AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
The purpose of these requirements is to assist you and your contractor in obtaining electrical service for your irrigation pump. It describes the work SVEC will do and the work SVEC requires all members to do for electrical service. Following these guidelines and procedures allows SVEC to provide electric service in a cost effective and timely manner.
It is the customer’s responsibility to contact the local building inspector for specifics and to comply with all Federal, State and local wiring codes.
Some of the requirements described here-in are necessarily broad to cover a wide range of conditions. For answers to more specific questions or concerns, please contact our Operations Manager at 530.233.3511
These requirements describe only the wires and equipment typically installed on your property. If your irrigation pump is located farther than about 200 feet from an existing SVEC line, a primary or high voltage line extension may also be needed. If a primary extension is required SVEC will discuss the details with you.
Should SVEC be required to install facilities across properties other than your own, right-of-way for these facilities must be obtained. SVEC will obtain right-of-way on public lands, such as the Forest Service, and requires that you obtain right-of-way for private land. If this is necessary SVEC will discuss the details with you.
It is the customer’s responsibility to acquire all of the necessary permits and inspections from the appropriate agencies involved.
It is recommended that you hire a qualified electrical contractor, familiar with the applicable building codes to do the wiring.
OVERHEAD SERVICE TO AN IRRIGATION PUMP
PURPOSE
This section describes the installation of an overhead service to an agricultural irrigation pump.
Overhead service consists of poles and wires installed from the nearest SVEC line across your property to your pump site. Service will be provided in accordance with SVEC's Line Extension Policy.
LIMITS
The typical overhead irrigation service consists of a transformer pole, service wires, and a meter pole located near the pump. The length of the electrical service should be limited to no more than 200 feet. The reason for this limit is voltage drop or loss in the service wire to the pump motor.Should length of service be such that it would prove electrically prohibitive, a transformer and primary line extension may be required.
CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBILITY
You are responsible for furnishing, installing and maintaining the following equipment.
- The riser and weatherhead, which must extend to within 18" of the SVEC attachment near the top of the pole.
- A minimum of 18", of wire extending from the weatherhead for connection to SVEC service wire.
- A 5-jaw meter base unless the motor is in excess of 75 H.P. in which case SVEC will provide the meter base. The fifth jaw shall be in the 9 o'clock position.
- All motors below 20 H.P. shall be operated at 230 volts.
- All motors 20 H.P. and larger shall be operated at 460 volts and shall be equipped with capacitors to improve the motor power factor to 95% efficiency.
- All motors 60 H.P. and above shall be equipped with reduced voltage starting.
It is the customer's responsibility to provide thermal relays, fuses or any other automatic current interrupting device to protect his equipment against damage from overcurrent, undercurrent or single phasing conditions.
You must arrange for the County Building Inspector to inspect and approve your equipment before SVEC can connect the installation.
SVEC'S RESPONSIBILITY
SVEC will furnish and install the service wires to the top of the meter pole, any poles needed to support the wires, connectors at the pole top and the meter.
METER POLE LOCATION
All meter pole locations will be approved by SVEC prior to construction. The preferred location of the meter pole is on the side of the motor closest to the nearest SVEC pole line and at least 10 feet from the well. This location keeps the length of the service to a minimum, providing the lowest cost and best power quality. The location of the service must also consider the clearance of the wires over driveways and roads. These clearances are required be safety codes for the protection of all.
The service wires must not go over any buildings or haystacks on your property. This helps prevent accidental contact with these wires and is for your safety.
Please contact SVEC early in the process of planning your installation. This allows us to agree on a meter pole location which meets both our needs.
Detailed drawings are available by contacting our Operations Manager at our Alturas office.
UNDERGROUND SERVICE TO AN IRRIGATION PUMP
PURPOSE
This section describes the installation of an underground service to an agricultural irrigation pump.
Underground service consists of wires installed form the nearest SVEC line across your property to your pump site. Service will be provided in accordance with SVEC's Line Extension Policy.
LIMITS
The typical underground irrigation service consists of a transformer and underground service wires to the pump site. The length of the electrical service should be limited to no more then 200 feet. The reason for this limit is voltage drop or loss in the service wire to the pump motor. Should the length of the service be such that it would prove electrically prohibitive, a transformer and primary line extension may be required.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILIY
You are responsible for furnishing, installing, and maintaining the following equipment.
- Provide or make arrangements and pay for the trench excavation and back fill in accordance with SVEC's specifications.
- The conduit installed in the trench from SVEC's transformer to the customer's terminal box. The conduit shall be Schedule 40 PVC where buried and Schedule 80 PVC for any conduit exposed above ground level.
- You also need to put a 5/32 inch or larger polypropylene pull line in the conduit. The pull line must have a breaking strength of 600 pounds.
- If the length of the conduit run contains turns you may be required to install pull boxes along the conduit route.
- SVEC must inspect the trench and conduit installation before you back fill the trench. SVEC requires this inspection as we maintain the conduit and wire after initial installation.
- A five-jaw meter base unless the motor is in excess of 75 H.P. in which case SVEC will provide the meter base. The fifth jaw shall be in the 9 o'clock position.
- A 12" x 12" x 6" terminal splice box for motors 75 H.P. and less. A 36" x 36" x 11" terminal splice box for motors above 75 H.P.
- All motors below 20 H.P. shall be operated at 230 volts.
- All motors 20 H.P. and larger shall be operated at 460 volts and shall be equipped with capacitors to improve the motor power factor to 95% efficiency.
- All motors 60 H.P. and above shall be equipped with reduced voltage starting.
It is the customer's responsibility to provide thermal relays, fuses or any other automatic current interrupting device to protect his equipment against damage from overcurrent, undercurrent or single phasing conditions.
You must arrange for the County Building Inspector to inspect and approve your equipment before SVEC can connect the installation.
SVEC'S RESPONSIBILTY
SVEC will furnish and install the service wire from the transformer to the customer's terminal box.
SERVICE LOCATION AND CONDUIT ROUTE
SVEC will designate the meter location and help you determine a route for the trench and conduit. This route must be relatively straight.
Please contact SVEC early in the process of planning your installation. This allows us to agree on a route for the trench and meter base location that meets both our needs.
Detailed drawings are available by contacting our Operations Manager at our Alturas office.