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HomePublic Utilities CodeDiv. 4Ch. 5Art. 2§ 8033 High Voltage Wire Safety

§ 8033 High Voltage Wire Safety

Public Utilities Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 8033 High Voltage Wire Safety

Key Takeaways

  • •High-voltage wires (over 15,000 volts) must be placed high enough so they can't touch lower-voltage wires or fall within 10 feet of a road if they break.
  • •If the wires aren't high enough, they must be extra strong (double thickness) at crossing points to prevent accidents.
  • •Wires that are already thick enough (size 4 gauge or bigger) don’t need to be doubled.

Example

A power company wants to run a high-voltage wire over a road where there are also phone lines.

The high-voltage wire must be placed on a tall pole so that if it breaks, it won’t touch the phone lines or fall near the road. If the pole isn’t tall enough, the high-voltage wire must be extra thick at the crossing point to make sure it doesn’t break easily.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 8033 High Voltage Wire Safety

No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any wire or cable carrying more than 15,000 volts of electricity across any wire or cable carrying less than that voltage or across any public highway, except on a pole of such height and so placed at each crossing that under no circumstances can the wire or cable of a voltage higher than 15,000 volts in case of breakage thereof or otherwise, come in contact with any wire or cable of less than that voltage, or fall within a distance of ten (10) feet from the surface of any public highway; or in lieu thereof double strength construction may be installed, in which case the wires carrying a voltage higher than 15,000 volts shall, between the points of crossing, be of a cross-section area equal to at least twice that used in the line outside of such crossing, except where the conductor used is equal to number four (4) stranded Brown and Sharpe gauge or greater, in which case the wires or cables will be considered as complying with the law. (Enacted by Stats. 1951, Ch. 764.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

highwayroadelectricitydistanceconstruction

Related Statutes

  • § 8026 Electrical Wire Pole Clearance
  • § 1031 Passenger Stage Certificate Requirement
  • § 8027 Electrical Wire Pole Clearance
  • § 8030 Guy Wire Insulation Requirements
  • § 6001 Public Utility Franchise Conditions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Public Utilities Code. Section 8033.
View Official Source