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Commerce & Insurance finalizes electrical and third‑party inspection rules; panel flags temporary-service duration
Summary
Commerce and Insurance finalized permanent electrical rules and rules implementing third‑party plan review and inspection; the packet includes a 45‑day limit on temporary-service release permits that senators said may warrant legislative review.
The Department of Commerce and Insurance presented rule changes that add clarity to electrical-installation rules and adopt permanent rules for third‑party plan review and inspection authorized by public chapter 771 of 2024.
Assistant Commissioner Mike Bell said the packet restates a statutory 45‑day expiration for temporary-service release permits and defines a restructured, negotiable inspection fee for recreational-vehicle park pedestals based on pedestal count and amperage. The permanent rules formalize emergency rules approved in November 2024 related to third‑party registration, allowing registered Tennessee engineers and architects to perform plan reviews and inspections in lieu of local inspections.
Committee members asked whether contractors face double inspection fees if they choose third‑party reviews; officials said the third‑party option is elective and a contractor that uses a third party may still pay local jurisdiction fees. Senator Rose raised that the 45‑day statutory limit for temporary services often does not match construction timelines and suggested legislative action to amend the statute; several committee members expressed interest in pursuing that change.
The committee voted to advance the rules with a positive recommendation in both chambers.
