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IEEE GUIDE FOR 
PERFORMING ARC-FLASH 
HAZARD CALCULATIONS 
CHANGES TO IEEE STD. 1584, 
SP
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IN
G
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13
S
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M
M
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22
ISSN 2167-3594 NETA WORLD JOURNAL PRINT
ISSN 2167-3586 NETA WORLD JOURNAL ONLINE
CHECKLISTS AND EFFECTIVE JOB 
BRIEFINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO 
IMPROVING SAFETY PAGE 48
MENTORSHIP IS CRITICAL IN 
THE ELECTRICAL SECTOR PAGE 56
BATTERY SAFETY PAGE 62
IMPROVED METHOD FOR SAFE 
TIMING MEASUREMENT OF GIS 
CIRCUIT BREAKERS PAGE 68
PART 2
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48
COVER STORY
 40 Impact of Changes to 
 IEEE Std. 1584, IEEE Guide 
 for Performing Arc-Flash 
 Hazard Calculations — Part 2
Steve Park, PE, Vertiv
Part 2 continues the discussion of the 2018 changes to 
the arc flash calculation process in IEEE 1584.
 48 Checklists and Effective 
 Job Briefings Are Important 
 to Improving Safety
D. Ray Crow, DRC Consulting, Inc.
Make efficient checklists and job briefings to reduce 
incidents and save lives. 
 56 Mentorship Is Critical 
 in the Electrical Sector
Mike Doherty, eHazard
Learn how a mentoring program can build employee 
skills, decrease turnover, and increase loyalty.
 62 Battery Safety
Andrew Sagl, Megger 
Modern instruments can make testing large battery 
banks safer and more efficient.
 68 Improved Method for 
 Safe Timing Measurement 
 of GIS Circuit Breakers
Radenko Ostojic, Adnan Secic, Budo Milovic, and 
Kerim Obarcanin, DV Power
Explore an improved method for testing 
demanding cases.
IN THIS ISSUE SUMMER2022 · VOLUME 44 , NO. 2
68
40
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INSIGHTS AND INSPIRATION
 8 Mose Ramieh III: Stay Involved to Stay Relevant
IN EVERY ISSUE
 7	 President’s	Desk
A Safety Reminder
Eric Beckman, National Field Services 
NETA President
 14 Relay Column
Sync Check Supervision
Steve Turner, Arizona Public Service Company 
 20 In the Field
Improving Safety in the Field
Matt Eakins, Advanced Electrical Services, Ltd.
 27 Safety Corner
Performing Personnel Audits
Paul Chamberlain, American Electrical Testing Co., LLC
 32 Tech Quiz 
Safety
Virginia Balitski, Magna IV Engineering 
 34 Tech Tips
Safety Testing of EV Chargers
Jeff Jowett, Megger
INDUSTRY TOPICS
 76 Acceptance Testing Collaboration Leads to 
	 	 Improved	Project	Delivery
Eric Nation, High Voltage Maintenance Corporation
 82	 Power	Factor:	Understanding	the	Difference	 
	 	 Between	DPF	and	TPF
Ken Kious, PowerSight
 90	 Medium-Voltage	Circuit	Breaker	Condition	 
 Assessment
Siegfried Bernhauswer and Ari Tirroniemi, 
OMICRON electronics
CAP CORNER
 94 Advancements in the Industry
The Key to Relay Protection Success: Cooperation
Ed Khan, Doble Engineering
NETA NEWS
 104 NETA Welcomes CFM Services as NETA 
 Accredited Company
 106 Outstanding Achievement Award: Ken Bassett, 
 Potomac Testing
 112	 Alliance	Recognition	Award:	Drew	Welton,	 
 intellirent
 117 PowerTest 2022 Generates Powerful Connections 
 for the Future
SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS
 102 ANSI/NETA Standards Update
IMPORTANT LISTS
 122 NETA Accredited Companies
 130 Advertiser List
8 34 82
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Director of
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Scott Dude (Dude Electrical Testing LLC)
Dan Hook (Western Electrical Services, Inc.)
David Huffman (Power Systems Testing)
Chasen Tedder, Hampton Tedder Technical Services
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© Copyright 2022, NETA
NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER
NETA World is published quarterly by the InterNational Electrical Testing Association. 
Opinions, views and conclusions expressed in articles herein are those of the authors and not 
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any opinion, product, or service by NETA, its directors, officers, members, employees or 
agents (herein “NETA”).
All technical data in this publication reflects the experience of individuals using specific tools, 
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or may not be fully reported and over which NETA has neither exercised nor reserved control. 
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CONSUMER, PURCHASER OR ANY OTHER PERSON USINGThe protective earth contact 
test, which is accomplished through operator 
contact with a touch pad, will detect whether a 
ground connection is present (Figure 1). 
TECH TIPS
Regular safety maintenance and testing is critical.
Figure 1: Initial Test Verifies Presence of Safety Ground
36 • SUMMER 2022
The test is not a genuine bonding test to verify 
the current-carrying capacity of the bond, 
but rather verifies the connection’s absence or 
presence. This is indicated by a PROCEED or 
FAULT message on the display. For maximum 
safety, any further testing of the charger is 
disabled, and a faulted bond must be repaired 
by a qualified electrician.
Protective Conductor Resistance
The second test is protective conductor 
resistance. This test verifies that exposed 
metalwork on the charger is effectively 
connected to the ground pin on the charger’s 
socket or plug so that any possible fault 
currents from electrical failure will be safely 
diverted into the grounding system — not 
through the body of an operator who happens 
to be in contact with the charger. 
An alligator clip or probe is used to touch 
all possible points on the charger’s exposed 
metalwork. Therefore, this test is not required 
for chargers with no exposed metalwork or 
protected by double insulation. The tester 
measures the resistance to ground and displays 
it, along with a comparison to a safe standard 
of 0.5  Ω, which is typically indicated by a 
green check mark or red X (Figure 2). Failure 
must be repaired by a qualified electrician.
