Plan Clearances Around Grain Bins

During the past several years, more than two dozen deaths and serious injuries have occurred on Iowa farms, when grain augers have come in contact with overhead power lines. Safety is very important on farms and proper clearance from electric lines is a large safety issue for both Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative and its members.

When you start to plan for a new grain bin, please contact Harrison County REC, at 712-647-2727 or our power supplier, Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO), 712-546-4141, to ensure you are meeting the National Electric Safety Code requirements.

We will provide assistance in planning for a safe environment for everyone working and living around grain bins. The State of Iowa requires specific clearances for electric lines around grain bins, with different standards for those filled by portable and permanent augers, conveyors and elevators. According to the Iowa Electric Safety Code found in Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 199 -- 25.2(3) b. An electric utility may refuse to provide electric service to any grain bin built near an existing electric line which does not provide the clearances required by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)C2-2017 “National Electrical Safety Code,” Rule 234F. This paragraph “b” shall apply only to grain bins loaded by portable augers, conveyors or elevators and built after September 9, 1992, or to grain bins loaded by permanently installed augers, conveyors, or elevator systems installed after December 24, 1997.