-arm. See the photos below.

(Left) Transport for NSW ‘U’ bolt method

(Left) Ausgrid’s King bolt method

(Left) Transport for NSW has also taken responsibility the illumination of some of their recently built or upgraded commuter car parking areas. They use both OH and UG construction for their lights. These poles are yet to have ID plates attached.



TELSTRA COMMUNICATION LINE POLES 6.0

The majority of Telstra’s poles are unidentified. However, newer poles made of CCA may have a pole disc identifying Telstra as the owner of the pole.

Where a Telstra pole has an Ausgrid street light installed, the pole shall be assigned an Ausgrid SAP asset number (as per the Joint Use Pole rule listed in Section 2.0). Ausgrid’s SAP system shall use the code “TELSTRA” to identify Telstra as owner of the pole and the party responsible for the maintenance of the pole. Ausgrid would only be responsible for the maintenance of the lamp.

Ausgrid poles

Telstra poles

(Left) Ausgrid distribution mains are on the right hand side of the photo. The poles on the opposite side of the road are Telstra poles because they only have telecommunications assets on them.

(Left) Newer Telstra poles (commonly CCA poles) may be identified by the pole disc.



(Above) Some poles may be identified as Telstra owned by an aluminium disc held on the pole with 2 nails. Each disc has a 4 letter reduction of the suburb for the location of the pole and an identifying number. The location of the disc varies slightly from pole to pole, but is generally on the road side or from the oncoming traffic aspect.

Unidentified Telstra poles can often be determined by other features related to their construction and location:

Telstra poles in general do not have any bare electrical conductors attached.

Telstra poles are often located on the opposite side of the road to Ausgrid mains poles.

Telstra poles often have insulated service mains attached, providing a connection point allowing for the service conductor to reach the point of attachment without crossing adjoining properties.

Telstra poles may have a Telstra OH junction box attached allowing for Telstra technician access at ladder height.



Ausgrid house services

Telstra house services

Telstra main

Telstra OH junction box

(Below) In some areas there are JU (Joint Use) plates attached to poles.

(Above) There may be a Telstra UGOH and junction box attached to a Telstra pole.



ROAD AND MARITIME SERVICES POLES 7.0

The Road and Maritime Services (RMS, and formerly RTA) owns and maintains light poles on bridges and certain roadways and pedestrian pathways.

These lights are numbered in a number of different ways and presently a programme is under way to have a uniform method of identification being attached to their poles (below).

Another method the RMS uses is a “paint on” method (below).

The RMS lights are billed using both metered and un-metered billing methods. Most recent constructions are the metered method which means that at a location in close proximity to the light poles’ circuit there will be a meter box that should have an identifying sticker attached.

Old riveted plate method

New larger and brighter stick-on method



This RMS meter box will have an NMB lock for access by the meter readers and inside will often have a map for the location of all the poles connected in the circuit.

The RMS and Toll Road Operators have an agreement with Ausgrid that, Public Lighting half way down off and on ramps is owned by Ausgrid.

This is a grey area of ownership rules. When in doubt, please contact SAP Data Verification Officer for clarification.

(left) This is another example of the RMS lighting in this case the West City Link road. Here the lighting is a number of different types. Notice the road illumination lamp pole has a lower pedestrian path illumination lamp on the opposite side of the pole behind the traffic noise buffer wall. Also, notice the dual purpose flood light on the pole on the left. All the poles in this photo are private poles and none of them have any ID tags attached to them nor do they appear in SAP or GIS mapping.

The poles in this area on the main road side of the buffer wall do have ID tags attached (below).



LOCAL COUNCIL OWNED/MAINTAINED PUBLIC LIGHTING 8.0POLES

Local councils throughout the metropolitan area own and maintain certain types and styles of Public Lighting. Some council areas comply with NSW Service Installation Rules by marking their poles with ownership details; other councils are yet to comply.

Note: Ausgrid also own and maintain some Public Lighting, these poles will have an Ausgrid ID plate.

(Left) This photo shows two different styles of decorative public lighting poles. Note the taller pole also has a security camera installed on it. The poles in this example are private poles. They do not appear in SAP nor do they appear in GIS maps.

