Electrical Service &

Wiring Installation
Handbook

South Plains Electric

Cooperative, Inc.
(806) 775-7732 Lubbock
(806) 271-3311 Spur
(940) 937-2565 Childress

Handbook Revised 4/03 1

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variety of topics. Go online for more details.

2 Handbook
ELECTRIC SERVICE AND WIRING
INSTALLATION HANDBOOK

Foreword:
This handbook has been prepared for the conve-
nience of our members, electrical contractors, builders
and any others engaged in providing electrical wiring
service in order to acquaint the reader with South Plains
Electric Cooperative’s requirements for electric meter
installations. This handbook will establish the
Cooperative’s requirements for new electric service and
meter installations, for relocating or modifying meter
installations and upgrading the service capacity. The
handbook contains specifications for both overhead and
underground delivery.
The information presented in this handbook is not
intended to conflict in any way with the National
Electrical Code, any city or county ordinances, or any
state rules. Some of the service requirements, as pre-
sented, are the result of past experience and deemed
necessary to insure safe, adequate and reliable service for
the member. If this handbook does not cover a particular
metering situation, please contact one of our offices
listed below before proceeding with your work.
Additional copies of this booklet may be obtained at
any of the Cooperative’s offices.

Northern District, 110 N I-27, Lubbock

Southern District, 7210 82nd St., Lubbock
(806) 775-SPEC (7732)
Dickens Division, FM 836, Spur
(806) 271-3311
Gate City Division, 1900 C NW, Childress
(940) 937-2565

Handbook 3
INDEX
A. General Information ............................................ 6

B. Think Safety! ....................................................... 6

C. Number of Services .............................................. 7

D. Grounding ........................................................... 7

E. Equipment Requiring Individual Consideration .. 8

F. Inspection.............................................................. 8

G. Meter Tampering ................................................. 9

H. Types of Service ................................................... 9

1. Single Phase
a. 120-volt, 2-wire service............................. 9
b. 120/240-volt, 3-wire service ................... 10
c. 240/480-volt, 3-wire service .................... 10
2. Three Phase Service
a. 120/240-volt, 4-wire, delta service .......... 11
b. 480-volt, 4-wire service .......................... 11
c. 120/208-volt or 277/480-volt, 4-wire, wye
connected service ....................................... 12
d. 240 or 480-volt, 3-wire service, delta
connected service ....................................... 13

Table 1-A
Conductor Sizing ............................................... 14

Table 1-B
Conduit Service Entrance Specifications .......... 15

4 Handbook
I. Building a Meter Loop ........................................ 16
1. Irrigation Service
a. Pedestal to submersible pump ................. 16
b. Pedestal to above ground pump .............. 17
c. Pedestal to towable pivot ........................ 18
d. Pedestal to stationary pivot .................... 19
e. Service to above ground pump or
submersible ................................................. 20

2. Overhead Service
a. Typical single phase temporary meter ..... 21
b. Underground group metering ................. 22
c. Overhead group metering ....................... 23
d. Minimum clearances ......................... 24-25
e. Meter remote–under eaves ..................... 26
f. Meter remote–through eaves .................. 27
g. Meter base on building–through eaves ... 28
h. Meter base on building–under eaves ...... 29
i. To mobile home or meter pole with
underground ............................................... 30

3. Underground Service
a. Meter base on building ........................... 31
b. Metered remote ...................................... 32

4. Overhead Service
a. 2-way (in and out) loop .......................... 33
b. 2-way (in and out) loop .......................... 34

Handbook 5
A. GENERAL INFORMATION
The following information has been assembled so
those engaged in electrical wiring or the installation of
metering equipment might comply with the service
requirements of South Plains Electric Cooperative.
Members and/or contractors planning new construc-
tion, altering, or rewiring existing facilities should
become familiar with the handbooks requirements. If
you determine after reading the handbook that your
situation is not covered, please contact the Coopera-
tive for better direction before proceeding.
South Plains Electric Cooperative will make every
reasonable effort to provide our members with safe,
reliable, adequate electric service. To accomplish this
goal, the Cooperative should be contacted in advance
of your required service date. Service availability may
vary within our service area. It is always best to confer
with the local office before beginning your work. It is
the Cooperative’s recommendation that additional
capacity be provided whenever possible for future use.
Permanent residential services shall have a minimum
installed capacity of 100 amperes at 120/240 volts,
single phase.
The information in this handbook refers to service
requirements for lighting and power installations at
secondary voltages. Services requiring primary volt-
ages are subject to contractual agreement between the
member and the Cooperative and the metering
requirements will be determined at that time.

