
G.O. 95 and NESC Compliant
Overhead Distribution Line Design
Online Training Program
September 9-11, 16-18, 2025
9:00 am to 12:30 pm (Pacific) each day
The State of California has established legislation and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has issued General Order (G.O.) 95 Rules for Overhead Line Construction and General Order (G.O.) 128 Rules for Underground Line Construction. California’s public and private electric utilities are required to comply with these general orders. Engineers and designers, as well as operation and maintenance employees of utilities and their contractors are expected to understand and properly apply these rules.
Participants will receive copies of the presentation materials in advance, allowing you to work with them before, during and after the online sessions. The scheduled online sessions will also be recorded and available for a period of thirty days, enabling participants to work around any scheduling conflicts.
LEARNING METHODS
This program is applications‐oriented, including group interaction, high‐quality presentations, Q&A, and opportunities to check all that you have learned.
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
This workshop has value for those who work at all levels of overhead distribution line design and should be attended by:
• Engineering managers
• Design/staking technicians
• Design engineers
• Resident engineers
• Design/staking supervisors
• Consulting engineers
DAILY SESSION SCHEDULE:
This program will be presented in six (6) “live” half-day sessions. Following each session, participants are expected to work independently on exercises related to the topics presented. The planned schedule for each daily session is as follows, subject to some variation based on the level of participant engagement that impacts the pace of presentation. (All times are Pacific Time).
08:45 a.m. to 09:00 a.m. Platform up and running
for participant log-in
09:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Session
10:00 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. Break
10:20 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Session
11:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. Break
11:40 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Session
Session I – Sept. 9
Overhead Line Design
Accountabilities and Process
- Overhead line design risks, risk management and protocols
- NESC overview and application
- G.O. 95 overview and application
- NESC general requirements for overhead lines
- G.O. 95 general requirements for overhead lines
- Other considerations in overhead line design
Session II – Sept. 10
Overhead Line Conductor/Cable
Sag and Tension
- NESC and G.O. 95 requirements for maximum conductor/cable sag determination
- NESC and G.O. 95, and practical requirements for maximum conductor/cable design tension
- Conductor/cable sag and tension calculations
- Conductor/cable sag-tension software
- Application examples and assigned exercises
Session III – Sept. 11
Overhead Line Clearance Requirements (NESC and G.O. 95)
- Clearances to ground and water surfaces
- Clearances to buildings and other structures
- Clearances between conductors, cables and equipment
- Clearance application examples and assigned exercises
Session IV – Sept. 16
Overhead Line Structure Loading
and Strength (Part 1)
- Types and functions of supporting structures
- NESC and G.O. 95 requirements for supporting structure design (loading conditions and strength requirements)
- Determination of mechanical forces supporting structures
- Supporting structure loading application examples and assigned exercises
Session V – Sept. 17
Overhead Line Structure Loading
and Strength (Part 2)
- Overhead line guying and anchoring design considerations
- Wood poles (types, treatments, dimensions, strength, classes and specifications)
- Manufactured poles (types, characteristics, NESC equivalent designs, and specifications
- Pole embedment designs
- Supporting structure loading application examples and assigned exercises
Session VI – Sept. 18
Putting it all together
- Joint use overhead line design considerations
- Examples and exercises in overhead line design scenarios
PROGRAM INSTRUCTORS

R. John Miner Tom Black Erich Schoennagel
Program developers and instructors R. John Miner, P.E., Tom Black, P.E. and Erich Schoennagel, P.E. have over 120 years of combined experience in the electric utility industry, including extensive experience in the design and construction of overhead and underground lines. They are offering this new program as a cost-effective and convenient opportunity for you to become familiar with or refresh and update your knowledge of G.O. 95 and G.O 128.
R. John Miner, P.E. is an accomplished executive manager and educator with over 45 years of experience in the electric utility industry. He is president of Collaborative Learning, Inc. of Austin and San Antonio, Texas, a firm that presents management and technical education programs and, through Collaboration Unlimited, provides management consulting services to the electric utility industry. John’s technical seminars and workshops for utilities have covered such topics as application of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), overhead and underground distribution systems, electric system planning, construction, operations, and maintenance. John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering (with honors), and a Master of Science degree in engineering science, both from the University of Toledo. John is a Senior Life Member of the IEEE and is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Texas and Minnesota.
Tom Black, P.E. is an accomplished engineer and executive manager who works with Collaborative Learning as a technical consultant and continuing education program developer and instructor. Tom has more than 35 years of experience in the electric and gas utility industries including employment with both municipal and Investor-owned utilities. Tom teaches courses on such topics as electrical distribution principles, overhead and underground distribution systems, the NESC, electric system planning, construction, operations, and maintenance. Tom earned his Bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis (with honors) and is a registered professional engineer in the states of Colorado and Arizona. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Erich Schoennagel, P.E. is an accomplished engineer and manager who works with Collaborative Learning as a technical consultant and continuing education program developer and instructor. Erich began his utility career more than 40 years ago and most recently managed the Transmission Project Engineering group for a large investor-owned utility, which served the company’s needs for transmission system design, substation and telecom site improvement, and civil engineering for transmission, substation, distribution, and telecom structures. Erich has extensive experience in the application of engineering principles and NESC requirements to the design of utility structures and foundations. Erich received his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.
Register by August 29, 2025:
Individual Cost - $1,850 for Academy members and CL contacts
Group of 3 or more - $1,750 per person
Cancellations are accepted if request is made at least 10 days prior to start of the course. Within 1-10 days or "no show", the full registration fee will be charged. When possible, please send a substitute instead of cancelling.
We do not charge a fee for substitutions.
For assistance contact Jillian.Wolfe@cl-cu.com.
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