What are the significant changes to the law?

The newest law expands the safety zone around high voltage lines (600 volts or greater) by prohibiting work within 10 feet of the facilities unless mutually agreeable safety arrangements have been completed.

The amendments clarify the duties of both the line owners and businesses that want to perform work within the ten-foot limit. The proposal requires persons responsible for such work to notify the utility promptly to request safety arrangements. To avoid confusion, the amendments eliminate the current provisions imposing a 48-hour waiting period between notification and the planned beginning of the work. Instead, the line owner is given five working days (from the date of the request) to initiate the agreed-upon safety measures. Finally, the amendments make clear that the work cannot begin until all of the temporary safety arrangements are completed. The amendments also eliminate high voltage line owner or operator liability in cases where workers have not provided the utility notice as required by law.

Finally, the amendments incorporate the principle that most high voltage line accidents would be prevented if businesses had a more powerful incentive to call the utility before starting work. Contractors have an increased responsibility under the newly revised law to contact utilities' before working near overhead high-voltage lines. The changes are intended to prompt contractors to become more conscious of the need to call the utility prior to beginning work. With such notification, many injuries and accidents could be prevented.