General Order 95 (California)

Although the National Electrical Safety Code is required, or recognized, as the effective safety standard in most of the United States, California has adopted its own requirements in General Order 95 (CPUC 2020). Whereas the primary purpose of the NESC is to protect people from direct physical harm (e.g. electrocution) from the electrical supply and communications facilities, GO 95 also attempts to ensure “adequate service,” which is a reliability issue. There are significant quantitative differences in the strength and clearance requirements.