3.0 Aerial Service

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Updated May 2017

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Service Types

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3.1 General introduction

An aerial service is an overhead service run from a power pole.
Typical installations include homes and small commercial applications.
Please see below for a summary of your responsibilities as the customer and the responsibilities of EPCOR Distribution and Transmission Inc. (EDTI).
If you decide that you require an aerial service, please complete the Commercial or Single-Family Residential Application Form.

See the Additional Information Section (9.0) to learn about such topics as temporary power, splicing, operations, equipment relocation, and pre-inspection checklists.
The information is divided into sections to make it easier for you to find what you need, but EDTI strongly suggests that you read all the information before starting.
If there are any differences between this information and EDTI's Terms and Conditions, the Terms and Conditions will govern. In addition, regulations contained in the Canadian Electrical Code, Alberta Electrical Utility Code, Alberta Safety Codes Act, and Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act must be followed.
For the safety of public, City of Edmonton bylaws require residents or property owners to always keep power assets clear of trees, shrubs, rocks, debris and other items.

Table 1

Customer's Responsibilities

Complete all work on the building, including installation of the weatherhead and service attachment.
Install Current Transformers and Potential Transformers.
Install and maintain all intermediate poles and associated hardware, including racks, anchors, and downhauls with only secondary conductors attached.

NOTE: The customer owns and maintains poles and anchors with only secondary wires attached.

EDTI's Responsibilities

Complete all work on public property.
Supply and install overhead secondary conductors and make the final connection at the transformer and weatherhead.
Supply, install, and maintain all high-voltage utility equipment, including conductors, transformers, and switches.
Install and maintain all intermediate poles, anchors, and downhauls with highvoltage (primary) conductors attached on the line side of the point of service.
Supply Current Transformers and Potential Transformers.
Supply and install revenue metering equipment.

Note: EDTI owns and maintains all poles, anchors, and downhauls on the line side of the point of service with primary wire attached, overhead secondary conductors, and revenue metering equipment.

Service Connection Point (Service Entry Point)

Weatherhead on the building.

Point of Service Termination (Electrical Connection Point)

Weatherhead on the building.

3.2 Standard Supply Voltages 3.3 Permits and Inspections 3.4 Service Connection Agreement 3.5 Drawing Requirements 3.6 Horizontal Clearance to Other Utilities 3.7 Service Pole Location 3.8 Electrical Room 3.9 Main Switch or Breaker Minimum Interrupting Capacity 3.10 Maximum Horsepower of Motors 3.11 General Service Requirements 3.12 Equipment Access 3.13 Site Housekeeping 3.14 Poles on Private Property 3.15 Attachment Methods 3.16 Wire Installation 3.17 Duplex, Triplex, and Fourplex Units 3.18 Service Interruption 3.19 Next Steps

3.2 Standard Supply Voltages

To see the standard voltages available from EDTI for this type of service, please see the Select the Service Type That Works for You (1.4) section.
Maximum service limits apply to services within our 15 kV and 25 kV service areas. For any new or increased services in the 5 kV distribution area, contact us for limits. Refer to Drawing 29 for the primary voltage in your area, and contact us for confirmation.
New or Increased 240 V, 3-phase, 3-wire services will only be supplied if approved by EDTI Customer Engineering Services.
Existing 240 V, 3-Phase, 3-wire Services will continue to be maintained.
1-phase equipment cannot be connected to 240 V, 3-phase, 3-wire services.
Two or more services of the same voltage will not be supplied to the same premises. An example would be a 120/240 V, 1-phase, 3-wire service and a 120/208 V, 3-phase, 4-wire service.

