[Adopted 6-2-1980 by Ord. No. 150 (Ch. 125, Art. IV, of the 1982 Code)]
The following words, as used in this article, shall have the meanings hereby respectively ascribed thereto:
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMPANY
The Metropolitan Edison Company or any other electric utility company licensed and authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to furnish electric utility service within the territorial boundaries of the Township of Muhlenberg.
ENGINEER
The Township Engineer or other person duly authorized and appointed by the governing body to perform the duties of the Engineer.
GOVERNING BODY
The Board of Commissioners of the Township of Muhlenberg.
PERSON
Any natural person, partnership, association, firm or corporation or similar entity.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Muhlenberg.
A. 
All locations and requirements for service trenches shall be coordinated with the electric public utility before commencing excavation. Where other utilities may be affected, Act 287 shall be complied with.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See now 73 P.S. § 176 et seq.
B. 
All electrical conduits shall be separated by earth for a minimum horizontal distance of 24 inches from sewer, water and gas lines. There shall be a minimum vertical separation of four inches of earth where electrical conduit crosses other utilities.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
C. 
Trenches shall be excavated to a minimum depth of 30 inches deep and six inches wide. Trenches must be excavated up to and flush with both the streetlight base being served and the pad or manhole where service is being run.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
D. 
A four-inch bed of screenings or sand shall be laid the entire length of the trench before laying the electrical conduit.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
E. 
After electrical conduit has been installed, backfill with approved screenings or sand for a minimum of six inches over the conduit.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
F. 
Warning tape shall be installed 12 inches below grade level the entire length of the trench.
G. 
All electrical conduit shall be run in Schedule 40 PVC conduit, sized per the requirements of the applicable edition of the National Electrical Code.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
H. 
Wiring shall be stranded copper, 600-volt insulation, Type THHN-YHWN. Size the wiring to coordinate with the over-current device and to provide for no more than a 5% voltage drop at the last luminaire in the circuit from the point of electric service.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
I. 
The remaining backfill shall be earth, free of rock and other objects, and should be air-tamped and water-soaked for proper compaction. Dress with three inches of topsoil and seed.
J. 
Any settling or washing out of earth after initial installation shall be corrected by the contractor who made the installation.
K. 
Installation shall be made between the sidewalk and curb or, where no sidewalk exists, within that area defined as a planting strip. (See attached sketch, which is marked Exhibit A and made a part hereof.)[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is an attachment to this chapter.
L. 
Where any connection is made into transformer, there shall be a fuse box or breaker box outside the transformer where the connections are made.
M. 
Upon completion of the wiring installation and before backfilling of the trenches, the contractor making the installation shall notify the electric utility company and the Township Engineer's office so that an inspection can be made. Notice shall be given 24 hours in advance of request for inspection. Contractor or electrician responsible for the installation shall also be required to show certification of installation by an electrical inspection agency, i.e., Middle Department Inspection Agency or Keystone Inspection Agency.
N. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the above-stated procedures shall comply with the illustration set forth in the attached sketch, which is marked Exhibit A and made a part hereof.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is an attachment to this chapter.
[Amended 3-1-1982 by Ord. No. 188; 11-7-1988 by Ord. No. 250[1]]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be punishable, upon conviction thereof, by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution or by imprisonment in the Berks County Prison for not more than 90 days, or by both fine and imprisonment. In the event of the imposition of a fine only, default in payment of such fine and costs of prosecution shall subject the violator to imprisonment in the Berks County Prison for not more than 90 days.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided that the fines and penalties may be collected by suit brought in the name of the Township before any Magisterial District Judge, in like manner as debts of like amount may be sued for by existing laws, and to remit such fines and penalties.