B. THINK SAFETY!
Before you dig — Call (800)344-8377. Texas
state law requires that you call before you dig or
disturb the ground. With 48-hour advance notice,
each involved utility will mark the location of their
facilities for your safety.
6 Handbook
Warning — It is unlawful for you to operate
any equipment within ten (10) feet of a high
voltage line. If you must work close to any of the
Cooperative’s electrical lines, please contact your local
office. Your Cooperative will assist you in performing
your needed work safely.
Look Up! We further recommend that you do
not stack any irrigation pipe under electric lines and
certainly be aware of power lines when erecting or
working on antenna towers. Many of our members
operate farming equipment near or under our lines,
please be mindful of the clearance requirements for
this equipment as you perform various functions in the
field and travel into and out of the fields.

C. NUMBER OF SERVICES
The Cooperative will normally connect only one
set of service conductors to a home or building. The
member will provide for metering in a location
acceptable to the Cooperative.
Large apartment buildings, shopping centers and
industrial complexes may require special applications
of the National Electrical Code. The Cooperative
should be contacted during the design stage for these
projects to obtain guidance and agreement on the
interpretations of these special metering consider-
ations.

D. GROUNDING
All service systems operating below 600 volts shall
contain a grounded neutral or a grounded phase
conductor used as a circuit conductor in the system.
The neutral or grounded phase conductor shall be
grounded at the supply transformer and shall be
connected to the grounding terminal in the service
entrance equipment provided by the member. The
Handbook 7
NEC requires an adequate grounding system as part of
the wiring with a grounding conductor tied to the
service entrance raceway and to the neutral terminal
in the disconnecting means. All of these connections
to the grounding conductor shall be accessible for
inspection by Cooperative personnel.
Members requiring an ungrounded service for
operation of a ground detection system shall make
their request in writing. If supplying an ungrounded
service results in additional costs to the Cooperative,
the additional cost may be passed on to the member.

E. EQUIPMENT REQUIRING
INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
Providing service for power consuming equipment
such as welders, large motors, high frequency induc-
tion furnaces, or sensitive electronic equipment may
require individual consideration and agreement by the
Cooperative. By design, the Cooperative can minimize
the emission or distortions on the electrical system.
One member will not be permitted to affect the
service quality of another member. By understanding
the equipment’s power requirements in these special
situations, the Cooperative can make certain that
each member can coexist with their neighbor.
Sometimes, the equipment may require very stable
voltage, system isolation, or uninterrupted continuity
of service. The Cooperative, by agreement, may be
able to supply service level requirements that are
above the normally acceptable levels. The Coopera-
tive desires to assist its members with any special
equipment problems especially during the planning
and design stages of the projects.

F. INSPECTION
The wiring shall be installed in accordance with
8 Handbook
the latest requirements of the National Electrical
Code (NEC) and any state or county or municipal
inspection requirements as may be in force at the time
the installation is completed.
All wiring and other electrical equipment will be
installed, operated, and maintained by the member at
all times in conformity with good electrical practice
and the requirements of the regional regulatory
authority. The inspecting authority will leave an
inspection tag on the member’s service entrance
equipment to notify the Cooperative that the wiring is
approved for service connection. In areas where there
is no inspection authority, the Cooperative’s personnel
will inspect the service entrance for compliance to the
NEC. The Cooperative does not assume any responsi-
bility for the design, operation, or condition of the
member’s wiring past the service entrance equipment.

G. METER TAMPERING
The metering equipment belongs to the Coopera-
tive and must not be disconnected, removed or
relocated except by authorized Cooperative personnel.
The Cooperative shall seal all meters and meter
installation equipment. Law forbids tampering with
the meter or with conductors carrying metered
current. If it is necessary to gain access to any meter-
ing equipment that has been sealed by the Coopera-
tive, the member or his contractor shall contact the
service department for inspection and resealing of the
meter after the work has been completed.

H. TYPES OF SERVICE
1. Single Phase
a. 120-volt, 2-wire service
This type of service may be used to serve a small
electrical load not having any 240-volt requirements
Handbook 9
such as a sign, fence charger, or fireworks stand. The
maximum meter capacity is 60 amperes.

b. 120/240-volt, 3-wire service

This type of service is the most typical electrical
service and may be used to serve loads such as a
residence, ranch or farming operation, mobile home,
hunting cabin, domestic well, or small commercial
office building. Normally, the service capacity is 100 or
200 amperes. If the service requirements are 400
amperes or greater, contact your local office for special
metering instructions.

c. 240/480-volt, 3-wire service

This is a special service normally used by the
Texas Highway Department for highway lighting.

