Proposal:Utility consumers lines

Utility consumers lines
Proposal status:	Draft (under way)
Proposed by:	fanfouer
Tagging:	line_management=consumers
Applies to:
Definition:	Provide a dedicated value for nodes on which utility consumers lines connects to main lines, different from branches
Statistics:
Draft started:	2025-03-14

Utility networks like electricity, water or even gas often goes along streets to allow individual consumers to tap them towards their homes or companies.
Tap lines connecting individual consumers may be considered as particular branch lines starting from main lines towards households.
However and despite they can be part of the public network, they are often designed for a single consumer and are way smaller than other lines.
This proposal intends to define a dedicated line_management=* value to simplify mapping of utility distribution networks without connecting each house to main lines (without preventing anyone who wants to do so).

This proposal is intended for any utility network and it can be took for power networks as to ease understanding.

Proposal

It is proposed to add a new line_management=consumers value to be used on nodes at which consumers lines tap main utility lines (power, water, gas...).
It will have the same combination capabilities as line_management=branch.

Rationale

A consumer line is intended to feed an individual household from distribution network nearby.
It differs from other public main lines that are designed to feed a group of customers or facilities with a more important capacity.

A particular branch point

line_management=branch will be dedicated for points on which several main/secondary lines connects.

Consumers tap lines are particular branch lines and often smallest assets of larger utility networks.
When overhead, they are barely seen from aerial imagery of even from streets.
Many of consumers lines can be seen in residential streets and mappers may be interested to only describe points on which they connect on the main lines without going through the hassle of mapping each of them.

As line_management=consumers is intended to abstract too detailed mapping, mappers won't be prompted to connect three or more lines on those points.
On the contrary, line_management=branch will require a T-point at least for sake of mapping consistency of main lines.
Furthermore, mappers shouldn't be able to end a main line with branch instead of consumers and should be warned when such a situation occurs.

Properly ending rural mains

In rural areas, overhead power main lines or underground water mains may stop by isolated households, allowing a single consumer to connect with his own tap line.
As those taps may not be seen during surveys or from aerial imagery, proposed line_management=consumers may allow to properly end the main lines and state that it explicitly stops by the consumer tap without mapping the consumer line itself.

Currently, mappers that don't want to map consumers lines can't properly terminate the main lines seen on ground.
It's not possible to use line_management=termination as sometimes we see a smaller cable (or pipe, whatever) going towards near households.

Proposed line_management=consumers has got a double advantage to distinguish taps points form branch ones and provide a convenient manner to end distribution main lines that stops by consumers taps.

Tagging

This proposal won't change current line_management=* usage.
This key will still be used on nodes only.

Use line_management=consumers or combine it as necessary depending on the situation encountered at each point a consumer line taps any network main line.

Consumers lines themselves will be mapped just like any other line (mostly with power=minor_line, man_made=pipeline).

Advanced usage

line_management=consumers is proposed with same combination capabilities as line_management=branch:

Value	branch	consumers
straight
branch	branch	branch/consumers
split
transpose
termination
transition

Change management

Affected pages

• Create line_management=consumers page
• Edit line_management=* page to add consumers value

Examples

Power

Photo	Location	Tagging	Note
	-	power=pole line_management=consumers	-

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