Trip Time and Touch Voltage Tests 
The remaining safety tests are for touch voltage 
and trip time. EV chargers afford redundant 
safety protection through ground fault safety 
interrupters (GFCIs) or residual current devices 
(RCDs). These work by detecting an imbalance 
in circuit current. The differential could go to 
ground through a human being, or it could 
find an unwanted path through equipment, 
causing fire or electrical damage. To prevent 
that, the device trips and opens the circuit. 
But GFCIs and RCDs are delicate devices that 
need to be checked. The charger tester applies 
a calibrated current matching the protective 
device’s rating and measures the time it takes 
to trip. The tester further assures that the 
trip time is fast enough to protect personnel 
from injury. Typical configurable parameters 
are voltage (230, 120), test current (30, 20, 
and 6 mA), and maximum test time (300 ms, 
12.5 s, 5.59 s), with the tester indicating pass 
or fail. Another adjustment is angle of earth 
leakage current, either starting at the positive 
direction zero crossover (0 degrees) or negative 
(180 degrees).
Once the test has started, the tester puts the 
charger in charging mode and measures the 
output voltage. Next, a touch voltage test is 
performed to ensure that an inadequate ground 
will not raise the voltage to a hazardous level 
during testing. This test is adjustable at 25 V or 
50 V. Earth leakage current is then measured 
and displayed.
Nuisance Tripping
Once the safety checks have assured that the 
EV charger can be operated without danger, a 
nuisance tripping test is performed. Extraneous 
currents such as the capacitive charging of long 
extension cables can be sources of nuisance 
tripping. This can be a hindrance to speedy and 
TECH TIPS
SAFETY TESTING OF EV CHARGERS
Figure 2: Pass/Fail Indicates Progress and Results
efficient testing. But once recognized, it can 
be eliminated by adjustment. The test applies 
a calibrated earth ground leakage current 
starting at approximately half the trip rating for 
the protective device in the charger, and then 
steadily increases the current until the device 
trips. The current at which the device tripped 
is displayed. The operator looks for a low trip 
value.
There are four ways to perform this test: 
 1. A 230 V AC current is ramped up to 
30 mA in 2 mA steps of 300 ms duration 
for 4.5 seconds.
 2. A DC current ramps at 6 mA for 2.5 
seconds to prevent tripping of the AC 
response, then holds at 3 mA DC for 
11.25 seconds.
 3. For testing 120 V equipment, a 6 mA AC 
test ramps up in 0.5 mA steps of 100 ms 
duration for 4.5 seconds.
TECH TIPS
 4. At 20 mA AC, a similar test ramps up 
in 1 mA steps of 100 ms duration for a 
maximum of 2 seconds.
Results are displayed in trip current, with 
0-degree or 180-degree options available.
Proximity Circuit
A proximity circuit prevents the vehicle from 
moving during charging, an obvious safety 
requirement. The circuit provides a signal so 
the vehicle knows it is connected to a charger. 
When the charger is connected, the voltage on 
the proximity pin in the vehicle drops from 
4.5 V to 1.5 V. The EV charger tester assures 
this will happen by simulating the circuit of the 
vehicle. 
If the charger has separate connecting cables, 
the connector applies a proximity pilot (PP) 
resistance signal to the charger to indicate the 
rating of the connection cable. The maximum 
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available current being indicated to the vehicle 
via the control pilot (CP) signal is adjusted 
accordingly. A charger tester verifies that 
this happens correctly by using cables with 
varied ratings. Test results are indicated by 
two symbols: a closed connector indicates 
proximity and a lock symbol indicates that the 
connection is latched.
Control Pilot Check
Finally, a control pilot check verifies the 
integrity of the communication between the 
charger and the vehicle. There are three main 
areas of communication: 
 1. State of the vehicle/charger
 2. Maximum current to be drawn by the 
vehicle
 3. Whether digital communication indicates 
current
The first of these includes disconnected, 
connected, charging, charging with ventilation, 
CP to PE fault, and charger fault. The control 
pilot signal is a 1 kHz square wave with the 
charger state communicated using the signal 
voltage level. Maximum current and digital 
communication use are indicated by the 
signal duty cycle. The charger tester takes the 
place of the vehicle and allows the user to set 
the CP code. The tester then reads the code 
back from the charger as set out in Table 8 
of IEC Standard 61851-1. This allows the 
user to verify the correct operation of the 
charger, ensuring that the charger responded as 
expected. In addition, testing the control pilot 
signal measures the charger output voltage and 
frequency.
TECH TIPS
Output charging voltage and frequency should 
be as expected for the utility supply to which 
the charger is connected. Polarity should 
read OK. Incorrect polarity is shown as INV. 
Maximum current should match the rating of 
the charger or connecting cable. Control pilot 
voltage, duty cycle, and frequency should be 
repeatable. The control pilot state read from 
the charger should match the code set for the 
test. A fault or error with the charger itself is 
indicated.
CONCLUSION
Compared to transformers, electric motors, 
building wiring, long runs of power cable, 
and a plethora of other pieces of electrical 
equipment, the electric vehicle charger may 
seem a simple device. Don’t let that allow it 
to slip off the chart for predictive/preventive 
maintenance. EV chargers have potential 
safety hazards that can be recognized and 
corrected. 
An EV charger tester should be part of 
the electrical maintenance program.Both 
equipment damage and personnel injury can 
be prevented by testing and maintaining EV 
chargers. Customers and clients are afforded 
protection, compliance can be maintained 
with standards agencies like OSHA, and legal 
safeguards can be kept in place. 
Jeffrey R. Jowett is a Senior Applications 
Engineer for Megger in Valley Forge, 
Pennsylvania, serving the manufacturing 
lines of Biddle, Megger, and Multi-
Amp for electrical test and measurement 
instrumentation. He holds a BS in biology 
and chemistry from Ursinus College. He 
was employed for 22 years with James G. Biddle Co., which 
became Biddle Instruments and is now Megger.