3.3 Permits and Inspections

As a customer, you or your contractors are responsible for:

Obtaining all permits, certificates, licences, inspections, reports, and other authorizations necessary for installing and operating the service connection. EDTI is not required to start or continue operation of a service connection unless the customer has complied with the licensing requirements of EDTI and all other authorities.
Submitting an electronic copy of the electrical wiring permit, civil electrical inspection (if required), and final electrical inspection report to EDTI Customer Engineering Services.
Ensuring that an Electrical Safety Codes Officer inspects all internal wiring before it's concealed. All transformer and switching cubicles, ground grids, underground wiring, and ducts must be inspected before the trench is backfilled. Contact the City of Edmonton to arrange for inspections. A service connection will not be energized unless you have received inspection approval.
Completing utility searches on private property and notifying Alberta One-Call before any work is done.

3.4 Service Connection Agreement

EDTI requires the customer to sign the Customer Acceptance portion of the estimate letter as confirmation of intent to proceed with construction. This is required before EDTI finalizes the design and issues work orders.
EDTI may require the customer to sign a Construction Commitment Agreement, Electric Service Agreement, and/or Interconnection Operating and Maintenance Agreement.
The customer may be required to make a capital contribution toward the cost of materials and equipment installed on City of Edmonton property or the customer's property.

3.5 Drawing Requirements

EDTI Customer Engineering Services reserves the right of final approval for the location of facilities before EDTI will grant construction approval.
New connection construction cannot start until EDTI has approved all drawings.
A customer requesting an aerial electrical service must submit a copy of the following:

Commercial or Single-Family Residential Application Form.
Architectural site plan (when clearance issues are a concern)
Engineer-approved electrical site plan authenticated by a duly registered professional member of APEGA or ASET
Mechanical plans showing water, sewer, and gas lines on private property (when poles or anchors are set on private property)

Drawings must be in electronic format and follow accepted drafting standards as indicated in this guide.
Drawings will become part of EDTI's record system and must be submitted in PDF and AutoCAD or MicroStation format.
The following information must be included on these plans:

All legal property lines
Streets, avenues, and any other public thoroughfare abutting the property
Location of intermediate poles and anchors on the line (source) side of the service connection point
Locations of planned and existing buildings
The direction of door openings for padmount transformers and cubicles
The location and size of the main distribution panel within the building, including voltage, amperage, phase, wire size, temperature rating (i.e., 75 or 90 degree), and type
A detailed drawing of the electrical room layout
Easements and rights-of-way on the customer's property
Location and description of all other utilities located within 3.0 m of proposed poles and anchors on the property
Drawings at a scale that will maintain the readability of multiple conductors, which can be submitted as multiple sheets, if necessary to meet the readability criteria, as long as each sheet is self-contained
Electrical permit number and legal address
Title, block, border, scale, and legend

Please note that all equipment and conductor locations on the drawing are to be dimensioned from the building and property lines and given real-world coordinates. Curb lines may also be included.

EDTI Customer Engineering Services will review and accept drawings and the scope of work.

3.6 Horizontal Clearance to Other Utilities

Poles and anchors on private property require the following clearances:
2.0 metres to all valves, hydrants, catch basins, manholes, vaults, sanitary and storm sewer lines, septic tanks, fields, and Minnesota mounds. Poles and anchors must not be set in septic fields and Minnesota mounds.
1.8 m to all water lines and cc valves.
1.0 m to all gas lines.

3.7 Service Pole Location

It is critical that you contact EDTI Customer Engineering Services for your site-specific service pole location before beginning construction. The site-specific point can differ, due to a number of circumstances.

3.8 Electrical Room

If service capacity exceeds 200 A, service equipment must be located in a separate electrical room of adequate size. The electrical room can only contain electrical and/or communication equipment. It must not contain mechanical devices, such as gas or water equipment.
A detail of the electrical room layout must be submitted for EDTI approval.
All electrical rooms must have four walls and a ceiling.
See the Metering Section (8.0) for more detail.
EDTI has specific servicing details for the Quarters Downtown Development area. If your development is in this area, which extends from 92 to 97 Street and from 101 to 103A Avenue, please contact us for these details.

