RESISTANCE TO GROUND.—It is important that the resistance between the grounded conductor and the earth be permanently kept low in order to reduce to a minimum the voltage drop due to current passing from conductor to ground, especially where under abnormal conditions a large current might flow. The effect of a high resistance ground may be illustrated by the following example: Assuming that a single 30-ohm ground connection was required to carry 50 amperes (and this is less than the current on some primary distribution systems that might cross the secondary) and that the combined feeder load and leakage current to ground was less than the protective value of the circuit overload limiting devices, then a drop of 1,500 volts would occur between the ground wire and earth. Clearly, under these conditions, such ground connection would not eliminate the life hazard. In the case supposed, the energy expended would be 75,000 watts and the resultant heating might become a source of fire hazard.28

3. COMMISSION JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE WITH REFERENCE TO ACCIDENTS.

The laws under which most of the public-service commissions are constituted give the commissions authority to require reports of accidents occurring in the operation and conduct of publicutility enterprises, and in many instances this authority extends much further, so that commissions may issue orders prescribing safety rules and regulations.

It has seemed desirable to present a summary of the powers of the various State commissions with reference to accidents and safety provisions. The sections of the laws of the States bearing directly on the safety of operation and on the reporting and investigation of accidents have been compiled and will be found on pages 320-326 of this circular.

In addition to the sections of the laws referred to, the present status of the various commissions' safety and accident activities. is concisely shown by the following brief statements from the commissions themselves;

ALABAMA.

This commission has issued no general orders or regulations applying to this matter. There are, of course, regulations of individual utilities of this class which pertain in greater or less degree to this subject, which regulations have been approved by this

Rules for grounding will be found in the National Electrical Safety Code and a detailed discussion of ground connections is given in B. S. Tech. Paper No. 108, Ground Connections for Electrical Systems.

commission, but further than this no regulations of a general character applying to all such utilities have been provided by this commission.

The regulations of the individual utilities of this class which have been approved by this commission are, in general, such requirements as that all installations, renewals, replacements, and repairs must either be made by the utility or if allowed in any case to be made by the consumer, both the material and the labɔr used in making same and the work as completed are made subject to the inspection and approval of the utility. Such regulations also include, in general, a provision that no consumer is allowed to interfere with the company's distribution system or its operation thereof, but that all causes of complaint against such operation and all requests for any change, renewals, replacements, or repairs of the distribution system must be communicated to the utility by the consumer.

ARIZONA.

The only order issued by this commission covering regulations for safety and accidents is in A. C. C. Order No. 173, General Order No. 37.

Accidents occurring in the operation of gas and electric utilities are not reported to this commission or to any other State official.

After several years litigation, our jurisdiction to prescribe rules for overhead line construction has been confirmed by our State Supreme Court. Our appropriation is not sufficient to make an extended investigation, but there are a few changes that immediately suggest themselves as being desirable to make our rules more nearly meet local conditions.

ARKANSAS.

This commission has no jurisdiction over public utilities within incorporated cities and towns, therefore have adopted no service rules governing such utilities.

CALIFORNIA.

Chapter 499, statutes of 1911, as amended by chapter 600, statutes of 1915, regulates the construction and use of overhead electric lines.

Chapter 500, statutes of 1911, as amended by chapter 575, statutes of 1917, regulates the construction and maintenance of manholes, etc., in underground distribution systems.

General Order No. 26 of the California Railroad Commission regulates clearances and construction at crossings of overhead electric lines over each other and over highways, railroads, etc.

General Order No. 64, California Railroad Commission, effective July 1, 1922, combines the requirements of previous statutes and orders effecting overhead electric lines and includes many additional standards of construction for such lines under all conditions.

Utilities are required to report to the commission annually the number and character of accidents on their systems. Such investigations and orders are made as seem advisable to the commission.

COLORADO.

*

*

In regard to the commission's action with reference to safety and accidents in electric light and power utilities * Rule VII of the rules regulating service requires that such accidents be reported to the commission, but compliance with this rule has not been enforced. The commission has, however, entered into a great many informal complaints in connection with the hazards of overhead construction and has been able to get action without formal hearings, usually in reasonable conformance to the National Electrical Safety Code.

CONNECTICUT.

All accidents are reported to the commission as required by the public utilities law and the service rules of the commission.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Order No. 6, "In re Reports of accidents," dated April 1, 1913, has been issued. Beyond the adoption of this order the commission has issued no rules or regulations specifically providing safety appliances or tending toward accident prevention. The accidents reported to the commission, however, are carefully analyzed and those which require it are investigated for the purpose of ascertaining whether existing conditions are such as to merit the exercise by the commission of its powers of requiring any changes in the practices or appliances of the utilities.

IDAHO.

We beg to advise you that steps taken by the commission relative to rules on standards of service and safety provisions are all embraced within General Order No. 5 requiring report from the utility of every accident occurring on the property of the utility within the State of Idaho, resulting in loss of life or fatal injury to persons or damage to property of the utility of more than $150, following which the commission makes an investigation to determine the cause and whether same was under ordinary prudent precautions preventable, or whether like conditions exist at other points or places in the utility's place; and, if so, require steps to be taken to eliminate possibility of similar accidents.

The commission has also, through its General Order No. 10, promulgated rules governing the construction of pole, wire, and cable lines, providing therein for standards of construction which are believed to be necessary to safeguard the employees and general public. These two orders, Nos. 5 and 10, cover all steps taken by this commission in the providing of standards for safeguarding construction and operation of electric utilities within the State of Idaho.

ILLINOIS.

