Minnesota Power, an ALLETE Company

Please contact New Construction at newconstruction@mnpower.com or 1-877-535-0394 when significant changes are being made to an existing service. Good communication will avoid delays in scheduling and prevent unnecessary power outages. Our representatives will work with you to determine the best options for delivering service and insure the installation is built according to Minnesota Power Engineering Standards, per our filed Electric Service Regulations. Minnesota Power reserves the right to establish the point of delivery and collect charges incurred before a modified service is energized.

Some examples of when to contact us are:

• Substantial increases in amperage requirements
• Relocation of the service entrance
• Disconnecting the meter
• Changes to the meter location
• Changing from overhead to underground
• Requesting a different phase or voltage
• Installs of Dual Fuel or Fixed Off-Peak equipment
• Installing Generation

Minnesota Power will not charge customer/contractor for a line drop/temporary disconnect. These requests should be made through our Operations Planning and Scheduling which can be contacted at ops@mnpower.com.

The following are requirements of OSHA regulation sections 1926.416(a) (1) and 1926.550 (a)(15).

1926.416(a)(1): Protection of employees. No employer shall permit an employee to work in such proximity to any part of an electric power circuit that the employee could contact the electric power circuit in the course of work, unless the employee is protected against electric shock by de-energizing the circuit and grounding it or by guarding it effectively by insulation or other means. (This requires a minimum clearance of ten feet for lines rated 50 kV or less, phase to ground).

1926.550(a)(15): Cranes. Except where electrical distribution and transmission lines have been de-energized and visibly grounded at point of work or where insulating barriers, not a part of or an attachment to the equipment or machinery, have been erected to prevent physical contact with the lines, equipment or machines shall be operated proximate to power lines only in accordance with the following (i) For lines rated 50 kV or below, minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the crane or load shall be 10 feet.

It is the responsibility of the customer/contractor to contact Minnesota Power to provide cover-up and to provide payment for the work requested, whether it is for residential service lines/equipment or commercial primary lines/structures.

In accordance with NESC and OSHA work rules, insulating cover-up is installed to protect energized facilities from incidental contact.

The following charges apply for the installation of cover-up during normal working hours. The linear measurement is a point-to-point measurement along the span. The measurement is independent of the number of conductors covered.

EX: a 100’ span of 3-phase primary with neutral and a 100’ span of secondary triplex have the same linear measurement of 100’.

** Costs are estimated by a Distribution Service Representative or Engineer. In most cases, the estimate will be the actual cost.

Increased charges may result from more complex installations. A site visit may be necessary to estimate additional charges.

If power has been off for over one year, MP requires a licensed electrical contractor to inspect all customer owned equipment and to certify that it is safe to energize. MP is not licensed to work on or inspect customer owned equipment. Energizing of the service must be done by Minnesota Power after the customer has made application for service to ensure proper billing.

A letter or email from a licensed electrical contractor is required to energize. This letter must contain the customer name and the address of the service, the electrical contractors name and contractor’s license number, and a statement that the service is safe to energize. Electricians should use their company letterhead to supply their contractor information. This Safe to Energize form can be used in place of the letter or email. If an electrical permit is also required, please include that information in the letter, email or form.

Letters and electrical permit copies can be sent to Minnesota Power the following ways:
Email – inspections@mnpower.com
Mail – Operations Planning and Scheduling, Minnesota Power, 3215 W Arrowhead Rd, Duluth, MN 55811

Note: Fees start at $500 if work is performed outside of Minnesota Power's normal operating hours, excluding holidays. Work will not be scheduled on Holidays.

Minnesota Power (MP) has made updates to the guidelines for service upgrades, temporary disconnect/reconnects, and/or removal of a meter from the socket.

Service Upgrades

MP requires that a Lever Bypass Meter Socket be installed when doing any type of service upgrade work and for all new installations. No Exceptions. This allows for safe meter testing and future maintenance of the service. It is also required when any of the following is being done:

• Overhead to underground conversions
• Replacement of underground cable from meter
• Weatherhead/mast replacement
• Replacement of service panel with equal or greater amperage rating
• Generator installation (backup generator, solar, wind, battery storage, etc.)

Temporary Disconnects/Reconnects

Allowing for temporary disconnects and reconnects gives MP and licensed/bonded electrical contractors more flexibility and efficiency in their work.