3.9 Main Switch or Breaker Minimum Interrupting Capacity

The interrupting capacity of main switches and breakers must be sized according to Table 3.
The minimum interrupting capacity applies to all service entrance equipment.
The interrupting capacities indicated are for one service from one matching transformer.
When a larger transformer is installed to feed several services, the interrupting capacity must match the total capacity of all services.
For temporary services supplied from a permanent transformer, interrupting ratings must match the available fault currents at the transformer.
Due to higher fault levels, services supplied from the network system require larger interrupting capacities. Please see the Network Service Section (6.0) for more information.

3.10 Maximum Horsepower of Motors

The maximum permitted horsepower of motors permitted is identified in Table 2.
Special permission is required before EDTI will grant construction approval for motors larger than those indicated in Table 2. Please contact EDTI Customer Engineering Services for more information.

3.11 General Service Requirements

Aerial (overhead) services will not be provided in areas served by underground electrical facilities.
Special permission is required from EDTI before EDTI will grant construction approval when installing primary (high-voltage) overhead wires on private property.
Aerial (overhead) services are not permitted on lots adjacent to "Major Commercial Corridors" as outlined in the City of Edmonton bylaw # 12800-12. Streets such as St. Albert Tr., Mark Messier Tr., Fort Rd., Calgary Tr., Gateway Blvd., and Stony Plain Rd. are affected. Please see Appendix 1 – Major Commercial Corridors Overlay for specific details on areas included in this bylaw.
The customer is responsible for the installation and maintenance of all civil work on private property, including maintaining the level of equipment. Civil work typically includes trenching, ducting, transformer or cubicle pads, ground grids, guardrails, pull boxes, and intermediate service poles. Please see above.
The customer is responsible for installing meter bases on private property.
The location of the meter socket in relation to the main disconnect depends on the voltage. See the Metering Section (8.0).
EDTI owns and installs all equipment on public property.
EDTI retains ownership of transformers, switching cubicles, and wire on the line side of the service connection point.
Only EDTI's employees or their authorized agents can operate or maintain any electrical facilities owned by EDTI.
The customer will comply with the standards set out by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 519-1992 (Tables 10.3, 10.4, 10.5) when loads producing harmonic distortion are involved. The customer will also comply with the short- and long-term flicker limits as specified in Tables 2 and 6 of CAN/CSA-C61000-3-7 Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Part 3 – 7.
125 A overhead services for residential purposes are not available.
In Alberta, residential services are not designed for electric heating as the primary heat source. If it is to be used as the primary heat source, contact EDTI Customer Engineering Services prior to construction. The customer may be assessed additional costs based on the type of upgrades required.
Typical residential overhead services are available at 100 A. To arrange for service connections greater than 100 A, contact us.
Voltage drop calculations are the customer's responsibility and must be submitted upon request.
The customer must ensure loading is balanced across all three phases of the service.
Customers are not allowed to take single phase 120V service off the three phase 240V service
EDTI will not connect any permanent or temporary service to the City of Edmonton's streetlight system.
The customer must provide space and easements for utility equipment to maintain the flexibility of the power system, if required by EDTI Customer Engineering Services. See the Easement Agreement Section (9.5) for more information.
Connections and disconnections must be done by EDTI or its authorized agents.
EDTI Customer Engineering Services will not permit the installation of service lines crossing public property between private properties.
EDTI Customer Engineering Services reserves the right of final approval for the location of facilities before EDTI grants construction approval.
The required clearance to overhead power lines may be as much as 7.0 m. Failing to consider the proximity of planned structures to power lines poses serious safety issues. All costs associated with meeting the required code clearances are the owner's responsibility. If the site is deemed unsafe, a stop-work order may be issued. You can get more information on building near overhead lines and learn more at Where's the Line.

