Unmetered Service

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Updated May 2017

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7.1 General introduction

An unmetered service refers to an unmetered service only available to the City of Edmonton and communication utility companies.
Typical installations include streetlights, traffic signals, and small utility services.
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 you require an unmetered service, please complete the Unmetered Application Form.
See the Additional Information section (9.0) to learn about topics such 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 trenching, ducting, and grounding.
Supply and install secondary cable up to the EDTI agreed-upon demarcation point.
For installations installed by EPCOR or one of its designated agents, please reference the Transportation Electrical Systems Asset Definition Agreement.

NOTE: The customer owns and maintains all secondary cable and duct on the load side of the agreed-upon demarcation point.

EDTI's Responsibilities

Supply and install required transformers, poles, and other equipment on public property.

NOTE: EDTI owns and maintains all facilities on the line side of the agreedupon demarcation point.

Service Connection Point (Service Entry Point)

EDTI agreed-upon demarcation point

Point of Service Termination (Electrical Connection Point)

EDTI agreed- upon demarcation point

7.2 Availability of Unmetered Service Connections 7.3 Standard Supply Voltages 7.4 Permits and Inspections 7.5 Service Connection Agreement 7.6 Basic Drawing Requirements 7.7 As-Built Drawing Requirements 7.8 Horizontal Clearance to Other Utilities 7.9 Servicing Location 7.10 Main Switch or Breaker Minimum Interrupting Capacity 7.11 General Service Requirements 7.12 Trenching and Backhoe 7.13 Service Ducts 7.14 Duct Bends 7.15 Equipment Access 7.16 Site Housekeeping 7.17 Conductors for Underground Services 7.18 Cable Installation for Underground Services 7.19 Wire Installation for Overhead Services 7.20 Attachment Methods for Overhead Services 7.21 Street Lighting 7.22 Lane Lighting (Back Alley Lighting) 7.23 Security Lighting (Lighting of Public Areas) 7.24 Conversion to a Metered Service 7.25 Service Interruption 7.26 Next Steps

7.2 Availability of Unmetered Service Connections

An unmetered connection will be allowed, provided it meets all the following conditions:

The service connection is for the City of Edmonton or communication utility companies.
The unmetered load is located within the City of Edmonton road right of way.
The connected load is small, consistent, and predictable, and electrical consumption can be easily calculated.
The standard supply voltage is one of the voltage services available from EDTI Customer Engineering Services. See the Standard Supply Voltages Section (7.3).
The maximum current requirements are less than 60 A per service connection.

7.3 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 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.

7.4 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 the installation and operation of 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 also be inspected before the trench is backfilled. Please contact the City of Edmonton to arrange for inspections. A service connection will not be energized unless you have inspection approval.
Completing utility searches on private property and notifying Alberta One-Call before any work is done.

7.5 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.
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.

7.6 Basic 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 unmetered service must submit a copy of the following:

Unmetered Service Application Form
Engineer-approved electrical site plan authenticated by a duly registered professional member of APEGA or ASET
Mechanical plans showing water, sewer, and gas lines

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
Locations of planned and existing buildings that may affect servicing
Location, size, and type of EDTI equipment, service poles, pull boxes, manholes, conductors, conduits, metered site lighting, and distribution facilities that may affect servicing
Size and location of secondary conductors
Location and size of the main distribution panel within the switchgear, including voltage, amperage, phase, wire size, temperature rating (i.e., 75 or 90 degree), and type
Easements and rights-of-way
Location and description of all other utilities crossing or located within 3.0 m of proposed power facilities and conductors
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. EDTI will also provide authorization for connection to the EDTI system and identify who can connect.

7.7 As-Built Drawing Requirements

Engineer-stamped, as-built drawings are to be forwarded to EDTI Customer Engineering Services prior to energization.
As-built drawings are to confirm the customer's installation, including equipment and conductor specifications. Equipment and conductor locations are to be drawn to scale. Any revision to the original design must be indicated on the drawing and dimensioned as such.
Once construction is complete, submit as-built information to EDTI Customer Engineering Services.

