COMMERCIAL HANDBOOK

2013 EDITION

MATANUSKA ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

PALMER, ALASKA

~&teaueA~. 'l«e. PtUt tJUtee a'~ 2929

Pa/mete. Ata414 99645

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents and Approval i

Commercial Service Application (page 1 of 2) (unnumbered) N/A Commercial Service Application (page 2 of 2) (unnumbered) NIA MEA Addresses and Phone Number Last

Introduction & Generallnfonnation 1 General Service Entrance Requirements 2 Available Voltages and Primary Voltages 3 1-Phase Network Meter Installations 4 Service to Motor 5 Primary Service 6 1-Phase CT Service, 400 amp and over, 120/240 volt or 240/480 volt 7 3-Phase CT Service, 400 amp and 600 amp 208Y/120 volt or 480Y/277 volt 8 3-Phase CT Service, 800 amp to 2000 amp, 208YI120 volt or 480Y/277 volt 9 Single Phase or Three Phase Overhead Service (6 Units or Less) 10 Single Phase or Three Phase Overhead Service (More than 6 Units) 11 Single Phase or Three Phase Underground Service (6 Units or Less) 12 Single Phase or Three Phase Underground Service (More than 6 Units) 13

_____________________________________________________ She~

APPROVALS:

cX&-d~~.~ District Engineer ,

e"""'\---"Z;cD .t Robert C. Drake Date

Acting Director of Engineering

i HJPUBLlSH12003CHB/12003_CHB_ TOCJ.doc

Page 1

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc.

Commercial Handbook

Introduction

This Commercial Handbook has been prepared to inform new commercial and large

power customers of MEA's service requirements. The requirements presented here

are supplemental to the requirements of the National Electric Code and any other

applicable Federal, State, or local codes or regulations. The responsibilities of both

MEA and the customer are outlined with the hope that this information will prevent

extra phone calls. All this information is also available on the MEA website:www.mea.coop.

General Information

This handbook contains information on services to commercial buildings and other

non-residential loads only. Please consult the MEA Service Assembly Guide forinformation on residential and small commercial loads.

Application for service should be made as early as possible to allow adequate time

for engineering, right-of-way acquisition, ordering of required special material, and

construction. A completed application is required before MEA will perform any

significant engineering on the project. The application should include site and

electrical plans and load information prepared by a qualified electrical engineer orelectrician.

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. Commercial Handbook

Page # 2

General Service Entrance Requirements:

All service entrance equipment must be UL listed, NEMA type 3R, and shall be

fastened securely to the structure on which it is mounted.

Services of 200 amps and under are metered with self-contained meters. Services of400 amps and over are metered with current transformer meters.

The customer shall provide a location to install metering equipment that is free from

obstruction and is convenient to MEA’s distribution system. All metering equipment

and enclosures must be readily accessible by MEA personnel during normal business

hours for meter reading, maintenance, testing, installation, and removal.

The disconnect, CT/PT enclosure, and meter base must be located on the same side

of the building as the MEA transformer. Any additional costs for routing and service

cable by any other route except a straight line may be paid for by the customer. The

service may not be routed over a roof. MEA will specify meter locations or service

from nearest facility.

The meter base, main disconnect and CT/PT enclosure must be located on theoutside of the building.

The service trench and conduit (from MEA facilities to the metering location) may be

installed either by MEA or contractor possessing a State of Alaska ElectricalAdministrator License (Alaska Statute 12 AAC 32.000).

All service entrance equipment must be securely anchored to the structure with

wood screws, lag bolts, or “U” bolts. Do not use nails.

Ground wire must run continuous from the neutral buss to the ground rod.

This Commercial Handbook does not relieve the customer of responsibility to install

the service entrance equipment in a safe and proper manner. MEA's operation and

maintenance responsibility ends at the point of connection to the customer'sequipment.

All commercial services must be inspected and approved by MEA and the State of

Alaska, Department of Labor, Mechanical Inspection, prior to energizing. If the

service is located within the Palmer city limits, the city inspector may inspect the

service rather than the State of Alaska. If the service is for a Municipality of

Anchorage project in Eagle River/Chugiak, the Municipal Inspector will inspect the

service. MEA will not perform inspection of wiring internal to the building.

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. Commercial Handbook

Page # 3

Available Voltages

Secondary Voltages

120/240 1Ø 3-wire

240/480 1Ø 3-wire

120/208 3Ø 4-wire

277/480 3Ø 4-wire

Other voltages only by permission of MEA Engineering Department.

Primary Voltages

Single-phase, 7,200 or 14,400 volts, depending on location

Three-phase, 7,200/12,470 or 14,400/24,900 volts, depending on location

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. Commercial Handbook

Page 4

1-Phase Network Meter Installations:

Network meters are installed in situations where customers require a single-phase

service that will be derived from a 3-phase source. These types of services require a5-jaw socket with the 5th jaw located in the 9:00 position.

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. Commercial Handbook

Page 5

Service to Motors:

To prevent unacceptable voltage flicker to other customers, single-phase motors are

limited to 10 HP and smaller. Beyond Chickaloon on the Glenn Highway, the largestmotor permitted is 5 HP.

In general, across-the-line starting may be used for three-phase motors up to 25 HP.

Reduced voltage starting is required for all motors larger than 25 HP.

Standard three-phase voltages are 208Y and 480Y and motors should normally be

connected at these voltages. In certain cases 240 delta or 480 delta connections are

possible, but these unusual situations must receive prior approval from MEAEngineering staff.

The customer is responsible for providing overload, short circuit, and under voltage

protection for motors installed on the customer's system. Where three-phase motorsare used, protection against "single-phasing" is the customer's responsibility.