(Above) This is the GIS map of the photos shown above. In this case the map states the lighting has been transferred to the local council.



(Left) This photo shows an example of decorative private council owned street lighting poles.

As stated in the preamble these would be classed as Rate 3 streetlights, although, if these streetlights were supplied via a Private Unmetered Supply (PUMS) or via a private metered supply then they would be billed through CCS and would not be Rate 3 SL's in SAP. Once again, if in doubt, please contact SAP Data Verification Officer for clarification.

These light poles do not appear in SAP or GIS maps.

(Below) These SMART poles in the city areas are private poles.



(Left) Notice in this photo the spot light on the pole on the right, illuminating the statue. This is a private pole with a rate 3 streetlight mounted on it the decorative light on the left of it is an Ausgrid owned rate 1 streetlight.

Ausgrid decorative streetlight

Private pole with statue spot light mounted on it

(Left) In this photo notice the decorative streetlight poles and also the Ausgrid power pole in the background. These decorative poles are private council owned lamp poles that have bar code marking stickers attached.

These decorative light poles do not appear in SAP or GIS maps.



(Above) This is one of a group of ten lamp poles on a disused road traffic bridge that has been converted to pedestrian footway. These lamp poles have old Ausgrid street light numbers attached that have a P_***** .

The P denotes it is a privately maintained pole and lamp. These lamps are Rate 3 street lights. These are private poles. They do appear in GIS mapping. They do appear in SAP, with an ID of LE-00000.

Any poles found in the field with these P-**** ID plates should be checked in SAP as having the correct address, as many of these lights have currently have NEED TO FIX as the street name and DATA CLEANSING as the suburb.



(Below) All of the poles in these photos are private poles located at the Olympic Park at Homebush Bay. Some of the poles are identified with asset labels others are not.



URD STREET LIGHTING 9.0

New Urban Residential Developments are now designed with private poles for street lighting or rate 2 depending on negotiations during the construction phase of the development.

Rate 2 lights should have an Ausgrid asset number attached to the pole, private lights should not have asset numbers attached, but should be identified as per the Service and Installation Rules of NSW. Once again, if in doubt, please contact SAP Data Verification Officer for clarification.

Ausgrid light and pole on main road outside URD Private lights and poles in URD roads



PROPERTY OWNERS POLES 10.0

Property owners’ poles for the most part are easily identified as being different to that of an Ausgrid owned pole. The Service and Installation Rules of NSW has clear diagrams that define what denotes a private pole. See below.



From the diagram it can be said that any pole erected on private property is a private pole. In some circumstances there are HV mains traversing private properties that are suspended on Ausgrid poles. These poles will have a corresponding SAP asset number and Ausgrid ID plate that shall be attached to the pole.

OH LV conductors suspended from poles on private property should be according to the Service and Installation Rules of NSW insulated conductors and distances between poles should comply with Table 3.8 of the Service and Installation Rules of NSW. Taking into account the service rule book has been updated a number of times over previous years there may well be some exceptions to these rules still in service at some locations.

The following photos will give some helpful examples illustrating the difference between Ausgrid owned poles and private poles.

(Above Left) This is a private pole.

Points to note: Insulated mains.

Pole is on private property.

Fuse box mounted on pole.

(Above Right) The same private service pole showing the connection point to Ausgrid’s mains.

This example relates to Service and Installation Rules of NSW Example C.

Point of Supply

Connection Point



(Above) This photo shows a private service pole that has a meter box mounted on it Ausgrid mains poles and a private light pole illuminating private railway tracks a Port Botany.

(Left) This is a private pole. Points to note: Insulated mains.

Pole is on private property.

Meter box mounted on pole.

This example relates to Service Rules Example B.

Private Service pole

Private light pole

Ausgrid mains pole

Ausgrid mains pole

Point of supply

Consumers mains service

Meter box service

OH service



(Left) This is a private CCA service pole

Insulated conductors.

Behind a fence on private property.

Non standard method of conductors entering the building.

