diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/Animate.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/Animate.java
index f9f3c99..8e77d69 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/Animate.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/Animate.java
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@ class Animate
 		static int [] AniTabB = {    0,    0,   36,   44,    0,    0,   52,   60 };
 		static int [] AniTabC = { IND1,    0, IND2, IND4,    0,    0, IND6, IND8 };
 		static int [] AniTabD = { IND1,    0, IND3, IND5,    0,    0, IND7, IND9 };
-
-		static final int ASCBIT = (CONDBIT);
-		static final int REGBIT = (CONDBIT);
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/MapScanner.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/MapScanner.java
index aac6819..1e15276 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/MapScanner.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/MapScanner.java
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class MapScanner
 
 		cchr9 = (char) (cchr & LOMASK);
 
-		if (city.newPower && ((cchr & CONDBIT) != 0))
+		if (city.newPower && isConductive(cchr))
 		{
 			setZonePower();
 		}
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class MapScanner
 			// deteriorating roads
 			if (PRNG.nextInt(512) == 0)
 			{
-				if ((cchr & CONDBIT) == 0)
+				if (!isConductive(cchr))
 				{
 					if (city.roadEffect < PRNG.nextInt(32))
 					{
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ class MapScanner
 
 		if (city.roadEffect < 30) { // deteriorating rail
 			if (PRNG.nextInt(512) == 0) {
-				if ((cchr & CONDBIT) == 0) {
+				if (!isConductive(cchr)) {
 					if (city.roadEffect < PRNG.nextInt(32)) {
 						if (isOverWater(cchr)) {
 							city.setTile(xpos,ypos,RIVER);
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ class MapScanner
 		{
 			for (int x = xpos-1; x <= xpos+1; x++)
 			{
-				city.setTile(x, y, (char)(base | CONDBIT | (x == xpos && y == ypos ? BULLBIT : 0)));
+				city.setTile(x, y, (char)(base | (x == xpos && y == ypos ? BULLBIT : 0)));
 				base++;
 			}
 		}
@@ -631,13 +631,13 @@ class MapScanner
 			{
 				if ((city.map[ypos-1][xpos+1] & LOMASK) == RADAR) {
 					city.setTile(xpos+1,ypos-1, (char)
-					(RADAR_ANIM + CONDBIT)
+					(RADAR_ANIM)
 					);
 				}
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				city.setTile(xpos+1,ypos-1,(char)(RADAR + CONDBIT));
+				city.setTile(xpos+1,ypos-1,(char)(RADAR));
 			}
 
 			if (powerOn) {
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ class MapScanner
 					{  //not rubble, radiactive, on fire or flooded
 
 						city.setTile(xx,yy,(char)
-						(zoneBase+CONDBIT)
+						(zoneBase)
 						);
 					}
 				}
@@ -849,12 +849,12 @@ class MapScanner
 				if (powerOn) {
 					if (t == Smoke.AniTabC[z]) //expected non-animated tile
 					{
-						city.setTile(xx,yy,(char)(Smoke.ASCBIT | (SMOKEBASE + Smoke.AniTabA[z])));
+						city.setTile(xx,yy,(char)(SMOKEBASE + Smoke.AniTabA[z]));
 					}
 				}
 				else {
 					if (t > Smoke.AniTabC[z]) {
-						city.setTile(xx,yy,(char)(Smoke.REGBIT | Smoke.AniTabC[z]));
+						city.setTile(xx,yy,(char)(Smoke.AniTabC[z]));
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -866,12 +866,12 @@ class MapScanner
 				int t = city.map[yy][xx] & LOMASK;
 				if (powerOn) {
 					if (t == Smoke.AniTabD[z]) {
-						city.setTile(xx,yy,(char)(Smoke.ASCBIT | (SMOKEBASE + Smoke.AniTabB[z])));
+						city.setTile(xx,yy,(char)(SMOKEBASE + Smoke.AniTabB[z]));
 					}
 				}
 				else {
 					if (t > Smoke.AniTabD[z]) {
-						city.setTile(xx,yy,(char)(Smoke.REGBIT | Smoke.AniTabD[z]));
+						city.setTile(xx,yy,(char)(Smoke.AniTabD[z]));
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -1080,7 +1080,7 @@ class MapScanner
 			assert houseNumber >= 0 && houseNumber < 12;
 
 			assert city.testBounds(xx, yy);
-			city.setTile(xx, yy, (char)((HOUSE + houseNumber) | BULLBIT | CONDBIT));
+			city.setTile(xx, yy, (char)((HOUSE + houseNumber) | BULLBIT));
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1207,7 +1207,7 @@ class MapScanner
 		{
 			// downgrade from full-size zone to 8 little houses
 
