Is the conduit between the street lighting poles covered by the NEC? The street lighting and conduit were installed in the utility easement as shown in the drawing at the right and is under the control of the utility company.

Is the conduit between the street lighting poles covered by the NEC? The street lighting and conduit were installed in the utility easement as shown in the drawing at the right and is under the control of the utility company.

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. Depends on jurisdiction
• D. Only if the conduit is owned by the utility

Answer: (A)

The situation tests which code governs utility-owned street lighting wiring in a public right-of-way. The NEC applies to electrical installations on or within a premises under the control of the installer (typically the property owner or a contractor working for them). When the conduit runs between street lighting poles in an easement and is under the utility’s control, it’s part of the utility’s distribution system, not a customer’s on-site or premises installation. That portion falls under the National Electrical Safety Code (and the utility’s own standards) rather than the NEC. So, the conduit in that utility easement is not covered by the NEC. Ownership or jurisdictional variation isn’t the determining factor here—the utility-controlled infrastructure in rights-of-way sits outside NEC scope, even though the NEC may still apply to other wiring that is part of a customer’s building or property.

The situation tests which code governs utility-owned street lighting wiring in a public right-of-way. The NEC applies to electrical installations on or within a premises under the control of the installer (typically the property owner or a contractor working for them). When the conduit runs between street lighting poles in an easement and is under the utility’s control, it’s part of the utility’s distribution system, not a customer’s on-site or premises installation. That portion falls under the National Electrical Safety Code (and the utility’s own standards) rather than the NEC. So, the conduit in that utility easement is not covered by the NEC. Ownership or jurisdictional variation isn’t the determining factor here—the utility-controlled infrastructure in rights-of-way sits outside NEC scope, even though the NEC may still apply to other wiring that is part of a customer’s building or property.