3.12 Equipment Access

EDTI Customer Engineering Services reserves the right of final approval for the location of facilities before EDTI will grant construction approval.
EDTI requires truck access to on-property transformers, switching cubicles, poles, and pull boxes if EDTI will be installing the cable.
Access to equipment must be provided from private property. Without special permission from EDTI Customer Engineering Services, public roadways or laneways are not acceptable for access to equipment on private property.
Equipment must be placed beside a 4.6 m wide access roadway, centred in an unimpeded 6.5 m area. The area must be capable of supporting an 18,000 kg truck, plus a transformer weighing up to 6,900 kg (transformers must be unloaded from the side of the vehicle). Road allowance must account for outriggers on the truck to extend to a width of 7.0 m.
Any overhang or other obstruction over the access roadway, such as a sign, must have a minimum of 5.0 m of vertical clearance.
If access is through a locked enclosure, the customer shall provide double lock capability on the gate to accommodate an EDTI lock.
Poles need to be placed to allow unimpeded access by our vehicles. Contact EDTI Customer Engineering Services for site-specific information.
Equipment must be placed in a location where it will not create a line-of-sight concern for traffic or pedestrians.

3.13 Site Housekeeping

Areas that our crews must access and work in must be clear of construction materials, equipment, debris, trash, and other materials that may pose a safety risk to personnel or damage equipment.
The site must be level and consist of hard-packed material or asphalt.
If a site has substandard housekeeping or is deemed unsafe by EDTI personnel, our personnel will leave the site until the issues are rectified.

3.14 Poles on Private Property

EDTI Customer Engineering Services reserves the right of final approval for the location of facilities before EDTI will grant construction approval.
Special permission is required for installing primary (high-voltage) overhead wires on private property. Customers need to get this permission from EDTI before EDTI will grant construction approval.
EDTI requires truck access to poles where EDTI will be installing the wire. See the Equipment Access Section (3.12) for more information.
EDTI owns, installs, and maintains all poles and anchors on the line side of the service connection point with primary (high-voltage) conductors attached.
The customer owns, installs, and maintains all poles and anchors on private property with only secondary conductors attached.
It's important to be aware of any power lines in the area when planning construction. The required clearance to overhead power lines may be as much as 7.0 m. Failing to consider the proximity of planned structures to power lines poses serious safety issues and potential additional costs to relocate the lines. You can get more information on building near overhead lines and learn more at Where's the Line.
Poles on private property must meet EDTI construction standards. For example, they must be a minimum of Class 3 and butt treated.
Poles that only have secondary conductors attached must be a minimum of 40 ft. long and set at a depth of 6 ft.
Poles with primary conductors attached must be a minimum of 45 ft. long and set at a depth of 6.5 ft.
Full-length treated (green) poles are not acceptable.
Pole lines on private property must be constructed with required clearances from the property line to avoid interference with development on adjacent property. The property line will be considered a structure. See Table 7 of the Alberta Electrical Utility Code for required clearances.
The customer must ensure an intermediate pole is in place if the span from the attachment device to the service pole is greater than the maximum span length noted in Table 7.
The pole must be set as per Drawings 13 and 14 and placed in a straight line between the service pole and the building attachment; otherwise, anchors may be required.
EDTI will not connect the customer's service if the intermediate pole appears unsatisfactory.
At EDTI's request, the customer will be required to have the intermediate pole tested to ensure suitability.

3.15 Attachment Methods

The attachment point and weatherhead on the building must be on the side facing the pole line and as close as is practical to the service pole.
EDTI Customer Engineering Services reserves the right to request that the attachment point be adjusted to minimize or eliminate service trespass to neighbouring properties.
The attachment point is to be a maximum of 6.0 m from final grade and must be accessible by a ladder.
The customer is required to install the appropriate attachment device to the building. See Drawings 15, 16, and 17, and Table 8.
See Table 8 for acceptable intermediate pole attachment devices.
In general, the attachment must be vertical.
Horizontal attachments may be used to increase clearances, depending on the angle of pull from the pole to the building. If you're not sure if you can use a horizontal attachment, ask the inspection authority.
A minimum vertical clearance of 0.6 m and a minimum horizontal clearance of 1.0 m must be maintained between attachment devices at the building.
The attachment point for the electrical service must be above any communication services.
Attachment devices must be secured to the building to withstand the service wire pulling tension requirements.
Ensure the horizontal distance between the attachment point and the weatherhead is a minimum of 300 mm and a maximum of 1,000 mm. The weatherhead must be above the attachment point.
Ensure the vertical distance between the attachment point and the weatherhead is a minimum of 150 mm and a maximum of 300 mm. The weatherhead must be above the attachment point.