10 Handbook
2. Three Phase Service
a. 120/240-volt, 4-wire, delta service
This is the most common three phase electric
service and is used for commercial, home, and some
irrigation loads. Members use this voltage for small
three phase loads with some lighting requirements.
This service voltage works well in overhead distribu-
tion systems; however, it is not available in under-
ground distribution applications.
Domestic Service
120/240-volt, 3-phase,
4-wire

b. 480-volt, 4-wire service

It is common on irrigation and oil field applica-
tions. This is a common electric service for irrigation
pivot system with wells and/or booster pumps. It is also
available for oil wells and industrial loads.

Irrigation Service
480-volt, 3-phase, 4-wire*

Handbook 11
c. 120/208-volt or 277/480-volt, 4-wire, wye
connected service
This wye connected electrical system is used
where there is large lighting load and three phase
motor load. This system permits the balancing of the
lighting load across all three phases of the system. This
type of service is used in schools, churches, commer-
cial complexes and industrial parks. This is the
preferred service for underground applications.

12 Handbook
d. 240 or 480-volt, 3-wire service, delta
connected service
This is a common electric service for irrigation
pivot system with wells and/or booster pumps. It is also
available for oil wells and industrial loads. This is a
restricted use service.

*All New Installations Shall Be 4 Wire

Handbook 13
Table 1-A
Conductor Sizing
Minimum Size Conductors
Main Fuse or
Circuit Breaker Copper Aluminum
Amp Rating
Line Neut. Line Neut.

60 6 6 4 6

100 2 4 1/0 2

150 1/0 2 2/0 2

200 3/0 1/0 4/0 1/0

NOTE: Table 1-A is intended as a guide only and

represents only minimum capacities. It is not conclusive
for all installations.

14 Handbook
Table 1-B
Conduit Service Entrance Specifications
(Applicable to service entrances on dwellings or other
buildings and to service entrances on poles supplying
overhead or underground feeders.)
Maximum Insulated Insulation Number of Minimum
Size Fuse Wire Size Type Insulated Conduit
or Breaker Copper Alum. Wires Size
60 6 — TW 2 ¾”
6 — 4 1”
— 4 2 1”
— 4 4 1¼”

100 2 — THW* 2 1¼”

2 — 2 1¼”
— 1/0 THW* 2 1¼”
— 1/0 4 2”

150 1/0 — THW* 2 1½”

1/0 — 4 2”
— 2/0 2 1½”
— 2/0 4 2”

200 3/0 — THW* 2 1½”

3/0 — 4 2”
— 4/0 2 2”
— 4/0 4 2½”

*RHW insulation is also acceptable.

Overhead Rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit,

electrical metallic tubing, service entrance
cables.
Underground Rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit,
non-metallic electrical conduit, minimum
schedule 40 PVC.

Handbook 15
I. BUILDING A METER LOOP

Irrigation Service
Pedestal to Submersible Pump

16 Handbook
Irrigation Service
Pedestal to Above Ground Pump

Handbook 17
Irrigation Service
Pedestal to Towable Pivot

18 Handbook
Irrigation Service
Pedestal to Stationary Pivot

Handbook 19
Irrigation Service
Service to Above Ground Pump or Submersible

20 Handbook
Overhead Service
Typical Single Phase Temporary Meter

Handbook 21
Underground Service
Underground Group Metering

22 Handbook
Overhead Service
Overhead Group Metering

Handbook 23
Overhead Service
Minimum Clearances

24 Handbook
Overhead Service
Minimum Clearances

Handbook 25
Overhead Service
Meter Remote–Under Eaves

26 Handbook
Overhead Service
Meter Remote–Through Eaves

Handbook 27
Overhead Service
Meter Base on Building–Through Eaves

28 Handbook
Overhead Service
Meter Base on Building–Under Eaves

Handbook 29
Overhead Service
To Mobile Home or Meter Pole with Underground

30 Handbook
Underground Service
Meter Base on Building

Handbook 31
Underground Service
Metered Remote

32 Handbook
Overhead Service
2-Way (in and out) Loop

Handbook 33
Overhead Service
2-Way (in and out) Loop

34 Handbook
Notes

Handbook 35
Pay Your
Electric
Bill
Online!

Online bill paying is a fast, convenient and

safe way to pay your electric bill. No checks
to write. No invoices to mail. Just a few
clicks is all it takes. You can also see your
billing history and other information.

Ask your local South Plains Electric

Cooperative customer service
representative for details or go to
www.SPEC.coop.

Service offices located at:

82nd St. & Upland Ave., Lubbock
Municipal Drive above MacKenzie Park, Lubbock
Farm Road 836, Spur
1900 Ave. C NW, Childress

36 Handbook