SAVANNAH, Ga. – With the new year quickly approaching, officials from the Hartwell Dam and Lake Project remind adjacent property owners who have a Shoreline Use Permit authorizing electrical service on public land/water of the upcoming Feb. 1, 2021 deadline.
“The most significant change of the revised 2020 Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is the requirement for an inspection by a state-licensed electrician of the electrical system on a dock or to a power pole located on public land every five years before renewal of the permit,” Aaron Wahus, Operations Manager at Hartwell lake, said. “This new requirement will begin for permits authorizing electrical service expiring on or after Feb. 1, 2021.”
Dock owners may now use solar DC power to provide electrical service to a dock. Solar power does not require recertification every five years.
“Not only is solar a clean, safe energy source, it also minimizes impacts to public lands by eliminating the need to trench-in traditional power lines,” Sandy Campbell, natural resources manager at Hartwell Lake, said. “Solar power eliminates possible shock hazards for swimmers. It also eliminates inconveniences for dock owners needing to ‘chase water’ when reservoir levels recede.”
The 2020 Hartwell Lake SMP, a summary chart highlighting the changes, and the electrical inspection form can be viewed and downloaded at: https://go.usa.gov/xEt5j.
For questions regarding this issue, please call the Hartwell Lake Office at 706-856-0300.
– 30 –
Release no. 20-028