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40 • SUMMER 2022
IMPACT OF CHANGES 
TO IEEE STD. 1584, 
IEEE GUIDE FOR 
PERFORMING 
ARC-FLASH HAZARD 
CALCULATIONS 
PART 2
IMPACT OF 2018 CHANGES TO IEEE STD 1584, IEEE GUIDE FOR 
PERFORMING ARC-FLASH HAZARD CALCULATIONS – PART 2
BY STEVE PARK, PE, Vertiv
In the Spring 2022 edition of NETA World, Part 1 of this article provided 
a brief history and evolution of electrical safety over the past 50 years. 
It was during this period that OSHA was formed and NFPA began 
developing the 70E standard. We also reviewed some of the key changes 
from the original 2002 edition of IEEE 1584 to the second edition in 
2018, specifically examining the newly recommended arc flash calculation 
process and variables included in the calculations. 
In Part 2, we discuss the relevant impact 
of these changes and how they affect the 
calculated incident energy levels that we 
depend on to select adequate PPE and keep our 
workers safe.
Let’s start by considering the most frequently 
asked questions related to this new arc flash 
calculation process: 
• Does a new study need to be performed 
using the new method? 
• How do the old and new methods 
compare with respect to incident energy 
calculations, and how significant are these 
changes to the results of the analysis? 
• Will the new calculations result in 
significantly different incident energy 
(IE) values? 
COVER STORY
NETAWorld • 41
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IMPACT OF 2018 CHANGES TO IEEE STD 1584, IEEE GUIDE FOR 
PERFORMING ARC-FLASH HAZARD CALCULATIONS – PART 2
COMPARISON OF METHODS
While many variables must be considered when 
comparing the two methods, I’ve put together 
some scenarios that provide a practical comparison 
that answers these questions. The comparison 
focuses on low-voltage systems, as these are the 
most prevalent systems workers are exposed to, 
and this is where most accidents occur.
Two low-voltage scenarios are examined. The 
first is a 208 V system; the second is a 480 V 
system. For both scenarios, a fixed event 
duration of 83.3  ms was used. Designed 
interruption times for molded-case circuit 
breakers are approximately 8.33 ms (1/2 cycle) 
and 50 ms (3 cycles) for power circuit breakers. 
For the following examples, a fixed duration 
time of 83.3 ms (5 cycles) was used. As a result 
of using a fixed duration for the calculations, 
the reduced arcing current calculation was not 
applicable for this analysis. 
The following parameters were used in the 
analysis:
Table 1: Parameters Used in Arc Flash 
Calculations for Two Voltage Levels
208 V 
Model
480 V 
Model
Electrode Gap (mm) 25 32
Enclosure Standard Standard
Working Distance (in) 18 18
Arc Duration (ms) 83.3 83.3
The IEEE 1584-2002 calculations for a low-
voltage arc in an enclosure were compared 
to the 2018 calculations for the vertical 
conductor-electrode configuration (VCB), 
vertical conductor-electrode terminated in 
a metal enclosure (VCBB), and horizontal 
conductor-electrode terminated in a metal 
enclosure (HCB) configurations. The analysis 
COVER 
STORY
42 • SUMMER 2022
was performed utilizing a bolted fault current 
ranging from 2 kA to 100 kA. 
Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the incident energy 
results of this analysis. Figure 1 shows the 2002 
versus 2018 incident energy (IE) results for the 
208 V example. Figure 2 shows the comparison 
for the 480 V example. 
The HCB calculations result in a significantly 
higher incident energy than the VCB/VCBB 
calculated energies and the energy calculated 
under the 2002 model when considering a 
typical range of bolted fault current values. The 
HCB model is representative of large power 
circuit breaker cubicles in switchgear, junction 
boxes, and some disconnects versus what is 
typically found in smaller panelboards (VCB/
VCBB). This higher IE for HCB equipment is 
the result of the horizontal electrodes ejecting 
the arc outwards directly towards the opening 
and worker. If an arc occurs in the stab area of 
a cubicle, and a circuit breaker is present, the 
breaker is likely to disrupt the arc ejection and 
decrease the IE below the calculated value.[1] 
However, during the testing and development 
of IE equations, a breaker was not present in 
the cubicle, and there are currently no test 
data or equations to quantify or support this 
scenario. The vertical electrode models result in 
less incident energy than the HCB orientation 
because the arc tends to be ejected downward 
and then reflected outward towards the worker. 
Depending on the geometry of the enclosure 
and the position of the worker, this could 
intensify the IE at the worker’s legs and feet.
For the 208  V example and for equipment 
with a vertical bus, the 2002 and 2018 analysis 
methods provide similar results over a large 
range of fault currents. For the 480 V example, 
the vertical bus calculations also provide 
relatively similar results, but the VCBB does 
tend above the 2002 calculated values a bit 
more than in the 208 V calculations. For both 
the 208 V and 480 V calculations, the HCB 
results immediately deviate above the 2002 
results and remain significantly higher over the 
range of currents studied. 
For larger equipment (e.g., power circuit 
breakers), typically with horizontal stab 
construction, the new calculations indicate that 
the previously recommended arc-rated personal 
protective equipment (AR PPE) may not be 
sufficient to protect workers from serious injury. 
