Foreign Attachment

The safety and reliability of the Connexus Energy electric system is everyone’s concern. Failure of the overhead support systems impacts both electrical reliability and public safety.

Connexus Energy does not allow members or other individuals to attach to facilities. To allow for improved utilization of the public right-of-way, an exception is made for other utilities such as telephone or cable to attach cables and other equipment to Connexus Energy poles. The utilities’ equipment and trained employees allow them to safely work on these attachments.

Pole Attachment Requirements

Pole attachments must:

Not interfere with regular operation of the Connexus Energy distribution system.
Be installed and operated according to the applicable right-of-way, ordinances, and permitting requirements.
Be installed and operated in accordance with the National Electric Safety Code (NESC).
Be coordinated with and approved in writing by Connexus Energy prior to installation.

Pole Attachment Process

A pole attachment agreement is required prior to installation of any attachments. If the utility does not have a pole attachment agreement with Connexus Energy, contact the Group Leader - Distribution Design to establish one.

Once a pole attachment agreement is in place, permission and coordination of the installation of communication equipment on Connexus-owned facilities can be obtained by contacting the joint use designer. Connexus Energy will conduct an analysis of available pole space, the ability to support additional loading, clearance calculations, and identification of required changes.

An application filed with Connexus Energy is required to begin the process. Additional information is necessary to complete a pole strength analysis. Please refer to the Pole Attachment Application Submittal Requirements for information.

A maximum of 50 attachments are allowed per application. Field data sheet(s) and other required information must be attached with the application, along with a $150 application fee.

Pole Attachment Application
Pole Attachment Data Sheet
Data Sheet Example

Permits & Easements

The utility requesting attachment is responsible for all city, county, and/or state permits and easements, including any associated fees. In all situations, prior permission must be obtained from property owners and governmental entities for use of private property and public road rights-of-way. Connexus Energy assumes no responsibility for securing such required permission, and the utility requesting attachment should assume that no such permission exists based solely on the presence of existing Connexus Energy facilities.

Overlashing Existing Cables

Overlashing of existing cables will change the weight and potential ice loading for an existing attachment, and as such requires updated analysis. Overlashing shall be treated like a new attachment, including full analysis and reporting requirements.

Pole Attachment Technical Requirements

The following technical and design requirements shall be followed for any joint use attachment to Connexus Energy facilities. Joint use attachments that do not follow these requirements must be modified or removed.

Communication cables shall use their own guy(s) and anchors. Use of the Connexus Energy anchoring system is not permitted.
Anchors and guys shall be installed at all dead ends and at line angles.

Anchors and guys shall be in line with the strain at the dead ends. Bisector guys shall be installed at all line angles.

Anchors and guys shall be installed where the cable has been temporarily dead-ended (for example, when construction has ceased at the end of the working day or for the weekend). Sidewalk guys or push poles shall not be used on Connexus Energy poles to guy communications attachments at angles or dead ends.

Anchors shall be installed according to manufacturers’ recommendations and utility industry practices.

Anchors shall be installed so that there is at least a five-foot separation from Connexus Energy anchors.

At all dead ends and angles, the anchors and guys shall be installed before the cable is pulled up and sagged in.

Communication cables must be installed without the use of extension arms, standoff brackets, or similar hardware (unless approved in advance by Connexus Energy per pole for specific installations).

Communication cables must be installed on the same side of the poles (typically the road side) as other attachments. Pole attachments to both sides of the same pole are not permissible.

The communication cable messenger (strand) shall be bonded to all Connexus Energy pole grounds.

All riser cables shall be installed in conduit, U-guard, or otherwise protected.

No mid-span or flying tap connections of any type are allowed.

All attachments shall comply with NESC clearance requirements and shall be located a minimum of forty (40) inches below Connexus Energy's lowest attached facilities. All mid-span clearances between communication facilities and the lowest conductors of Connexus Energy facilities shall comply with NESC clearance requirements.

The overhead line with communication attachments must meet a minimum of Grade C construction as defined by the NESC. This may, in some cases, require Connexus Energy to inter-set poles in-line or replace existing poles with stronger ones. Connexus Energy will not allow communication companies to inter-set their poles in Connexus Energy's primary or secondary lines.

Attachments shall not encroach into the communication worker safety zone, even at road crossings.

All power connections to communication equipment shall have a disconnecting means and be protected with an approved fuse and/or breaker. No service connections shall be made without the installation of an approved fused service disconnecting switch or breaker. For unmetered services, the disconnecting device must be accessible at all times by Connexus Energy personnel.

No bolts installed on a Connexus Energy pole for joint use attachments shall extend or project more than one inch beyond its nut.

All attachments shall have at least twelve inches of separation from other utilities’ communication attachments.

All attachments shall be tagged with company name using a colored tag. Identification tag must:

To facilitate Connexus Energy's notification to attaching utilities in emergency situations, all antennas and all related boxes and equipment shall be identified with the following information:

The attaching utility’s generally recognized business name.

An emergency telephone number.

Contact Connexus Energy at 763.323.2740 or email engineering.services@meishitravel.com with questions about the pole attachment application and process.