-			city.setTile(xpos, ypos, (char)(FREEZ | BULLBIT | CONDBIT));
+			city.setTile(xpos, ypos, (char)(FREEZ | BULLBIT));
 			for (int x = xpos-1; x <= xpos+1; x++)
 			{
 				for (int y = ypos-1; y <= ypos+1; y++)
@@ -1218,7 +1218,7 @@ class MapScanner
 						{
 							// pick a random small house
 							int houseNumber = value * 3 + PRNG.nextInt(3);
-							city.setTile(x, y, (char) ((HOUSE + houseNumber) | BULLBIT | CONDBIT));
+							city.setTile(x, y, (char) ((HOUSE + houseNumber) | BULLBIT));
 						}
 					}
 				}
@@ -1243,7 +1243,7 @@ class MapScanner
 						int loc = city.map[y][x] & LOMASK;
 						if (loc >= LHTHR && loc <= HHTHR)
 						{ //little house
-							city.setTile(x, y, (char)((Brdr[z] + FREEZ - 4) | BULLBIT | CONDBIT));
+							city.setTile(x, y, (char)((Brdr[z] + FREEZ - 4) | BULLBIT));
 							return;
 						}
 					}
@@ -1342,7 +1342,7 @@ class MapScanner
 			int tile = city.getTile(xpos+dx[z], ypos+dy[z]) & LOMASK;
 			if (tile >= COALBASE && tile < COALBASE + 4*4) {
 				city.setTile(xpos + dx[z], ypos + dy[z],
-				(char) (SmTb[z] | CONDBIT | PWRBIT)
+				(char) (SmTb[z] | PWRBIT)
 				);
 			}
 		}
@@ -1374,7 +1374,7 @@ class MapScanner
 			for (int x = 0; x < 4; x++, zoneBase++)
 			{
 				city.setTile(xpos - 1 + x, ypos - 1 + y,
-					(char) (zoneBase | CONDBIT | (x == 1 && y == 1 ? (PWRBIT) : 0)));
+					(char) (zoneBase | (x == 1 && y == 1 ? (PWRBIT) : 0)));
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/Micropolis.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/Micropolis.java
index e3eba46..1c09a45 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/Micropolis.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/Micropolis.java
@@ -906,11 +906,6 @@ public class Micropolis
 		fireMapOverlayDataChanged(MapState.FIRE_OVERLAY);
 	}
 
-	private boolean isConductive(int x, int y)
-	{
-		return (map[y][x] & CONDBIT) != 0;
-	}
-
 	private boolean testForCond(CityLocation loc, int dir)
 	{
 		int xsave = loc.x;
@@ -920,7 +915,7 @@ public class Micropolis
 		if (movePowerLocation(loc,dir))
 		{
 			rv = (
-				isConductive(loc.x, loc.y) &&
+				isConductive(map[loc.y][loc.x]) &&
 				map[loc.y][loc.x] != NUCLEAR &&
 				map[loc.y][loc.x] != POWERPLANT &&
 				!hasPower(loc.x, loc.y)
@@ -1965,7 +1960,7 @@ public class Micropolis
 			for (int y = 0; y < DEFAULT_HEIGHT; y++)
 			{
 				int z = dis.readShort();
-				z &= ~(1024 | 2048 | 8192); // clear ZONEBIT,ANIMBIT,BURNBIT on import
+				z &= ~(1024 | 2048 | 8192 | 16384); // clear ZONEBIT,ANIMBIT,BURNBIT,CONDBIT on import
 				map[y][x] = (char) z;
 			}
 		}
@@ -1979,6 +1974,9 @@ public class Micropolis
 			for (int y = 0; y < DEFAULT_HEIGHT; y++)
 			{
 				int z = map[y][x];
+				if (isConductive(z)) {
+					z |= 16384;  //synthesize CONDBIT on export
+				}
 				if (isCombustible(z)) {
 					z |= 8192;   //synthesize BURNBIT on export
 				}
@@ -2344,7 +2342,7 @@ public class Micropolis
 					(t & LOMASK) >= COALSMOKE1 &&
 					(t & LOMASK) < COALSMOKE4+4) {
 					// animated coal smoke
-					setTile(xtem, ytem, (char)(zoneBase | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+					setTile(xtem, ytem, (char)(zoneBase | BULLBIT));
 					continue;
 				}
 
diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/RoadLikeTool.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/RoadLikeTool.java
index 18b04c2..036bb3d 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/RoadLikeTool.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/RoadLikeTool.java
@@ -201,11 +201,11 @@ class RoadLikeTool extends ToolStroke
 			return false;
 
 		case LHPOWER: // rail on power
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (RAILVPOWERH | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (RAILVPOWERH | BULLBIT));
 			break;
 
 		case LVPOWER: // rail on power
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (RAILHPOWERV | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (RAILHPOWERV | BULLBIT));
 			break;
 
 		case TileConstants.ROADS:	// rail on road (case 1)
@@ -304,11 +304,11 @@ class RoadLikeTool extends ToolStroke
 			return false;
 
 		case LHPOWER: //road on power
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (VROADPOWER | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (VROADPOWER | BULLBIT));
 			break;
 
 		case LVPOWER: //road on power #2
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (HROADPOWER | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (HROADPOWER | BULLBIT));
 			break;
 
 		case LHRAIL: //road on rail
@@ -363,12 +363,12 @@ class RoadLikeTool extends ToolStroke
 				int tmp = eff.getTile(1, 0);
 				char tmpn = neutralizeRoad(tmp);
 
-				if ((tmp & CONDBIT) != 0 &&
+				if (isConductive(tmp) &&
 					tmpn != HROADPOWER &&
 					tmpn != RAILHPOWERV &&
 					tmpn != HPOWER)
 				{
-					eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (VPOWER | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+					eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (VPOWER | BULLBIT));
 					break;
 				}
 			}
@@ -378,12 +378,12 @@ class RoadLikeTool extends ToolStroke
 				int tmp = eff.getTile(-1, 0);
 				char tmpn = neutralizeRoad(tmp);
 
-				if ((tmp & CONDBIT) != 0 &&
+				if (isConductive(tmp) &&
 					tmpn != HROADPOWER &&
 					tmpn != RAILHPOWERV &&
 					tmpn != HPOWER)
 				{
-					eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (VPOWER | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+					eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (VPOWER | BULLBIT));
 					break;
 				}
 			}
@@ -393,12 +393,12 @@ class RoadLikeTool extends ToolStroke
 				int tmp = eff.getTile(0, 1);
 				char tmpn = neutralizeRoad(tmp);
 
-				if ((tmp & CONDBIT) != 0 &&
+				if (isConductive(tmp) &&
 					tmpn != VROADPOWER &&
 					tmpn != RAILVPOWERH &&
 					tmpn != VPOWER)
 				{
-					eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (HPOWER | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+					eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (HPOWER | BULLBIT));
 					break;
 				}
 			}
@@ -408,12 +408,12 @@ class RoadLikeTool extends ToolStroke
 				int tmp = eff.getTile(0, -1);
 				char tmpn = neutralizeRoad(tmp);
 
-				if ((tmp & CONDBIT) != 0 &&
+				if (isConductive(tmp) &&
 					tmpn != VROADPOWER &&
 					tmpn != RAILVPOWERH &&
 					tmpn != VPOWER)
 				{
-					eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (HPOWER | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+					eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (HPOWER | BULLBIT));
 					break;
 				}
 			}
@@ -422,19 +422,19 @@ class RoadLikeTool extends ToolStroke
 			return false;
 
 		case TileConstants.ROADS: // wire on E/W road
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (HROADPOWER | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (HROADPOWER | BULLBIT));
 			break;
 
 		case ROADS2: // wire on N/S road
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (VROADPOWER | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (VROADPOWER | BULLBIT));
 			break;
 
 		case LHRAIL:	// wire on E/W railroad tracks
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (RAILHPOWERV | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (RAILHPOWERV | BULLBIT));
 			break;
 
 		case LVRAIL:	// wire on N/S railroad tracks
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (RAILVPOWERH | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (RAILVPOWERH | BULLBIT));
 			break;
 
 		default:
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ class RoadLikeTool extends ToolStroke
 			}
 