Work that has been previously performed with 
minimal AR PPE may now require a much 
higher AR PPE rating. The new IE calculated 
results for equipment with a vertically oriented 
bus (electrodes) remain similar to the 2002 
calculated results. When performing the analysis 
COVER STORY
IMPACT OF 2018 CHANGES TO IEEE STD 1584, IEEE GUIDE FOR 
PERFORMING ARC-FLASH HAZARD CALCULATIONS – PART 2
0.00
2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
IE
 (c
al
/
cm
2)
Fault current (kA)
2018 HCB
2002
2018 VCBB
2018 VCB
V = 208V
Gap = 25 mm
Standard Enclosure
Working Distance 18"
Duration = 83.3 ms
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
16.00
18.00
20.00
2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
IE
 (c
al
/
cm
2)
Fault current (kA)
2018 HCB 2002
2018 VCBB
2018 VCB
V = 480V
Gap = 32 mm
Standard Enclosure
Working Distance 18"
Duration = 83.3 ms
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
A
rc
in
g 
cu
rr
en
t (
kA
)
Fault current (kA)
2018 - 480V
2002 - 480V
2018 - 208V
2002 - 208V
VCB bus orientation (2018)
V = 480V
Gap = 32 mm
Standard EnclosureV = 208V
Gap = 25 mm
Standard Enclosure
0.00
2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
IE
 (c
al
/
cm
2)
Fault current (kA)
2018 HCB
2002
2018 VCBB
2018 VCB
V = 208V
Gap = 25 mm
Standard Enclosure
Working Distance 18"
Duration = 83.3 ms
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
16.00
18.00
20.00
2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
IE
 (c
al
/
cm
2)
Fault current (kA)
2018 HCB 2002
2018 VCBB
2018 VCB
V = 480V
Gap = 32 mm
Standard Enclosure
Working Distance 18"
Duration = 83.3 ms
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
A
rc
in
g 
cu
rr
en
t (
kA
)
Fault current (kA)
2018 - 480V
2002 - 480V
2018 - 208V
2002 - 208V
VCB bus orientation (2018)
V = 480V
Gap = 32 mm
Standard Enclosure
V = 208V
Gap = 25 mm
Standard Enclosure
Figure 1: 2002 vs. 2018 IE Calculated Result Comparison at 208 V
Figure 2: 2002 vs. 2018 IE Calculated Result Comparison at 480 V
NETAWorld • 43
using the new methods, careful consideration 
must be given to the model parameters to ensure 
accurate results are rendered based on the best 
available information.
Figure 3 compares the arcing current from 
the 2002 and 2018 calculation methods using 
the previous parameters and assumptions for 
the 208  V and 480  V scenarios. This graph 
shows that the 2018 calculated arcing currents 
are typically 20%–25% higher than the 2002 
values over the typical fault current range. 
However, higher arcing currents don’t always 
translate into higher IE and arc flash boundary 
(AFB) values. If the previously calculated arcing 
current values resulted in an event duration 
based on the instantaneous element operation 
of the upstream overcurrent protective device, 
the slightly higher arcing current might 
translate into only slightly higher IE and 
AFB values. Conversely, if the previous arcing 
current values did not activate an instantaneous 
element of the upstream overcurrent protective 
device, but only activated the short-time 
element, the higher calculated arcing current 
might result in a shorter duration event 
(instantaneous element trip) and possibly lower 
IE and AFB values. Each piece of equipment 
must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
IMPACT OF CHANGES
The revised calculations per the 2018 edition 
of IEEE 1584 may result in changes to 
previously calculated arc flash incident energy 
values and changes in arc-rated personal 
protective equipment requirements for workers 
compared to the 2002 edition methods. The 
calculated incident energy may be higher 
in some situations and lower or very similar 
in others. With the possibility of significant 
changes in incident energy between the old 
method and the new method, and the changes 
to low-energy equipment, those responsible 
for facility electrical distribution systems — 
and the safety of workers — should consider 
revisiting their arc flash analysis to determine 
whether their workers are adequately protected 
against recognized hazards (OSHA’s General 
Duty Clause). One potential advantage of this 
re-evaluation is that, in some cases, workers 
COVER STORY
may be able to perform some tasks with less-
cumbersome PPE than previously determined. 
Re-Evaluating Electrical Hazards
Given the 2018 changes to IEEE 1584, 
another critical question is whether you are 
required to update a study performed using 
the 2002 edition if there are no other factors 
to consider (changes in the facility electrical 
system or to the utility). No — there are no 
requirements that force you to update your 
study simply because IEEE 1584 has been 
updated. Remember, use of IEEE 1584 is 
voluntary and is not mandated by law. Other 
means can be used to calculate and determine 
the extent of electrical hazards associated with 
arc flash events. However, this document is one 
of the most recognized sources available, and 
the recent update makes it even more accurate 
for calculating arc flash incident energy levels. 
Should you choose to use another method to 
calculate the hazardous energy of an arc flash, 
expect your methods to be highly scrutinized 
and be prepared to defend them. 
When considering whether an update is 
required or not, we shouldn’t forget about one 
key requirement from NFPA 70E, Standard for 
Electrical Safety in the Workplace.[2] You may not 
be required to update your study as a result of 
IMPACT OF 2018 CHANGES TO IEEE STD 1584, IEEE GUIDE FOR 
PERFORMING ARC-FLASH HAZARD CALCULATIONS – PART 2
0.00
2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
IE
 (c
al
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2)
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2018 HCB
2002
2018 VCBB
2018 VCB
V = 208V
Gap = 25 mm
Standard Enclosure
Working Distance 18"
Duration = 83.3 ms
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
16.00
18.00
20.00
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IE
 (c
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Fault current (kA)
2018 HCB 2002
2018 VCBB
2018 VCB
V = 480V
Gap = 32 mm
Standard Enclosure
Working Distance 18"
Duration = 83.3 ms
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
A
rc
in
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cu
rr
en
t (
kA
)
Fault current (kA)
2018 - 480V
2002 - 480V
2018 - 208V
2002 - 208V
VCB bus orientation (2018)
V = 480V
Gap = 32 mm
Standard Enclosure
V = 208V
Gap = 25 mm
Standard Enclosure
Figure 3: 2002 vs. 2018 Arcing Current Comparison at 208 V and 480 V
changes to IEEE 1584 methods and procedures, 
but NFPA 70E does require a review every five 
years of the data compiled and used to determine 
hazards.  This ensures that, if there are changes to 
any factors used to determine the level of hazards 
(incident energy, arc flash boundary, etc.), the 
impact of these changes will be examined at least 
every five years.  This is also an excellent time to 
incorporate the new IEEE 1584 methods and 
procedures into the analysis for the entire facility.