7.8 Horizontal Clearance to Other Utilities

The following horizontal clearances to other utilities from underground service lines and equipment, including padmount transformers, switching cubicles, guardrails, and ground grids, must be maintained:

Commercial Installations

Secondary conductors

2.0 metres to all valves, hydrants, catch basins, manholes, vaults, sanitary and storm sewer lines, septic tanks, fields, and Minnesota mounds. The secondary cable cannot cross through septic fields and Minnesota mounds.
1.8 m to all water lines and cc valves.
1.0 m to all gas lines.

7.9 Servicing Location

It is critical that you receive approval from EDTI for your site-specific servicing location before beginning construction. This location can differ based on a number of circumstances.

7.10 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.
If a larger transformer is installed to feed several services, the interrupting capacity must match the total capacity of all services.
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.

7.11 General Service Requirements

Unmetered services are available from EDTI Customer Engineering Services' aerial and underground distribution systems.
Aerial (overhead) services will not be provided in areas served by underground electrical facilities.
Demand load must be less than 60 A.
Customers are responsible for maintaining all civil work they install, including maintaining the level of equipment.
EDTI retains ownership of transformers, switching cubicles, primary cables, and secondary cables on the line side (source side) of the point of service.
Only EDTI employees or their authorized agents can operate or maintain any electrical facilities owned by EDTI.
The customer will designate the service pole, pedestal, or transformer to be used. Our approval of the servicing location is required before construction.
EDTI Customer Engineering Services will provide the customer with costs for work to be completed by EDTI.
Connections and disconnections must be done by EDTI or its authorized agents.
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.
Voltage drop calculations are the customer's responsibility and must be submitted upon request.
The customer must ensure the loading is balanced across all three phases of the service.
EDTI will not connect any permanent or temporary service to the City of Edmonton's streetlight system.
EDTI Customer Engineering Services will not permit the installation of service lines crossing public property between private properties.
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.

7.12 Trenching and Backhoe

All proposed cable routing and duct work is subject to written approval by EDTI Customer Engineering Services before construction.
For installations other than those installed by EDTI or its authorized agents, the customer must not trench within 1.0 m of any EDTI wood pole, anchor, transformer, switching cubicle ground grid (2.0 m from the edge of the concrete base), or power pedestal.
The facilities must be located first using hydro excavating or hand digging before determining where the mechanical excavation limits end.
Ensure that the trench is a minimum of 1,000 mm to a maximum of 1,300 mm below finished grade and that the service cable is set on undisturbed soil that is free from rocks, debris, and sudden grade changes. If large lumps of clay and soil have hardened due to drying or freezing, and when a backhoe has been used for electrical service installation, a 150 mm layer of sand must be placed below the cable. For all service installations, a 500 mm layer of sand must be placed above the cable.
The customer must backfill all trenches with material that is free of stones and items with sharp edges.
Backfill must be placed in uniform lifts not exceeding 300 mm and compacted to the City of Edmonton Design and Construction Standards Volume 2 – Roadways.
If a trench has been backhoed, cables must be shaded with 300 mm of sand. Backhoed material cannot be placed over cable.
Backfill material over cable can be the material trenched using a mechanical trencher, if the inspector deems it suitable. Soil with high thermal resistivity containing large amounts of organics, peat, black loam, sod, hardened clay, stones, straw, snow, or frozen material will not be acceptable. All backfill material is subject to the inspector's approval. Sand or clean backfill material must be substituted for unsuitable backfill.
A marker tape must be installed 0.5 m above all underground electrical conductors.
Some work may be required over energized primary or secondary cables. This may involve crossing or over trenching of the cables. Mechanical excavation is allowed up to 1.0 m from the energized facilities. The facilities must first be located using hydro excavation or hand digging before determining where the mechanical excavation limits end.
EDTI will allow a contractor to over trench up to 5.0 m of energized facilities by hand or hydro excavating. Follow Alberta One-Call procedures and contact us before starting work.
Exposed energized cables cannot be left unattended. If the excavation is narrow or small, the primary cable must be covered with soil bags or secured with some other suitable temporary method. Contact us for more details.
Under no circumstances can energized primary cables be moved or handled in any way.
The trench must take the most direct route to the breaker location.

