Utility Power Cable Standards Technical Advisory Committee:

 

The Utility Power Cable Standards Technical Advisory Committee (UPCS TAC) was the outgrowth of a long felt need for a comprehensive, national standard for concentric neutral power cable. In particular, the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers/Insulated Conductors Committee (IEEE/ ICC) Discussion Group A14 Power Cable Standards had expressed much interest. The ICC agreed to provide performance criteria and periodic reviews of the document, and ICEA would provide the manpower for the development of this standard.

At the April 1996 ICC meeting, a flowchart was presented entitled Process for Development of ICEA Utility Power Cable Standards With User Group Liaison, which describes the relationship of activities by Insulated Conductors Committee (ICC), Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC) and National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Thus, the UPCS Technical Advisory Committee was formed with members from the ICEA Power Cable Section and representatives from the AEIC Cable Engineering Committee.  

Work began first on the development of ICEA S-94-649 Standard for Concentric Neutral Cables Rated 5 Through 46 kV. After obtaining user input from ICC Discussion Group A14 Power Cable Standards and the AEIC Cable Engineering Committee, it was submitted to the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee C8 Wires and Cables for approval. ICEA S-97-682 Standard for Utility Shielded Power Cables Rated 5 Through 46 kV followed the same process. Both standards are currently ANSI approved.  

Work has since continued on other standards such as ICEA S-108-720 Standard for Extruded Insulation Power Cables Rated Above 46 Through 345 kV (which was ANSI approved in 20??) and ICEA S-XX-684 Performance Based Standard for Utility Shielded Power Cables Rated 5 Through 46 kV, which is currently under development.

Through the co-operation of the ICEA and AEIC members, these nationally recognized standards were published in a timely fashion and are continuously reviewed and updated.