While you may not be mandated to update your 
study due to changes in IEEE 1584, should you 
perform an update?
Areas with higher operating voltages (480 
V) and/or areas where there are horizontal 
electrodes (large power circuit breakers) are 
two circumstances where you might consider 
a revised study to ensure the calculated 
incident energy is accurate. These are areas 
where hazards may be significantly higher than 
calculated under the previous methods.
A second scenario where you might want to 
run a revised study is for equipment previously 
classified as low-energy equipment:
Equipment below 240  V need not be considered 
unless it involves at least one 125 kVA or larger low-
impedance transformer in its immediate power supply.
The change to the requirements for equipment 
considered to be low risk (less than1.2 cal/cm2) 
is significant and will affect many facilities 
with existing arc flash studies. The revised 
parameters for low-energy equipment stem 
from the discovery that, under the previously 
defined parameters, workers could be exposed 
to IE levels above 1.2 cal/cm2. This important 
change may require the analysis of equipment 
not included in the previous arc flash study 
(i.e., equipment assumed to have IE below 
1.2 cal/cm2). 
Sustainable arcs are possible but less likely in 
three-phase systems operating at 240 V nominal 
COVER STORY
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• Circuit Breaker Retrofits
• Battery Bank Testing
• Cable Fault Locating
• Meter Calibration
• Motor Testing & Surge Analysis
• Infrared & Ultrasonic Inspections
• Load Survey & Analysis
• Coordination & Short Circuit Studies
• Arc Flash Hazard Analysis
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NETAWorld • 45
skill set, experience, or aptitude). Someone 
who operates an equipment disconnect, such 
as a machine operator, may not require the 
same level of training as someone who racks in 
a large power circuit breaker or troubleshoots 
electrical problems. While most workers 
don’t need to know how to calculate arc flash 
incident energy or arc flash boundaries to be 
able to execute their daily tasks, they do need to 
understand the factors that govern these values 
so they can make informed decisions about the 
required PPE and other safe work practices. 
Everyone plays a vital role in safety. The more 
knowledgeable your workers are and the more 
dedicated to safety your company is, the 
less you place your workers at risk of injury. 
Employers must create a corporate work 
environment where safety is more than just a 
policy; it’s a culture! 
CONCLUSION 
Many excellent articles and papers are available 
that contain various perspectives on arc flash 
safety and electrical safe work practices. The 
more you read, the more you learn. I’ve learned 
a lot from reading papers, attending various 
conferences, and listening to experts speak on 
arc flash safety. One paper that recently crossed 
my desk caught my attention. In this paper, it 
stated that the new IEEE 1584-2018 still doesn’t 
calculate conservatively or accurately enough 
and additional correction factors (1.5-2.0X) 
to incident energy should be applied to ensure 
adequate PPE.[3] After reading this article, decide 
for yourself whether additional safety factors or 
multipliers are needed to keep your workers safe. 
What I can conclude is that reported cases of 
workers being seriously injured or killed by arc 
flash are very low.[4] Granted, any serious injury 
or death is a tragedy, and we all must continue 
to strive for zero workplace injuries. However, 
the focus on safety, arc flash analysis, use of 
PPE, and education is keeping our workers 
safer than ever before. Let’s keep up that good 
work and continue to ensure our employees 
are trained to identify hazards, determine their 
severity, and select and use the proper PPE to 
perform their tasks safely. 
IMPACT OF 2018 CHANGES TO IEEE STD 1584, IEEE GUIDE FOR 
PERFORMING ARC-FLASH HAZARD CALCULATIONS – PART 2
or less with an available short-circuit current less 
than 2,000 A. 
Equipment meeting new requirements that 
were not included in the previous study should 
now be included to ensure adequate PPE is 
identified based on the calculated IE levels for 
that equipment.
The biggest challenges of the new 2018 method 
are in determining the enclosure size and bus 
orientation of equipment. How are these 
challenges being handled? Some clients choose 
to use the worst case (horizontal electrode 
orientation) for all equipment. However, if 
the equipment does not contain horizontally 
oriented electrodes, this may result in excessive 
PPE requirements. Excessive levels of PPE 
can cause worker fatigue and inability to 
perform some tasks safely, which introduces 
additional hazards. Some help and guidance is 
provided in Annex G of IEEE 1584. Enclosure 
dimensions, electrode gap, and orientation 
can be standardized into a few categories, thus 
simplifying data collection while retaining the 
necessary level of accuracy. 
Training and Education
As a final recommendation, one of the most 
often overlooked components of safety is 
education and training. Many companies 
transmit communications and display posters 
about the importance of worker safety but often 
neglect to invest in the required safety education 
and training for their workers. Old online 
training materials used repeatedly will lose their 
impact, and employees won’t pay attention to 
the training. Keep the training materials fresh 
and up-to-date and avoid repeating the same 
videos year after year. Training should allow and 
promote interaction, questions, and discussions. 
One of the best ways to communicate key 
objectives is through the use of case studies of 
incidents and accidents. 
Training and education is not a one-size-
fits-all solution. Employers must recognize 
that the education and training provided to 
one employee may be different than that for 
another employee (based on responsibilities, 
COVER STORY
[4] Gordon, L., J. Liechty, T. Matinez, E. 
Stromberg, and J. Williams. “Electric 
Injuries and Fatalities: Facts, Myths, and 
Unknowns,” IEEE Paper No. ESW32.
Steve Park, PE, brings 40-plus years of 
experience in the power system industry to 
his position as Vertiv’s Director of Technical 
Training. In this role, Steve oversees technical 
training for Vertiv’s North America field 
services including AC power products, DC 
power products, thermal management 
systems, monitoring, and independent testing services for High 
Voltage Maintenance (HVM) and Electrical Reliability Services 
(ERS). Much of his career and expertise is from various roles while 
employed by HVM and ERS involving power system studies, 
engineering and test reports, cable testing, forensic investigations, 
test procedures/practices, and quality assurance. Steve gained a deep 
understanding of the power systems industry during his career in 
the U.S. Air Force, where he served 14 years on active-duty service 
as a high-voltage lineman, electrical power distribution engineer, 
and instructor of electrical engineering at the Air Force Institute 
of Technology (AFIT). Steve earned his BSEE and MSEE from 
Purdue University and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. 
