Power for Progress…A weekly column from the Grand River Dam Authority Is your dock’s electrical system ready for the season?

The arrival of spring has many lake enthusiasts turning their attention back to the water and the promise of long summer days ahead. For many, those days at the lake will include a lot of time spent on the dock. If that is part of your plan, the Grand River Dam Authority wants to share a yearly reminder about the importance of maintaining your dock’s electrical system.

The unfortunate truth is that a faulty dock electric system can be very dangerous, and may even prove fatal, for those in the water near the docks or those in contact with the dock. System defects can cause electric current to be discharged into the water or the metal components of the dock. That is why GRDA-issued dock permits require you to have your dock inspected by a licensed professional electrician.

Those inspections cover many areas of the dock, including proper grounding, conduit, breakers, wiring, dock receptacles, dock metal works and electrical service boxes.

The GRDA application for dock permits requires any dock wired for electricity to have a completed electrical certification form signed by an Oklahoma Licensed Electrical contractor before a final permit is approved. Dock standards also require docks to have an electrical disconnect clearly identified and located above the high-water mark. Also, any residential dock that has electrical service must adhere to the regulations set forth in the National Electric Code. Finally, any docks constructed or modified, relocated, or transferred, are required to provide GRDA with a certificate signed by an Oklahoma licensed electric contractor, showing compliance with all laws, regulations and codes regarding electrical systems and wiring.

For more information on dock standards and permitting, contact GRDA at (918) 782 1743.

Your friends at GRDA want you to stay safe on, and around the water, this summer.

GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency.

# # #