Vegetation within Ausgrid limits.

These examples relates to Service and Installation Rules of NSW Example B.

(Left) This is a private steel service pole

Separate insulated conductors.

Behind a fence on private property.

Non-standard Ausgrid construction

(Left) This photo shows two examples of private service poles. The pole on the left is an OH to UG galvanised steel pole (Service and Installation Rules of NSW Example C ).

The pole on the right is a natural wood pole with an OH to OH service attached (Service and Installation Rules of NSW Example B). Both of these poles are on private property signifying that they are private poles, also notice the letter box mounted on the pole on the right.



(Left) This photo shows a private OH line supplying power to a battleaxe residential block. The Ausgrid owned pole can be seen in the foot path at the kerb line. All other poles on private property are private poles as per the Service and Installation Rules of NSW descriptions.

(Below) Close up views of the poles.

10.1 Property Owners Poles under Rural Subsidy Schemes

Property owners poles installed under Rural Subsidy (RS) schemes are owned by the customers but maintained by Ausgrid as a part of its routine maintenance activities. Inspection of poles under Rural Subsidy Schemes is carried out in accordance to NS145.

In most cases, RS poles can be identified by an Ausgrid ID plate. However if the ID plate is missing, or was not installed then GIS data (e.g. GPS coordinates) can be used to identify the pole.



SYDNEY WATER POLES 11.0

Sydney Water has a number of sites where it receives its power from Ausgrid via OH services. At these sites the service pole is considered private even though the pole may appear to be on unfenced public land. See below.

(Left) In this example the pole has a sign attached to the pole with Sydney Water logos and information about the site and the pumping station’s control cabinets are located on the surface, which makes for easy identification.

If the controls are below ground, then identification of a Sydney Water owned pole can be more obscure. Some indicators that may help identify are ventilation panels around UG pit covers and/or vent pipes in the near surrounds.

Vent panels

Control cabinets

Vent pipes



ENDEAVOUR ENERGY POLES 12.0

In the border areas between the supply authorities, some poles are joint use poles. The rules mentioned in Section 2.0 apply in the border areas between Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy, in that:

The ownership of a power pole under a joint use agreement is determined by the highest voltage suspended or attached to the pole. The owner of the pole is solely responsible for the maintenance of the pole. In addition, the owner of the lowest voltage is responsible for the maintenance of vegetation clearance.

(Below Left) Five 33kV poles are shown with LV, street lighting and Telstra broadband attached to them. Ausgrid owns the 33kV and therefore owns the pole. Endeavour Energy owns the street lighting and LV. Telstra owns the broadband.

(Below Right) The Endeavour Energy asset ID of this pole is 1879, Ausgrid asset is FA00640. The third number 32, is the Ausgrid transmission branch system of numbering transmission poles.

Ausgrid pole number

Integral Energy pole number

Transmission branch pole number



RECORDKEEPING 13.0

The table below identifies the types of records relating to the process, their storage location and retention period.

Table 1 – Recordkeeping

Type of Record Storage Location Retention Period*

Approved copy of the network standard

BMS Network sub process Standard – Company

Unlimited

Draft Copies of the network standard during amendment/creation

TRIM Work Folder for Network Standards (Trim ref. 2014/21250/108)

Unlimited

Working documents (emails, memos, impact assessment reports, etc.)

TRIM Work Folder for Network Standards (Trim ref. 2014/21250/108)

Unlimited

* The following retention periods are subject to change eg if the records are required for legal matters or legislative changes. Before disposal, retention periods should be checked and authorised by the Records Manager.

AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 14.0

For this network standard the authorities and responsibilities of Ausgrid employees and managers in relation to content, management and document control of this network standard can be obtained from the Company Procedure (Network) – Production/Review of Network Standards. The responsibilities of persons for the design or construction work detailed in this network standard are identified throughout this standard in the context of the requirements to which they apply.

DOCUMENT CONTROL 15.0

Content Coordinator : Transmission and Distribution Mains Engineering Manager

Distribution Coordinator : Engineering Information and Services Manager

Private Poles in Ausgrid's Franchise Area

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