Steve has been a registered Professional Engineer since 1992.  
With this in mind, never forget that working on 
energized equipment using PPE is a last resort! 
When the decision is made that energized 
work is required, you must have exhausted the 
other five methods of risk control: elimination, 
substitution, engineering controls, awareness, 
and administrative controls. Working on 
energized equipment and using PPE is at the 
bottom of the list and is the least effective 
means of ensuring worker safety. 
REFERENCES
[1] IEEE. IEEE 1584-2002, IEEE Guide for 
Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations, 
New York, NY. 
[2] National Fire Protection Association. 
NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in 
the Workplace.
[3] Short, T. A., Eblen, M. L. “IEEE Standard 
1584-2018 Predictions Compared With 
Tests on Real-World Equipment,” IEEE 
Industry Applications Magazine, January/
February 2022.
COVER STORY


48 • SUMMER 2022 CHECKLISTS AND EFFECTIVE JOB BRIEFINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO IMPROVING SAFETY
BY D. RAY CROW, DRC Consulting, Inc.
“People who are trying to change 
the world need to use checklists.” 
BUSINESSMAN AND AUTHOR GUY KAWASAKI
Checklists and effective job briefings are important to ensure hazards 
that may exist when performing a task are addressed before starting the 
job. In addition, job briefings are important to ensure people understand 
their job roles and have a chance to speak up and recommend additional 
safer work practices and make sure an action plan exists if things go 
wrong. Job safety planning, job briefings, and the use of checklists before 
starting a task are important to help prevent incidents and fatalities from 
happening. People make mistakes. The use of job briefings and checklists 
before the start of a job will help minimize the possibility of human error 
when tasks are performed.[1][2] 
FEATURE
CHECKLISTS AND 
EFFECTIVE JOB 
BRIEFINGS 
ARE IMPORTANT TO 
IMPROVING SAFETY
NETAWorld • 49CHECKLISTS AND EFFECTIVE JOB BRIEFINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO IMPROVING SAFETY
CHECKLISTS IMPROVE 
HUMAN PERFORMANCE 
“A checklist cannot fly a plane. Instead, 
they provide reminders of only the most 
critical and important steps.”
SURGEON AND AUTHOR ATUL GAWANDE
On October 30, 1935, an experimental 
bomber known as the Flying Fortress (B-17) 
crashed shortlyafter takeoff during a military 
demonstration for the U.S. Army Air Corps at 
Wright Airfield in Dayton, Ohio. 
The cause of the incident was a pre-flight 
failure to remove the gust locks that prevent 
damage to the control surfaces of the airplane 
while on the ground. The failure of the pilots 
to complete this step before takeoff meant 
they had no ability to control the plane once it 
became airborne.[3]
FEATURE
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/GONIN
Figure 1: B-17 Crash During Demonstration for U.S. Army Air Corps
(S
O
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E:
 W
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IS
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AY
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50 • SUMMER 2022
CHECKLISTS CREATE 
ERROR-FREE SYSTEMS
Surviving pilots brainstormed how to prevent 
the pre-flight requirements from ever being 
missed again. The action taken by the 
investigation team was to mandate the use of a 
checklist that included pre-takeoff action items 
for a pilot’s review.[4] 
People can and do make mistakes, and the 
use of checklists can prevent incidents from 
happening. Checklists are a functional, 
consistent method of combating human errors 
before they occur. Checklists can be adapted 
for use in a wide range of environments.
Aviation Checklists
Current Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)[5] 
mandate checklist use that “must be designed 
so that flight crew members will not rely upon 
memory for items to be checked.” Today, you 
can’t take off or land in a commercial airplane 
without a mandatory checklist being used by 
pilots. 
Checklists work to prevent an incident from 
happening if a critical step does not pass the 
requirements included in the checklist. Has 
your flight ever been delayed or cancelled 
due to items in the checklist not meeting all 
requirements? If this did occur, were you glad 
that a checklist was required before the flight 
was allowed to takeoff? 
NASA uses checklists for launching rockets into 
space. Many launches have been cancelled due to 
failure to meet the steps required in the checklist. 
Checklists are widely used in the aircraft 
industry and the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, 
in critical maintenance facilities and hospital 
operating rooms, and during the commissioning 
of electrical projects. Use checklists to prevent 
incidents from happening or to minimize the 
results when unexpected events occur.
Surgical Checklists
Using checklists in hospitals during surgery 
has been proven to prevent infections. Since 
2008, bloodstream infections have decreased 
by 44%, and surgical site infections have 
decreased by 20%. Using checklists before 
and during surgery has also cut complications 
by 35% and deaths by 47%.[6] When catheters 
are installed, the use of checklists has cut the 
infection rate from 4% of cases to zero, saving 
1,500 lives and nearly $200 million.[7] 
Just OK Is Not OK 
Training is not enough to ensure incidents will 
not happen. When checklists are not used, the 
most experienced and qualified people may 
make mistakes. 
Use checklists in your workplace. A good 
checklist is precise, efficient, and easy to use 
even in the most difficult situations. Checklists 
not only offer the possibility of verification, but 
also instill a discipline of higher performance. 
Checklists can help ensure people follow the 
required safety steps every time they perform a 
specific task. 
Checklists have proven to work best in 
organizations that have a culture of safety 
supported by organizational leaders who 
prioritize safety in the workplace.[8]
USE CHECKLISTS FOR 
ELECTRICAL TASKS
“No matter how expert you may be, well-
designed checklists can improve outcomes.” 
AUTHOR AND ECONOMIST STEVEN LEVITT
Checklists have been proven to add safety for 
personnel who perform electrical tasks.[9] They 
can help prevent mistakes and omissions during 
many electrical tasks. Checklists are a proven 
method to help prevent qualified people from 
skipping critical steps when completing tasks. 
