(a)All instrumentalities, equipment, plant and facilities
furnished, employed or used by any public utility, shall in all
respects be adequate and efficient, and the construction,
operation and use thereof, shall be such as shall prevent injury
to property, and as shall promote the safety, health, comfort,
and convenience of its patrons, employees and the public, and to
this end, the commission may make rules and regulations
governing the construction, maintenance and operation of
telephone, telegraph, trolley, electric light and power lines
hereafter built within this state, and shall by rule adopt as
the standard of such construction, operation and maintenance the
provisions of the current edition of the National Electrical
Safety Code; provided that when electric light and power lines
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(a) All instrumentalities, equipment, plant and facilities
furnished, employed or used by any public utility, shall in all
respects be adequate and efficient, and the construction,
operation and use thereof, shall be such as shall prevent injury
to property, and as shall promote the safety, health, comfort,
and convenience of its patrons, employees and the public, and to
this end, the commission may make rules and regulations
governing the construction, maintenance and operation of
telephone, telegraph, trolley, electric light and power lines
hereafter built within this state, and shall by rule adopt as
the standard of such construction, operation and maintenance the
provisions of the current edition of the National Electrical
Safety Code; provided that when electric light and power lines
use Y-connected circuits with neutral conductors effectively
grounded throughout their length, minimum vertical clearance of
wires or neutral conductors over ground or rails shall be
determined by the voltage between wires and ground, if such
voltage does not exceed fifteen thousand (15,000) volts. Said
commission shall also have the power to direct the manner by
which all utilities shall cross public highways and other
utilities and by which public highways shall cross the utilities
and to prescribe methods of approach and crossing that shall
secure safety to the public; provided, however, that with
respect to approaches and crossings of overhead lines, the
provisions of the current edition of the National Electrical
Safety Code above prescribed shall apply, except as provided
herein with respect to Y-connected circuits with neutral
conductors effectively grounded throughout their length where
the voltage does not exceed fifteen thousand (15,000) volts. At
every such crossing, in case the persons interested do not
themselves agree, it shall be the duty of the commission to
apportion between the parties, in accordance with justice, the
costs and expenses of installing and maintaining such crossings.
In case expense is apportioned to be paid by a public highway
the portion so to be paid by such highway shall be paid by the
city or town in case the crossing line is within the boundaries
of a city or town, and by the county in which the crossing is
situated in case the same is not within any city or town.
Provided that all such equipment, plant, and facilities shall be
maintained in such working condition that will provide a minimum
of interference with radio and television reception to residents
and highway users in the immediate area of such equipment,
plant, and facilities.
(b) This section shall not be construed as creating
neither prohibition nor obligation or duty of inspection or
maintenance by an electric or telecommunications public utility
for facilities or equipment not owned by the public utility.