7.13 Service Ducts

EDTI Customer Engineering Services reserves the right of final approval for the location of facilities before EDTI will grant construction approval.
Cable that will ultimately end up under roads, driveways, decks, etc. must be installed in duct.
Duct must be installed where cable under EDTI control is deemed inaccessible.
If required, the customer will provide all conduits (rigid PVC, DB2, Carlon Borguard, Terracon, or other EDTI-approved ducts only), pull boxes, and manholes required on the customer's property for installing the electrical services.
Service conduits installed by contractors working on behalf of other utilities or the City of Edmonton must follow EDTI's construction standards. Contractors must not work within 1.0 m of any electrical equipment.
If the conduits of EDTI Customer Engineering Services have been stubbed, customers must first confirm that the conduit exposed is the correct one, and then connect their supply conduit to EDTI's conduit. Contact us to arrange for conduit verification.

7.14 Duct Bends

All bends exiting transformers and cubicles must be made of rigid, thick-walled PVC (schedule 40) with a minimum wall thickness of 6.0 mm for 4 in., 6.6 mm for 5 in., and 7.1 mm for 6 in. DB2 bends are not acceptable.
An additional 10 ft. horizontal section of rigid, thick-walled PVC must be attached to the bend.
The customer must ensure that all secondary ducts are aligned directly under the secondary bushings of the transformer and centred within the base opening.
All bends that EDTI will supply conductors for must be equipped with bell collars to avoid damaging cable.
All spare bends are to be covered (taped or covered by some other suitable method) to prevent material falling into them.

7.15 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 transformers, switching cubicles, poles, and pull boxes where EDTI will be installing the cable.
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.

7.16 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.

7.17 Conductors for Underground Services

Armoured or metal-sheathed (TECK) cable cannot be used for permanent services.
Ensure the conductor used is compatible with EDTI conductors on City of Edmonton property. Table 6 shows standard cable sizes and types allowed.
With our permission, TECK cable can be used for temporary installations. The customer must supply all associated fittings, including connectors, grounding bushings, and weatherheads. See the Temporary Connections Section (9.11) for more details.

7.18 Cable Installation for Underground Services

Customers own and are responsible for installing secondary conductors on their side of the point of service.
EDTI will make the final connection in the cubicle, transformer, or pedestal.
Telephone and television cables can be installed in the same trench as power conductors. When this is considered, design drawings must be forwarded to the appropriate organizations for their approval.
Cable cannot be installed on building footings or weeping tile.
Secondary cable ends must have heat shrink caps installed.
EDTI will allow the unmetered service to be energized upon receipt of as-built plan(s), permit(s), and inspection approval(s). Terminations must be done by journeymen power electricians and linemen. All workers require certification as qualified electrical utility personnel.
Customers will supply and install secondary conductors on their side of the point of service, leaving 5.0 m (no more or less) of conductors above the top of the precast transformer base. Then the conductors must be coiled in a clockwise direction and left in an organized manner around the inside perimeter of the base to allow for easy removal and shaping.
The phasing of secondary conductors coiled in a transformer must be identified with marking tape at intervals not exceeding 1.0 m.
The customer will identify service conductors by the meter address, by using long-life ink on a tie-wrap attached to the conductors. This identification is mandatory if there are multiple service connections or when a customer-owned distribution facility, such as a pedestal, is used.
In general, a maximum of six runs of secondary conductors are permitted for all 1-phase padmount transformers. In some circumstances, additional runs may be permitted. Contact us to discuss your specific installation.
In general, a maximum of six runs of secondary conductors are permitted for 3-phase padmount transformers up to 1,000 kVA. In some circumstances, additional runs may be permitted. Contact us to discuss your specific installation.
In general, a maximum of eight runs of secondary conductors are permitted for 1,500 kVA and 2,500 kVA 3-phase padmount transformers. In some circumstances, additional runs may be permitted. Contact us to discuss your specific installation.