The use of checklists should be mandatory when 
step-by-step procedures are required for safety. 
Many mistakes have been prevented and lives 
saved by the use of checklists that ensured steps 
were not missed when tasks were performed. 
FEATURE
CHECKLISTS AND EFFECTIVE JOB BRIEFINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO IMPROVING SAFETY
NETAWorld • 51
IMPROVE HUMAN 
PERFORMANCE BY 
ACTIVATING YOUR 
LEADERSHIP
“Teamwork is the fuel that allows common 
people to attain uncommon results.” 
INDUSTRIALIST ANDREW CARNEGIE
Job safety planning, job briefings, and 
checklists help prevent injuries and fatalities 
from happening. They provide the opportunity 
to think about and agree on the safe work 
practices and PPE requirements to use for the 
task to eliminate or minimize the risk to an 
acceptable level prior to starting the job.[10][11]
Effective job briefings and a review of 
existing checklists requires discussion and 
communication. Ask open-ended questions 
and get answers. Ensure everyone involved in 
the task participates during the job briefing 
and reviews the items included in the checklist. 
Consider what might not be included in the 
existing checklist. A best practice to improve 
safety is to visit the job site before work starts 
to look for hazards in the area that you may 
not have considered.[12] Examples include an 
FEATURE
energized overhead power line that exists in the 
area where work is to take place or additional 
people performing other tasks in the area where 
you will be working.
Consider the possibility of language 
barriers when job briefings are held. During 
construction and other jobs, some people may 
not understand what is being discussed. Use an 
interpreter to resolve the issue.
Table 2: Items that Cause Incidents to Occur
Taking shortcuts
Being overconfident
Failure to pre-plan the work
Starting a task with incomplete instructions 
Ignoring safety procedures
Mental distractions from work
Multitasking
Poor housekeeping
An effective job briefing should cover at least 
the following topics:
• Hazards associated with the job 
• Work procedures involved
• Special precautions, language issues
• Energy source controls
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) 
requirements[13][14]
During the job briefing make sure everyone 
answers the following questions: 
• Do I thoroughly understand the job? 
• Do I understand my role and everyone 
else’s role in the job? 
• Am I aware of all the hazards I may 
possibly encounter during the job?
• Am I knowledgeable of all safety rules 
and procedures applicable to this job?
• Do I have safeguards in place to protect 
me from unexpected events?
CHECKLISTS AND EFFECTIVE JOB BRIEFINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO IMPROVING SAFETY
Table 1: Types of Electrical Checklists
Safety pre-task checklist
 Job hazard analysis (JHA)
 Safe work procedure (SWP)
Job briefing checklist
Requirements for an energized electrical work 
permit (EEWP)
Required steps for a specific work practice
Requirements for standard operation procedures 
(SOPs)
Specific switching procedure when changes to 
your electrical power system are required
Substation project installation assessment
Substation inspection
Electrical control room inspection
Table 3: Actions You Can Take to Improve 
Safety
Take immediate action when you identify potential 
work hazards.
Control your personal workspace to maintain 
safety.
Stop any work you think is unsafe.
Eliminate injuries by eliminating your unsafe acts.
Take actions to help prevent being hurt or in-
volved in an unsafe event.
REINFORCING THE 
SAFETY CULTURE IN 
YOUR ORGANIZATION 
“Safety has to be everyone’s responsibility. 
Everyone needs to know that they are 
empowered to speak up if there’s an issue.”  
NASA ASTRONAUT CAPTAIN SCOTT KELLY (RET.)
FEATURE
Make safety the number one priority in your 
facility or company. Mandate job briefings 
that include checklists before the start of jobs. 
The job briefing should include shock risk 
assessments and arc flash risk assessments. 
Unsafework practices cause 91% of incidents 
and injuries. In addition to the personal pain 
of suffering an injury, incidents can result in 
lost time, medical costs, equipment damage, 
production loss, and legal costs. The risk 
assessment procedure is designed to address 
the potential for human error and its negative 
consequences on people, processes, and the 
work environment. 
Shock Risk Assessment
The first choice in a shock risk assessment is 
to eliminate the likelihood of occurrence 
of injury. Determine whether additional 
protective measures are required. For example, 
wear rubber insulating gloves with leather 
NETAWorld • 53CHECKLISTS AND EFFECTIVE JOB BRIEFINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO IMPROVING SAFETY
protectors and use insulating tools rated for the 
voltage you could encounter if you accidentally 
make contact with exposed energized electrical 
conductors or circuit parts. 
Arc Flash Risk Assessment
During the arc flash risk assessment, consider 
the following issues: 
• Design of the equipment as well as 
its overcurrent protective devices and 
operating times
• Electrical equipment operating condition 
and maintenance
• Appropriate safety-related work practices 
and PPE required for people within the 
arc flash boundary
CONCLUSION
“Job briefings and checklists are the 
most high-powered productive tools ever 
discovered.” 
AUTHOR AND SPEAKER BRIAN TRACY 
An important feature in an electrical safety 
program is the use of job briefings that include 
checklists. Reinforcing important steps in safe 
work practices through the use of job briefings 
that include checklists will reduce incidents 
and save lives. Ensure that job briefings include 
shock as well as arc flash risk assessments.. 
Improve safety in your facility by including 
these six steps:
 1. Create a culture that makes safety the 
number one priority. 
 2. Improve actions taken by management to 
continually improve safety. 
 3. Ensure that positive peer pressure to do 
the right thing exists in your facility. 
 4. Monitor actions taken by workers to 
ensure they follow the safe work practices 
outlined in your safety program and 
training. 
 5. Provide a good balance between leading 
as well as lagging indicators in your safety 
program. 
 6. Perform a shock risk assessment and an arc-
flash risk assessment before starting work.
Using these steps will help drive the company 
toward becoming an incident-free workplace. 