Under section 56 of the act creating the Public Utilities Commission, all public utilities are required to report every accident occurring or that may occur to or on its plant, equipment, or other property, of such a nature as to endanger the safety, health, or property of any person. The commission is vested with the power to investigate any accidents and to issue such orders as, in their judgment, are reasonable and which will operate to prevent a recurrence. The most serious accidents on electric and telephone lines resulting from electric shock are investigated in the field to determine whether the accident occurred because of failure to comply with construction rules (General Order No. 30), and, if possible, to guard against a recurrence of a similar accident.

INDIANA.

The commission has not formulated general rules or regulations governing the report of accidents, as covered by section 123 of the public utility act of this State.

IOWA.

The commission has issued orders for the construction, operation, and maintenance of 6,600 volt lines and for crossings of electric light and power lines over railroads.

KANSAS.

Section 32 of our public utility laws does not empower the commission to issue any rules, regulations, or orders in regard to means of safety. The law requires the common carriers and public utilities, whenever an accident occurs attended with loss of human life or serious personal injury, to give immediate notice thereof by telegraphing the commission.

The commission has been given authority over the stringing of wires along, over, and across public highways * * * but was not directly given any authority with respect to public safety and accidents. Docket 1944 is an order covering the stringing of wires along and across highways and at railroad crossings.

LOUISIANA.

This commission has only recently acquired jurisdiction over this class of utilities and as yet it has prepared no rules and regulations concerning the subject.

MARYLAND.

The reporting of all accidents is required by the electric service rules issued by the commission (section H of order No. 2599).

MICHIGAN.

The commission has issued specifications for stringing wires over railroads, and order No. 1692 requires monthly reports on accidents from all electric utilities.

MISSOURI.

The commission has issued no general rules or regulations with reference to safety and accidents in connection with the operation of gas and electric utilities in this State.

With reference to reporting of accidents occurring in connection with the operation of gas and electric utilities, please be referred to section 7827, R. S., Mo., 1909, which reads as follows:

"All accidents in manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile, or other establishments or places within this State where labor is employed which prevent the injured person or persons from returning to work within two weeks after the injury, or which result in death shall be reported by the person in charge of such establishment or place to the factory inspector or deputy inspector, or one of the assistant inspectors provided for by this chapter, and also to the city or county physician, when there be such an officer, which notice may be given by mail."

This section appears to refer to gas and electric utilities.

ΜΟΝΤΑΝΑ.

Neither the railroad commission law nor the public service commission law of Montana gives this department the authority to prescribe methods of operation with a view of promoting safety. We are required, however, to investigate accidents of importance and make report of same to the governor. (Order No. 81, governing reports of accidents of public utilities other than railroads, Jan. 12, 1914.)

The commission has, in some of the more serious accidents, perhaps gone beyond its authority in the matter of making investigations, although we are not authorized to order improved methods of operation.

NEBRASKA.

The commission has issued two orders relating to wires at crossings.

NEVADA.

The Nevada Industrial Commission, Carson City, Nev., investigates closely accidents occurring in the operation of gas and electric utilities.

The commission has issued under date of September 15, 1911, safety regulations for electric utilities, and on July 24, 1920, rules for overhead and underground lines.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SECTION 15, paragraph (b) of the public utility law, requires all public utilities to report to this commission the accidents to its employees. The commission, however, has never issued any rules, regulations, or orders in connection with this provision. No other State authority has, to our knowledge, any jurisdiction over the investigation of these accidents.

NEW JERSEY.

The board requires reports to be made to it of all accidents which may occur in connection with the operation of railroads and street railways. The board, while it has the power under the act to require reports to be made to it of accidents of other utilities, has not so far deemed it necessary to require such reports to be made.

All accidents at gas and electric light plants are reported to the Employers' Liability Commission of this State. Any serious accident occurring in connection with the operation of gas or electric utilities would be investigated by inspectors of this board. Inspectors of the board are continually visiting plants of gas and electric lighting utilities and conditions discovered as the result of their investigation, which might, if continued, lend to accidents, are reported and corrections required to be made. NEW YORK.

The orders of the former first district commission have been continued in force by the present commission.

Case No. 1628 has to do with the safeguarding and protecting of employees from injuries by high tension electrical apparatus, or other dangerous conditions, January 13, 1914.

Case No. 1773, dated December 29, 1913, required “Notice to be given by each gas corporation, electrical corporation, and steam corporation of every accident happening upon its premises, or in connection with the manufacture and distribution of gas, electricity, or steam."

Case No. 2171, effective January 17, 1917, provides for the installation of electric wires and appliances.

The former Second District Commission had not issued any rules or regulations governing safety provisions. An order has been made which requires electric and gas corporations to report each accident promptly. After receiving such reports the commission requests such further information or makes such further investigations by its own agents as appear to be advisable.

NORTH CAROLINA.

The corporation commission has not taken any action under chapter 127 of the laws of 1913, except to issue a standard for wire crossings (December 3, 1920).

The commission has approved a number of contracts for the different classes of electric service, which includes specification. These specifications have so far as practical conformed with standards in Circular 56 of the Bureau of Standards.

NORTH DAKOTA.

This commission has adopted standards of electric service and nothing was included in them regarding reporting of accidents.

Some companies are reporting all accidents resulting in loss of life, but the commission has not at the present time adopted any rule requiring such reports. Hazard and inductive interference rules became effective November 1, 1920.

OHIO.

All accidents, as well as service complaints, are carefully investigated and if adjustments and corrections can be made they are, of course, applied.

Order No. 65, issued March 6, 1922. This code is really a set of specifications which govern the construction of all overhead wire lines. It is very similar to the National Electrical Safety Code, except some of its provisions are more stringent. This code was authorized under the Ohio General Code, 8975-6.

OKLAHOMA.

Rule 40 of Order 2072 covers the construction, operation, and maintenance of the plant, facilities, and equipment to comply fully with the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code and the National Electrical (Fire) Code. It also provides for