WARNING!
DO NOT CONNECT A BACKUP POWER SOURCE (GENERATOR) TO YOUR HOME’S ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS WITHOUT A BCEC APPROVED TRANSFER SWITCH INSTALLED BY A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN!
Emergency/Standby Generation Requirements for BCEC Residential Members
This document applies to residential members connecting a backup power source (e.g.: backup or standby generator, whether stationary/permanent or portable) to their facilities on Big Country Electric Cooperative’s (BCEC’s) electric distribution system. A member may desire to install a backup power source to provide an alternate source of electrical power for all or part of the member’s load in the event of a power outage. Backup power sources, whether portable or stationary/permanently installed, must not export power (also known as parallel or distributed generation) to BCEC’s distribution system. Requirements for member-owned generators or distributed generation (such as residential solar), where the intention is to export power to BCEC’s system, are not addressed by this document. For information regarding distributed generation, please refer to BCEC’s Tariff 202.11 Small General Service - Standby or Auxiliary Service and the Agreement for Interconnection of Distributed Generation.
• Contact BCEC at 325-776-2244 prior to installing a generator. Be aware that it is a safety hazard to connect a backup power source to a home’s electrical circuits without a proper transfer switch. A backup power source that has been improperly installed can be a hazard to both members and BCEC employees who may be working on the distribution lines or service wires. When a backup power source is connected in parallel with BCEC’s distribution system without an approved transfer switch properly installed by a licensed electrician, voltage can be produced that is deadly to linemen making repairs on the system and damaging to the member's home or property.
• Members may utilize a backup power source only when using a BCEC-approved transfer switch that breaks the circuit connection to BCEC service wires before making the circuit connection with the member’s backup power source. A properly installed transfer switch also breaks the circuit connection to the member’s backup power source prior to making a reconnection with BCEC service wires.
• All member backup power source installations must meet all state, Federal and local laws, regulations, and statutes, including but not limited to those provided by the National Electric Code (NEC) and National Electric Safety Code (NESC). BCEC reserves the right to disconnect or refuse service to any backup power source installation which violates said laws, rules and regulations. BCEC also has the right to disconnect or refuse service to backup power source installations that are hazardous to the public, or that may negatively impact service to other members of BCEC’s facilities/equipment.
• Understand your backup power source: Review the materials provided with it and follow instructions regarding installation by a licensed electrician as well as safety, maintenance, and testing.
• BCEC will only approve backup power sources that present documentation of setup and installation by a licensed electrician.
• Members are responsible for providing and maintaining all equipment deemed necessary for the protection of BCEC’s facilities and member-owned property and operations. BCEC assumes no liability for the protection of any property or person associated with operation of a backup power source.
• Members are responsible for the installation and operation of their backup power source and will indemnify and hold BCEC harmless from liability for damage to property or person resulting from or arising out of or in any way connected with the installation, inspection, operation, maintenance, testing, and/or use of the backup power source.
To inquire about the use of residential backup power sources, please contact your local BCEC office.