3.16 Wire Installation

EDTI will make the final connection at the transformer.
Services exceeding the maximum spans noted in Table 7 may require an intermediate pole, or the customer will have to redesign the service with an underground system.
EDTI will supply and install up to 30 m of service wire, according to spans noted in Table 7, and make all terminations at the weatherhead, once inspection approval is received.
The maximum length of service conductors permitted in a building is 3.0 m, unless they are mechanically protected in rigid metal conduit, in which case the maximum is 7.5 m.

3.17 Duplex, Triplex, and Fourplex Units

All units on one lot

Each individual unit in a new multiple dwelling will be served as a separate service, unless EDTI Customer Engineering Services agrees otherwise.
If a homeowner's agreement is in place, one service may be installed to a common location on the building to service all the units.
Please contact us to discuss your specific situation.

Each unit on an individual lot

Each individual unit in a new multiple dwelling must be served as a separate service, unless EDTI Customer Engineering Services agrees otherwise.
EDTI may require additional work at the customer's expense to ensure no trespass is created.
Please contact us to discuss your specific situation.

Bare-land development

EDTI requires that a blanket easement be registered on the owner's title in EDTI's name. See the Easement Agreement Section (9.5) for more information.

3.18 Service Interruption

While EDTI takes all reasonable efforts to guard against interruptions, we do not guarantee uninterrupted service.
Without liability of any kind to EDTI, EDTI Customer Engineering Services has the right to disconnect or otherwise curtail, interrupt, or reduce Distribution Tariff Service to customers whenever EDTI reasonably determines, or is told by the Alberta Electric System Operator, that such a disconnection, curtailment, interruption, or reduction is necessary:

To facilitate construction, installation, maintenance, repair, replacement, or inspection of any of EDTI's facilities
To maintain the safety and reliability of EDTI's distribution system
For any other reason, including dangerous or hazardous circumstances such as emergencies, forced outages, potential overloading of EDTI's distribution system, or force majeure

3.19 Next Steps

Your next steps are to ensure the metering facilities at your Site are built correctly and to contact an energy retailer of your choosing to apply for power service.

Please see the Metering Section (8.0) to determine the type of metering required for your installation.

You are free to choose any retailer. Regulated wires services do not depend on the retailer you choose. For a listing of licensed Alberta retailers, visit ucahelps.alberta.ca or call 310-4822 (toll free in Alberta).

3.0 Aerial Service

Have questions about the
Customer Connection Guide?

Updated May 2017

Contact Us

Service Types

Other Information

3.1 General introduction

Table 1

Customer's Responsibilities

EDTI's Responsibilities

Service Connection Point (Service Entry Point)

Point of Service Termination (Electrical Connection Point)

All units on one lot

Each unit on an individual lot

Bare-land development

Section Links

Drawing 13

Drawing 14

Drawing 15

Drawing 16

Drawing 17

Drawing 29

Table 1

Table 1B

Table 2

Table 3

Table 6

Table 7

Table 8

3.0 Aerial Service

​Have questions about theCustomer Connection Guide?

Updated May 2017

Contact Us

Service Types

Other Information

3.1 General introduction

Table 1

​Customer's Responsibilities

​EDTI's Responsibilities

Service Connection Point (Service Entry Point)

​Point of Service Termination (Electrical Connection Point)

All units on one lot

Each unit on an individual lot

Bare-land development

​Section Links

​Drawing 13

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Have questions about the
Customer Connection Guide?

Customer's Responsibilities

EDTI's Responsibilities

Point of Service Termination (Electrical Connection Point)

Section Links

Drawing 13