The NESC Program is revised every five years with the purpose of providing formal standards, safety-oriented work practices and practical guidance for the safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation, and maintenance of electrical/communication supply lines and equipment employed by utilities such as public or private electric supply companies, communications providers and railways.
NESC rules contain the basic provisions, under specified conditions, that are considered necessary for the safeguarding of the public, utility workers (employees and contractors), and utility facilities.
The NESC also addresses similar electrical/communication infrastructure under the control of qualified parties, such as those associated with an industrial complex or interactive utility system.
Structure
The NESC is structured into parts, sections, and rules. There are general sections at the beginning of the code covering the introduction, definitions, references, and grounding. Following the general sections are four main parts including: rules for electric supply stations (Part 1), rules for overhead lines for clearances and strength and loading (Part 2), rules for underground lines, (Part 3), and work rules (Part 4).
Main Committee
The NESC has a central oversight Main Committee made up of a well-balanced representation of member organizations, along with seven standing technical subcommittees.
View Committees
Chair: George Ahros
Vice Chair: Mark Nelson
Past Chair: Nelson G. Bingel III
Represented Organizations
- Association of American Railroads (AAR)
- Principal: Robert Verhelle
- Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC)
- Principal: Swapan Dey
- American Public Power Association (APPA)
- Principal: Gregory Obenchain
- Alternate: Michael Hyland
- American Public Transit Association (APTA)
- Principal: Nathan Leventon
- Alternate: Bryan Sooter
- Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)
- Principal: Trevor Bowmer
- Alternate: Lawrence Slavin
- Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)
- Principal: Mark Nelson
- Alternate: Brett Bowers
- Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
- Principal: G. Paul Anundson
- Alternate: Aaron Darby
- Federated Rural Electric (FRE)
- Principal: Chat Knutson
- Alternate: Jason Springs
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
- Principal: Mark Baker
- Alternate: Aaron Darby
- International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA)
- Principal: Jeffrey Knight
- National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)
- Principal: Mike Cannady
- Alternate: Michael Johnston
- Alternate: Mike Starner
- National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
- Principal: Paul Orr
- Alternate: Bill Brown
- National Safety Council (NSC)
- Principal: Kenneth Schriner
- Power Line Systems
- Principal: Otto Lynch
- Alternate: Charles Ward
- Rural Utilities Services, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (RUS)
- Principal: Donald Junta
- Society of Telecommunication Engineers (SCTE)
- Principal: Timothy Cooke
- Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
- Principal: Greg Ball
- Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
- Principal: Stephen Cantrell
Subcommittees
The technical subcommittees meet to create change proposals, consider change proposals submitted by others, and are empowered to establish Working Groups and Task Forces to conduct in-depth research on specific technical topics and issues. The Subcommittees then provide recommended revisions to NESC rules for the Main Committee to review.
There are eight NESC Technical Subcommittees with responsibility for developing the requirements contained in the NESC:
NESC Subcommittee 1, Coordination (Sections 1, 2, 3)
- Chair: Sam Stonerock
- Secretary: Mickey Gunter
- Section/Part: Section 1, 2, 3, Appendix E
- Scope: See Rule 011, Scope of the NESC
- Purpose: See Rule 010, Purpose of the NESC
NESC Subcommittee 2, Grounding Methods (Section 9)
- Chair: Ron Wellman
- Secretary: Michael Renman
- Section/Part: Section 9
- Scope: Section 9 of this Code covers methods of protective grounding of supply and communication conductors and equipment. The rules requiring grounding are in other parts of this Code. For rules requiring conductors or equipment to be effectively grounded, methods described in this section shall be used and the definition of effectively grounded shall be met.
These rules do not cover the grounded return of electric railways nor those lightning protection wires that are normally independent of supply or communication wires or equipment. - Purpose: The purpose of Section 9 of this Code is to provide practical methods of grounding, as one of the means of safeguarding employees and the public from injury that may be caused by electrical potential.
NESC Subcommittee 3, Electric Supply Stations (Part 1)
- Chair: William Munn
- Secretary:
- Section/Part: Part 1, Sections 10-19
- Scope: Part 1 of this Code covers the electric supply conductors and equipment, along with the associated structural arrangements in electric supply stations, that are accessible only to qualified personnel. It also covers the conductors and equipment employed primarily for the utilization of electric power when such conductors and equipment are used by the utility in the exercise of its function as a utility.
- Purpose: The purpose of Part 1 of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation, or maintenance of electric supply stations and their associated equipment.
NESC Subcommittee 4, Overhead Lines-Clearances (Part 2/Sections 20-23)
- Chair: Mickey Gunter
- Secretary: Eric O’Brien
- Scope: Part 2 of this Code covers supply and communication conductors and equipment in overhead lines. It covers the associated structural arrangements of such systems and the extension of such systems into buildings. The rules include requirements for spacing, clearances, and strength of construction. They do not cover installations in electric supply stations except as required by Rule 162A.
- Purpose: The purpose of Part 2 of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation, or maintenance of overhead supply and communication lines and their associated equipment.
NESC Subcommittee 5, Overhead Lines-Strength and Loading (Part 2/Sections 24-27)
- Chair: Mark Jurgemeyer
- Secretary: Aaron Darby
- Section/Part: Part 2, Sections 24-27, Appendix C
- Scope: Part 2 of this Code covers supply and communication conductors and equipment in overhead lines. It covers the associated structural arrangements of such systems and the extension of such systems into buildings. The rules include requirements for spacing, clearances, and strength of construction. They do not cover installations in electric supply stations except as required by Rule 162A.
- Purpose: The purpose of Part 2 of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation, or maintenance of overhead supply and communication lines and their associated equipment.
NESC Subcommittee 7, Underground Lines (Part 3)
- Chair: Lauren Gaunt
- Secretary: Ashley Eanes
- Section/Part: Part 3, Sections 30-39
- Scope: Part 3 of this Code covers supply and communication cables and equipment in underground or buried systems. The rules cover the associated structural arrangements and the extension of such systems into buildings. It also covers the cables and equipment employed primarily for the utilization of electric power when such cables and equipment are used by the utility in the exercise of its function as a utility. They do not cover installations in electric supply stations.
- Purpose: The purpose of Part 3 of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation, or maintenance of underground or buried supply and communication cables and associated equipment.
NESC Subcommittee 8, Work Rules (Part 4)
- Chair: Sam Stonerock
- Secretary: Brent McKinney
- Section/Part: Part 4, Sections 40-45, Appendix D
- Scope: Part 4 of this Code covers work rules to be followed in the installation, operation, and maintenance of electric supply and communications systems.
- Purpose: The purpose of Part 4 of this Code is to provide practical work rules as one of the means of safeguarding employees and the public from injury. It is not the intent of these rules to require unreasonable steps to comply; however, all reasonable steps shall be taken.
NESC Subcommittee 9
- Chair: Jim Houston
- Secretary: William Munn
- Scope: Covers the electric generating station and equipment that are accessible only to qualified personnel.
- Purpose: The practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation, or maintenance of an electric generating station and their associated equipment.
These subcommittees meet not only to consider change proposals and public comments in a revision cycle, but also consider technical topics, create working groups and task forces, and develop change proposals.
NESC Subcommittee members generally represent organizations with a material interest in the NESC.
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If interested in joining send an email to [email protected], indicating if you are interested in the Main Committee or Technical Subcommittees (and which subcommittee(s) you are interested in joining), which interest category you would align with, an updated resume and a letter of intent.