 			//wire on dirt
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (LHPOWER | CONDBIT | BULLBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (char) (LHPOWER | BULLBIT));
 			break;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/TileConstants.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/TileConstants.java
index 2327d70..c2479d1 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/TileConstants.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/TileConstants.java
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ public class TileConstants
 	// status bits
 	//
 	public static final char PWRBIT = 32768;  // bit 15 ... currently powered
-	public static final char CONDBIT = 16384; // bit 14 ... can conduct power
+	// bit 14 ... unused
 	// bit 13 ... unused
 	public static final char BULLBIT = 4096;  // bit 12 ... is bulldozable
 	// bit 11 ... unused
@@ -304,6 +304,12 @@ public class TileConstants
 		return spec != null && spec.canBurn;
 	}
 
+	public static boolean isConductive(int tile)
+	{
+		TileSpec spec = Tiles.get(tile & LOMASK);
+		return spec != null && spec.canConduct;
+	}
+
 	public static boolean isFire(int tile)
 	{
 		int tmp = tile & LOMASK;
diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/TileSpec.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/TileSpec.java
index 87b20e5..df6c1b8 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/TileSpec.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/TileSpec.java
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ public class TileSpec
 	int tileNumber;
 	TileSpec animNext;
 	boolean canBurn;
+	boolean canConduct;
 	boolean zone;
 
 	Map<String,String> attributes;
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ public class TileSpec
 		}
 
 		this.canBurn = !getBooleanAttribute("noburn");
+		this.canConduct = getBooleanAttribute("conducts");
 		this.zone = getBooleanAttribute("zone");
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/ToolStroke.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/ToolStroke.java
index c02f4a4..8b66de5 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/ToolStroke.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/ToolStroke.java
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ public class ToolStroke
 			for (int columnNum = 0; columnNum < width; columnNum++)
 			{
 				eff.setTile(columnNum, rowNum, (char) (
-					tileBase | CONDBIT
+					tileBase
 					));
 				tileBase++;
 			}
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ public class ToolStroke
 			{
 				tile = eff.getTile(0, -1);
 				char ntile = neutralizeRoad(tile);
-				if ((tile & CONDBIT) != 0 &&
+				if (isConductive(tile) &&
 					ntile != VPOWER &&
 					ntile != VROADPOWER &&
 					ntile != RAILVPOWERH)
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ public class ToolStroke
 			{
 				tile = eff.getTile(1, 0);
 				char ntile = neutralizeRoad(tile);
-				if ((tile & CONDBIT) != 0 &&
+				if (isConductive(tile) &&
 					ntile != HPOWER &&
 					ntile != HROADPOWER &&
 					ntile != RAILHPOWERV)
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ public class ToolStroke
 			{
 				tile = eff.getTile(0, 1);
 				char ntile = neutralizeRoad(tile);
-				if ((tile & CONDBIT) != 0 &&
+				if (isConductive(tile) &&
 					ntile != VPOWER &&
 					ntile != VROADPOWER &&
 					ntile != RAILVPOWERH)
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ public class ToolStroke
 			{
 				tile = eff.getTile(-1, 0);
 				char ntile = neutralizeRoad(tile);
-				if ((tile & CONDBIT) != 0 &&
+				if (isConductive(tile) &&
 					ntile != HPOWER &&
 					ntile != HROADPOWER &&
 					ntile != RAILHPOWERV)
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ public class ToolStroke
 				}
 			}
 
-			eff.setTile(0, 0, (WireTable[adjTile] | BULLBIT | CONDBIT));
+			eff.setTile(0, 0, (WireTable[adjTile] | BULLBIT));
 		} //end if on a rail tile
 
 		return;
diff --git a/src/micropolisj/gui/OverlayMapView.java b/src/micropolisj/gui/OverlayMapView.java
index 1746b89..e3da4af 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/gui/OverlayMapView.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/gui/OverlayMapView.java
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ public class OverlayMapView extends JComponent
 			// zone
 			pix = ((rawTile & PWRBIT) != 0) ? POWERED : UNPOWERED;
 		}
-		else if ((rawTile & CONDBIT) != 0) {
+		else if (isConductive(rawTile)) {
 			pix = CONDUCTIVE;
 		}
 		else {