Roadways

• According to the National Electrical Safety Code, electric meter poles must supply adequate space for the clearance of vehicles and trucks. Meter poles must extend to a height of 24 feet above track rails of railroads, 22 feet above roads likely to develop high volumes of truck traffic, 16 feet above all driveways, parking lots and alleys, and 12 feet above spaces conducive to pedestrians or restricted traffic only.
  
  (CE: See Reference 3)
  
  

Buildings

• To most effectively ensure safety, the NESC asserts that meters and poles must provide adequate space between the pole and buildings. Poles must be installed to horizontally give at least five feet of space to all walls, projections, guarded or unguarded windows and to balconies and other areas readily accessible to pedestrians. Furthermore, meter poles must be installed to vertically be at least least 16 feet over roofs accessible to truck traffic, 11 feet over roofs accessible by vehicle traffic but not truck traffic, 11 feet over or under roofs accessible by pedestrians and 3.5 feet over or beneath roofs that are not generally accessible to vehicles or pedestrians.
  
  

Bushes and Trees

• Plants, trees or bushes being placed too close to electric meters can result in devastating fires developing and spreading throughout the area. To prevent fire hazards, no trees or shrubs may be planted in front of a meter. Furthermore, poles must be installed at locations where they impose no obstruction to doorways, driveways and sidewalks.
  
  (CE: See Reference 2)
  
  

Worker Safety

• Only authorized people may work within the vicinity of live electric meter poles. According to Chapter 752 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, unauthorized people are prohibited from being placed or from bringing a tool, equipment part, machine or any other kind of material within six feet of live overhead high voltage lines. Furthermore, the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has established regulations that restrict unauthorized people from operating any equipment or machines within 10 feet of live overhead high voltage lines.
  
  (CE: See Reference 4)