Are All Overhead Primary Wires on Residential Electric Poles Energized or Neutral?

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Are the primary wires on a residential electric pole all energized, or are unused ones neutral, and can the utility remove or move them to meet clearance requirements?

On a typical residential 3-phase primary line, the conductors are energized “hot” even if only one phase is actually feeding the transformer at that pole; the other phases are still powered, just unused there [#21684133][#21684141] One reply also noted the pole appears to be a 3-phase, 4-wire setup, not a neutral-only arrangement [#21684135] The utility may leave the other phase wires in place for future use, so removing or consolidating them is not something you can assume will happen [#21684141] Insulating primary high-voltage wires is probably not practical and is unlikely to be the cheapest option [#21684141] For siting a building, the utility easement will likely control the allowed clearance more than whether the line is currently using all three phases [#21684140]

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Primary conductors are still energized without transformer taps
#1 21684132 19 Mar 2020 08:17

Rab Safd Rab Safd

Anonymous
Primary conductors are still energized without transformer taps
Post #1 21684132 19 Mar 2020 08:17

Hi!Are all primary conductor cables atop a residential electric pole considered “hot”, even if there is no hot clamp connection from transformer?I am trying to determine NESC clearances for a house structure from primary wires, but was unsure whether wires that do NOT have any cut-out fuse + hot clamp connections are NEUTRAL? If not, would it be possible for the power company to move those non-connected non insulated primary wires or consolidate them?I am attaching a picture showing the pole, transformer and the three conductor tables on top. As you will see, there is only one wire is coming out of the transformer.

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Three-phase line with single-phase transformer tap
#2 21684133 19 Mar 2020 20:17

Elizabeth Simon Elizabeth Simon

Anonymous

Three-phase line with single-phase transformer tap
Post #2 21684133 19 Mar 2020 20:17

All three wires have insulators isolating them from the pole therefore they are ALL "hot". Looks like a typical three phase setup. From the picture, it looks like the transformer is only using one phase so there must be a ground at the pole.
I believe I've seen places where the power company only ran a single phase for a short distance. They try to balance the use of each phase though. If this is an area where new construction is expected, they may want to keep all three phases available. Also, this looks like a temporary setup. When they do a permanent connection they may use two phases to the transformer. Best to talk to them and see what they say.
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Questions on insulating or bundling the service drop
#3 21684134 19 Mar 2020 21:08

Rab Safd Rab Safd

Anonymous

Questions on insulating or bundling the service drop
Post #3 21684134 19 Mar 2020 21:08

Thank you so much for your response!The area is already developed, meaning there are no empty lots, any new house is a demo of an existing of similar size.I am the Architectural Project Manager on the new build. I have reached out to the power company, but I wanted to be a little more knowledgeable going in, and not just accept the first option they present, because it is typically the easiest for them and most expensive for the home owner. I was wondering if there are creative/ easy solutions to eliminate the wire closest to the house? Or if it is actually a single solution type of issue.Could they install an Aerial Bundled conductor between that pole and the next? Can they insulate that wire?If it is currently single phase and seems temporary, what is involved when they make the single (or even two) phase permanent?Thank you again for bearing with my questions! I am learning a lot already!
#4 21684135 20 Mar 2020 03:35

PeterTraneus Anderson PeterTraneus Anderson

Anonymous

Post #4
21684135 20 Mar 2020 03:35

Looking closely at the pole, I see a horizontal ground wire (with low-voltage insulated wires wrapped around it) at the same height as the bottom of the transformer. So it's a three-phase four-wire setup. I can just see a bare wire from the horizontal ground wire to the second insulated terminal on the top of the transformer.
Single-phase end-of-run wiring observation
#5 21684136 21 Mar 2020 05:31

