Construction, maintenance, and safety

(a)Each utility shall construct, install, operate and maintain its entire plant and system ("facilities"), including structures, equipment and lines, in accordance with accepted good utility practice and in a manner that prevents injury to persons or property, promotes the safety, health, comfort and convenience of its customers, employees and the general public and eliminates interference with the service furnished by other utilities, facility operators or telecommunication companies.#

(i)Electric utilities shall construct, install, operate and maintain facilities in accordance with NEC, NESC, WECC and NERC standards along with RUS standards, if applicable.#

(ii)Natural gas and pipeline utilities shall construct, install, operate and maintain facilities, including conducting leak surveys and cathodic protection of distribution and service lines, in accordance with PHMSA regulations (49 CFR §§ 40; 191-193; 199).#

(iii)Water utilities shall construct, install, operate and maintain facilities in accordance with the requirements of DEQ and the State Engineer's Office.#

(b)The furnishing of service by a utility to a customer shall not render the utility responsible for the customer's facilities, installation or practices on the customer side of the point of delivery.#

(c)Each point of delivery shall be metered and located as near to the customer's utilization equipment as practicable per tariff.#

(d)In determining good utility practice, the Commission may grant deviations to the standards listed in this section as well as in ANSI B31, the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and all other applicable ANSI codes and standards.#

(e)In the case of conflict between applicable codes and standards, the more stringent shall apply.#

(f)Utilities and facility operators shall coordinate with telecommunication companies to avoid or eliminate any interference. The owner of new facilities interfering with existing facilities constructed in accordance with relevant and applicable standards shall bear the cost of correction and mitigation.#