MP allows for temporary disconnects and reconnects on customer owned service conductors attached to MP overhead (OH) service wire under these conditions:

• Work must be performed by a licensed electrical contractor
  Homeowners are not allowed to perform these temporary disconnects and reconnects
• Services must be 120/240V single phase, self-contained of 320 Amps or less
• All temporary disconnect and reconnect work must occur on the customer side of the permanent connectors below
• See INTERRUPTING POWER TO THE METER below.

Or if you prefer

Call to schedule an appointment to have MP line personnel temporarily disconnect and reconnect the service.

Interrupting Power to the Meter

MP meter technology sends an automated outage alarm when the meter senses a power interruption. Crews are then dispatched to investigate the source of the outage. In the event MP is not notified ahead of time and is dispatched to investigate an outage, MP reserves the right to charge the party responsible for the callout.

If at any time you need to de-energize the service and/or remove a meter from the socket, please follow the steps below:

1. Complete the Contractor Disconnect/Reconnect form and inform us that you will be removing the meter or temporarily disconnecting power at the customer’s premise. Information that you will need to provide:
   • Customer or Property Owner name
   • Address work will be done at
   • The date work will take place
   • Electrician name, contact number and contractor license number
   • Electrical inspection number
2. Disconnect only on the customer side of the permanent connectors.
3. It is very important that there is no load on the meter socket when the meter is removed and re-installed.

If for some reason there are problems, please contact MP immediately.

Swing Service

Only a qualified MP Lineworker may handle MP service wire. You are not allowed to move the MP service wire to a new point of attachment. If the point of attachment needs to be relocated, please install the new point of attachment and call to schedule an appointment for MP to swing the service wire to the new point of attachment.

When installing a new point of attachment keep these standard clearances in mind per the NESC (National Electric Safety Code).

Over street, alley, public roadway, parking lot, drive-in, commercial, industrial and farm areas.	16’ minimum
Over residential driveways	15’6" minimum
Note: Interpretation of the NESC allows for specific clearance exceptions to this table. ** Only to be used under Minnesota Power Engineering approval.

Electrical Inspection

MP must have a copy of your electrical inspection or the eTrak number on file before scheduling.

Electrical inspection documentation should be sent to inspections@mnpower.com

To schedule appointments or if you have any concerns or questions, please call 218-720-2757 or toll free at 1-800-228-4966 ext. 2757.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in providing safe, reliable electric service to our customers.

Bypass Metering Requirements

If Lot Line Metering is Not Used

A lever bypass meter socket is required for all new installations. It is also required when any of the following is being done:

• Overhead to underground conversions
• Replacement of underground cable from meter
• Weatherhead/mast replacement
• Replacement of service panel with equal or greater amperage rating
• Generator installation (backup generator, solar, wind, battery storage, etc.)

Self Contained Metering

200-Amp Single-Phase 3-Wire—4 or 5 terminal, 200-amp, jaw-clamping, lever-operated bypass, weatherproof, ringless, screwless cover, 5th jaw at nine o’clock position, hub opening for overhead, closure plate or plain top for underground.

320-Amp Single-Phase 3-Wire—4 terminal, 320-amp, jaw-clamping, lever-operated bypass, weatherproof, ringless, screwless cover, hub opening for overhead, closure plate or plain top for underground Anti-inversion clips in the upper right jaw are not allowed.

200 Amp 2 Position Single Phase 3 Wire—4 terminal, weatherproof, 200-amp jaw-clamping, lever-operated bypass per position, ringless, screwless cover, hub opening for overhead, closure plate or plain top for underground.

Approved Meter Sockets—List of Manufacturers

Landis and Gyr, Milbank, T&B, Anchor, Durham, Siemens, Square D, Cutler Hammer and Midwest Electric are examples of UL approved metering equipment providers.

Sample Part Numbers
Millbank U-4801-XL-5T9
Siemens Drawing 48804, PN 48804-02NU
Sample Meter Spec

*Note: Metering services greater than 320A and in excess of 240V require instrument-rated metering equipment.

Meter Location

Outdoor metering is required for all installations unless prior approval is given.

• For outdoor installations the center line of all meters shall be between four and six feet from the finished grade.
• A minimum three feet of unobstructed working space, as measured from the surface on which it is mounted, should be maintained in front of the meter, and a minimum of 12 inches of unobstructed space should be maintained on all sides of the meter cover Ample space shall be provided for all meters, metering equipment and other apparatus so that they can be safely read, inspected and tested.

Please call Minnesota Power’s Meter Department at 1-800-228-4966 for questions regarding sockets.

*Note: Your local or state electrical code may have additional requirements.

Temporary Metering Requirements

Minnesota Power requires bypass meter sockets for temporary service installations.