Elizabeth Simon Elizabeth Simon

Anonymous

Single-phase end-of-run wiring observation
Post #5 21684136 21 Mar 2020 05:31

It only seems temporary since the pole has supports at the base and a meter. I suspect that the main difference in a permanent install is that the meter gets mounted on the house.
I looked at the wires around my neighborhood this morning. I saw several cases of single phase connections to the transformer that looked similar to what you have (including the one to my house). In my neighborhood there are several cases where only one phase is run from one pole to the next.This looks like the end of a run so I'd think they would be able to do it with one wire. Of course, they likely want to charge to make a change...
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#6 21684137 23 Mar 2020 20:21

Rab Safd Rab Safd

Anonymous

Post #6
21684137 23 Mar 2020 20:21

I see what you are saying, I see that now. So I guess my question would be, can a 3-phase, 4-wire setup become a single phase set up from one transformer to next pole/transformer? Just curious what all that involves.That pole is the end of the line, you can see the guy wire going to the ground as well.Thank you for your reply.
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#7 21684138 23 Mar 2020 20:26

Rab Safd Rab Safd

Anonymous

Post #7
21684138 23 Mar 2020 20:26

Oh yes, you are correct, that is a temporary t-pole set up for construction. I guess I am wondering how complicated is it to remove the other two phases, and if there is only one way to do it? Thank you again for your reply!
#8 21684139 24 Mar 2020 03:21

PeterTraneus Anderson PeterTraneus Anderson

Anonymous

Post #8
21684139 24 Mar 2020 03:21

I see TWO poles, a short temporary pole in front of a tall permanent pole, with a wooden fence between the two poles. The transformer is on the tall permanent pole, and wires from the transformer secondary run down the permanent pole and cross over the fence to reach the top of the temporary pole.
#9 21684140 26 Mar 2020 23:39

Bob Baylor Bob Baylor

Anonymous

Post #9
21684140 26 Mar 2020 23:39

The power company certainly has an easement. Even if they don't need all three phases at the moment, I doubt they will change the easement and that will determine how close you can site your building.
Residential primary wires are usually energized phases
#10 21684141 27 Mar 2020 00:15

Andy I Andy I

Anonymous

Residential primary wires are usually energized phases
Post #10 21684141 27 Mar 2020 00:15

In USA, most 3-phase primary power distribution you find in residential areas is Wye. That makes it easy to use any one of the 3 phases as a single-phase power source, for powering the primary of a step-down transformer. From what I see, that is how it is most often done for residential power distribution in single home areas. They take one phase, step it down, and give you 115-0-115 single-phase power. That's what it looks like in the picture. The other two phases of the primary Wye are unused at this pole (but they are powered).
So are you trying to make them get rid of the other two phase wires at that pole? For the sole purpose of making the nearest one of them be a foot or two further from your house? Are you right on the edge between OK and not OK, and you need to get an extra few inches?
I suppose it could be done, but they may want to leave the other two phase wires in place for anticipated future use.
FYI, I am not an expert but it may not be practical to insulate primary (HV) wires. Certainly not the cheapest solution.
Rarely, I see primary wires bundled closer together. Not wrapped in contact, but with spacers every 5-10 feet or so.
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Topic summary

In residential electric distribution, all overhead primary wires atop poles are typically energized "hot" conductors, even if only one phase is connected to a transformer and others lack hot clamp connections. The presence of insulators on all three wires indicates they are energized phases in a three-phase, four-wire Wye system, with one phase supplying the transformer and the others potentially reserved for future use. Neutral conductors are usually separate and located lower on the pole. Temporary setups, such as construction poles with meters mounted on the pole rather than the house, may show single-phase connections with unused phases still energized. Power companies maintain easements and often retain all three phases for load balancing and future expansion, making removal or consolidation of unused phase wires uncommon and potentially costly. Solutions like installing Aerial Bundled Conductors or insulating wires are possible but require utility company approval. Transitioning from temporary to permanent installations typically involves relocating meters to the house and possibly connecting additional phases. The complexity of removing unused phases depends on utility policies and infrastructure requirements.
AI summary based on the discussion. May contain errors.

Are All Overhead Primary Wires on Residential Electric Poles Energized or Neutral?

Are the primary wires on a residential electric pole all energized, or are unused ones neutral, and can the utility remove or move them to meet clearance requirements?

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