The customer may install a "phase converter" in order to operate a three-phase

motor from a single-phase service in locations where three-phase service is not

available. Motors served in this manner are limited to 10 HP. Installation of this

equipment is the customer's responsibility.

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. Commercial Handbook

Page #6

Primary Service:

Service at primary voltage is available for both single-phase and three-phase (whereavailable) loads as described in the Tariff under Extension of Lines/Service.

Primary service is recommended for customers who require voltages in excess of

277/480 or who have substantial power needs or whose expected expansion would

require MEA to modify transformers and other distribution plant on a continuingbasis.

Service will be provided at the voltage that exists at the service location. Voltagesavailable are:

Single-phase, 7,200 or 14,400 volts, depending on location

Three-phase, 7,200/12,470 or 14,400/24,900 volts, depending on location

Note: Three-phase service is not available at all locations.

Primary metering equipment will be installed at the point where MEA facilities end

and customer facilities begin. Metering is installed by MEA on an MEA-owned pole or

padmounted enclosure at the customer's expense. All metering equipment is sealedand is not accessible to the customer.

Operations and maintenance of customer-owned facilities is the customer's

responsibility. Customers must install, at a point just beyond the metering location, a

disconnecting means to allow the customer's facilities to be deenergized by customer

personnel. Primary fuses on the customer side must be coordinated with MEA so asto avoid MEA outages should a fault occur on the customer's system.

Contact MEA Engineering for primary metering approval and specifications.

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc.Post Office Box 2929, Palmer, Alaska 99645

(907) 745-3231Eagle River: 694-2161

Big Lake: 892-7398 Wasilla: 376-7237

COMMERCIALSERVICE

APPLICATION

WORK ORDER #:

TOLL FREE: 1-800-478-5150 New Change DATE:

NAME:

ADDRESS:

PHONE #:

If possible, please give the name and phone number of another person that we can contact forinformation concerning this service (engineer, architect, electrician):

NAME:

PHONE #:

IMPORTANT *** IMPORTANT *** IMPORTANT

The load information requested below is necessary for sizing materials for your service. It is important thatyou complete this form and return it to us as soon as possible. If the materials must be special ordered foryour service needs, the manufacturers’ may request that orders be placed as much as six (6) monthsbefore required delivery time. We encourage you to provide us with a full set of plans showing the followinginformation. If you do not have drafted plans, please complete this form.

TYPE OF STRUCTURE:

Office Building Department Store Mall Warehouse Farm/Dairy Apartment/Condo Hotel/Motel Industrial Plant Other:

WALLS: Are Internal Walls Load Bearing? Yes No

SPACES: # of Spaces =

SQUARE FT: Living Area: Warm Storage:

SIZE: Service Entrance Size: AMPS:HEAT: Electric Furnace

Electric Heat Pump Electric Baseboard Electric Radiant

Other:

VOLTAGE: VOLTAGE REQUIREMENTS: (Circle All That Apply)Single Phase: 120/240 Volts

240/480 Volts (Only if Approved by MEA Engineering)Three Phase: 120/208 Volts

277/480 Volts120/240 or 240/480 Volts (Only if Approved by MEA Engineering)

METERS: Number of Meters Required:

Single Phase: Three Phase:

COMMERCIAL SERVICE APPLICATION Page 2

LOAD BREAKDOWN: NEW: EXISTING:

Lighting (watts):

Heating (kW):

Outlets (amps):

MOTORS (HP):(List Separately)

USE APPLICATIONS: ESTIMATED FREQUENCYOF USE:

Single Phase:

Three Phase:

List Items and Power Requirements (i.e., Welders, Electric Kilns, Etc.):

SPECIAL USE ITEMS: POWER REQUIREMENTS:

Please attach panel schedules for the above showing phase connections, breaker interruptingcapability, total connected and demand loads in kW and amps.

SITE PLANS SHOWING: (Check One) PRELIMINARY FINAL

Legal Description

Lot Dimensions

Existing Easements and/or Power Lines

Building Location on Lot

Building Dimensions (Plan and Elevation Views)

Service Entrance and Type (OH or UG)

Location of Existing or Planned:

Sewer and Water Lines

Telephone and Gas Lines

Storage Tanks

Roads and/or Paved Parking

Sidewalks

Greenbelts

Grade Changes (Cuts and Fills)

Existing Topography

Future Buildings

PLEASE NOTE: Incomplete information can result in delays in processing your application. Theconsumer is responsible for notifying MEA’s Engineering Department of any changes in the aboveinformation.

SIGNATURE: DATE:

h:\commercial handbook 2003\2003\commercial_svs_app_rev 050207.doc

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc.

P.O. Box 2929

Palmer, AK 99645

761-9300

www.mea.coop

District Offices: Palmer Headquarters 163 E. Industrial Way (1/4 mile west of Palmer Jr. Middle School) 761-9300 or 745-3231 (Mat-Su)

689-9300 (Eagle River or Anchorage) Wasilla 1401 S. Seward Meridian Pkwy (across from Walmart) 376-7237 or 761-9500 (Mat-Su) 689-9500 (Eagle River or Anchorage) Big Lake Engineering Mile 51.4 Parks Highway, at Spring Drive 761-9450 or 892-7398 (Mat-Su) 689-9450 (Eagle River or Anchorage) Eagle River 11623 Aurora St. (1/4 mile up Coronado from the Old Glenn Highway) 689-9600 or 694-2161 (Eagle River or Anchorage) 761-9600 (Mat-Su) Power Outages:

Mat-Su: 746-7697 (746-POWR) Eagle River or Anchorage: 696-7697 (696-POWR) Underground Locate Requests:

Call Alaska Digline, Inc.

1-800-478-3121 (Mat-Su) 278-3121 (Eagle River or Anchorage) Or dial 811