7.19 Wire Installation for Overhead Services

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.
The customer is responsible for installing intermediate poles on private property.
EDTI will supply and install up to 30 m of service wire, according to spans noted inTable 7, and make all terminations at the weatherhead, once inspection approval is received.
The customer's service conductors, including the portion between the meter base and the service box (customer's main disconnect), must meet the requirements under rule 6-302(1) (a) to (i) of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I.

7.20 Attachment Methods for Overhead Services

EDTI Customer Engineering Services reserves the right to request that the attachment point be adjusted to minimize or eliminate service trespass to neighbouring properties.
In general, the attachment must be vertical.
Horizontal attachments may be used to increase clearances, depending on the angle of pull from the pole. If you're not sure whether a horizontal attachment can be used, ask the inspection authority.
The attachment point for the electrical service must be above any communication services.

7.21 Street Lighting

The City of Edmonton is the owner and operator of all street light systems within the City's road rights-of-way.
The City of Edmonton reviews developer drawings to ensure that the street light designs and layouts adhere to standards stated in the most recent publication of the City of Edmonton Servicing Standards Manual.
Connection of unmetered facilities to EDTI's distribution system is subject to EDTI's Terms and Conditions and design and construction standards.
Please ensure that grounding installed for street light disconnect is bonded to ground for an existing distribution transformer, both underground and on the pole near the disconnect device.
For pole-mounted installations, ensure that the new relay installation maintains the required 1.0 m of clearance from any communication installation.
To ensure safety, regulatory requirements, and proper recording of system loads and power consumption, the City of Edmonton must:

Submit an Unmetered Power Application Form.
Provide the electrical permit number.
Supply City of Edmonton-approved engineering drawings for the complete street light installation.
Give EDTI Customer Engineering Services a complete copy of the street light system design and layout as-built drawings.

7.22 Lane Lighting (Back Alley Lighting)

All new security lighting and additions to existing security lighting systems must be metered and installed as per Part 1 of the Canadian Electrical Code. To inquire about existing EDTI security lighting systems, please contact EDTI Customer Engineering Services. To request disconnection of existing security lighting, first contact the retailer to have billing stopped, and then contact us.
Requests for lane lighting must be made by contacting the City of Edmonton.

7.23 Security Lighting (Lighting of Public Areas)

All new security lighting and additions to existing security lighting systems must be metered and installed as per Part 1 of the Canadian Electrical Code. To inquire about existing EDTI security lighting systems, please contact EDTI Customer Engineering Services. To request disconnection of existing security lighting, first contact the retailer to have billing stopped, and then contact us.

7.24 Conversion to a Metered Service

EDTI Customer Engineering Services reserves the right at any time to field-measure the unmetered service connection. The customer or the customer's retailer will be notified of the field-measured consumption recording, as well as of the accuracy of the measuring devices.
EDTI reserves the right to require any unmetered service to be reconnected as a metered service connection.
The customer will pay the cost of reconnection, including an approved meter base and protective housing.
EDTI will provide the meter and will notify the customer where the meter base and protective housing are to be located.
EDTI will provide 30 calendar days' written notice that an unmetered service is being reconnected as a metered service.
Customers have the option of installing an EDTI-approved meter socket at an acceptable location and applying for reconnection as a metered service connection.

7.25 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

7.26 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).

Unmetered Service

Have questions about the
Customer Connection Guide?

Updated May 2017

Contact Us

Service Types

Other Information

7.1 General introduction

Table 1

Customer's Responsibilities

EDTI's Responsibilities

Service Connection Point (Service Entry Point)

Point of Service Termination (Electrical Connection Point)

An unmetered connection will be allowed, provided it meets all the following conditions:

Commercial Installations

Section links

Drawing 29

Table 1G

Table 3

Table 6

Table 7

Unmetered Service

​Have questions about theCustomer Connection Guide?

Updated May 2017

Contact Us

Service Types

Other Information

7.1 General introduction

Table 1

​​Customer's Responsibilities

​EDTI's Responsibilities

Service Connection Point (Service Entry Point)

​Point of Service Termination (Electrical Connection Point)

An unmetered connection will be allowed, provided it meets all the following conditions:

Commercial Installations

​Section links

Drawing 29

Table 1G

Table 3

Table 6

Table 7

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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