REFERENCES 
[1] Crow, Daryld Ray. “Checklists Save 
Lives,” 2020 IEEE IAS Electrical Safety 
Workshop (ESW2020-08), March 2020.
[2] Crow, Daryld Ray. “Effective Job 
Briefings Improve Safety,” 2021 
IEEE IAS Electrical Safety Workshop 
(ESW2021-13), March 2021.
[3] “From the Ashes of the Model-299.” 
Accessed at www.thisdayinaviation.
com/30-october-1935. 
[4] “What the B17 Taught Us About 
Checklists.” Accessed at What the B17 
Taught Us About Checklists - Angle of 
Attack (flyaoamedia.com). 
[5] Code of Federal Regulations. Accessed at 
eCFR :: 14 CFR 431.39 -- Mission rules, 
procedures, contingency plans, and checklists.
[6] “Habitual Excellence in the Workplace 
According to Paul O’Neill,” Pittsburgh 
Post-Gazette. Accessed at ‘Habitual 
excellence’: The Workplace According to 
Paul O’Neill | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
May 13, 2012.
[7] Higgins, W.Y., and D.J. Boorman. “An 
Analysis of the Effectiveness of Checklists 
When Combined With Other Processes, 
Methods, and Tools to Reduce Risk in 
High Hazard Activities,” Boeing Technical 
Journal 2016.
[8] Haynes A., Gawande A. “A Surgical 
Safety Checklist to Reduce Morbidity 
and Mortality in a Global Population,” 
New England Journal of Medicine 
360(5)491-499 (January 2009). 
Doi:10.1056/NEJMas0810119.
PMID19144931.
[9] Gawande, Atul. The Checklist Manifesto. 
Picador, New York, 2009 ISBN 978-0-
312-43000-9.
[10] National Fire Protection Association. 
NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety 
in the Workplace.
FEATURE
FEATURE
graduated from the University of Houston with a BSEE. After 
graduation, he worked for Alcoa providing global engineering 
support on the design, installation, and operation of power and 
rectifier systems and electrical safety. Ray was a team leader for 
writing multiple Alcoa electrical standards including electrical 
safe work practice standards and training and was responsible 
for providing internal electrical safety audits of Alcoa facilities. 
After retiring from Alcoa, he worked for Fluor Global Services 
and Duke Energy as a Principal Technical Specialist providing 
design and consulting engineering for creating electrical safety 
standards for companies, and providing safe work practice 
training programs, assessments/audits of facilities, and plant 
power distribution systems. Ray is a Life Senior Member 
of IEEE, a principal member of the NFPA 70E Technical 
Committee, Secretary of IEEE Std. P1584.1, Technical 
Editor and Secretary of IEEE Std. P1814, Chair of PCIC 
Working Group IEEE Std. 463, and was Secretary of IEEE 
Std. 1584. In 2010, Ray received the IEEE/PCIC Electrical 
Safety Excellence Award; in 2017, he received the IEEE/ESW 
Outstanding Service Award. He has co-authored and presented 
technical papers and tutorials for a number of IEEE IAS PCIC 
conferences, IEEE IAS Pulp & Paper conferences, IEEE IAS 
Electrical Safety Workshop conferences, and NETA’s PowerTest 
conference.
[11] Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration. OSHA 29 CFR Subpart 
R 1910.269, Electric Power Generation, 
Transmission, and Distribution. 
[12] Forck, Mathew. “Four Key Steps to 
Conducting an Effective Job Briefing,” 
T&D World, July 1, 2019.
[13] Hanford Mission Support Contract. 
“Conducting Pre-Task Job Briefings and 
Post-Job Briefings,” April 28, 2011.
[14] Setcorret, LLC. WP0001-2015, 
Job Briefings. Accessed at 
JobBriefingsWorkPracticeExample.pdf 
(setcorrect.com). 
Daryld Ray Crow  is presently Owner 
and Principal Technical Consultant for 
DRC Consulting Inc., where he performs 
consulting work for electrical safe work 
practice standards, assessments/audits, 
electrical safe work practice training, 
and electrical engineering projects.  Ray 
6605 W. WT Harris Blvd. Suite F • Charlotte NC 28269 | 13 Jenkins Court • Mauldin, SC 29662 | 9481 Industrial Center Drive, Suite 5 • Ladson, SC 29456
704.573.0420 • 844-383-8617 • 704.573.3693 (fax) • www.powerproducts.biz
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56 • SUMMER 2022 MENTORSHIP IS CRITICAL IN THE ELECTRICAL SECTOR
BY MIKE DOHERTY, eHazard
Mentoring has been a critical and foundational component in the 
electrical sector since its beginning.The basic tenants of electrical 
tradesperson apprenticeships and electrical engineers in training has 
always been coaching and mentoring by those with the interpersonal 
skills, relevant expertise, and knowledge to be able to pass it on. 
The electrical sector has always taken 
particularly great pride in emphasizing and 
teaching the safety requirements involved 
in electrical work. The overall probability of 
serious electrical incidents across all sectors is 
generally low, but the physical consequences of 
shock, electrocution, and/or arc-flash incidents 
can be staggeringly high. The social, morale, 
and economic costs are all potentially very high 
as well. 
RESEARCH AND STATISTICS
A 2010 study by Liberty Mutual Research 
Institute for Safety found:
A study by a major insurance underwriter 
reported that the second most expensive workers’ 
compensation claim was due to electrical 
injuries.[1]
In 2022 and going forward, electrical sector 
demographics will continue to change rapidly. 
The baby boomer generation will be leaving the 
workforce in droves by the end of the current 
decade — and it’s already started. 
In the United States, the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics states in its Employment Projections — 
2020-2030 Summary:
The labor force is expected to increase by 8.9 
million, from 160.7 million in 2020 to 169.6 
million in 2030. The labor force participation 
rate is projected to decline, from 61.7 percent 
MENTORSHIP 
IS CRITICAL IN 
THE ELECTRICAL 
SECTOR
FEATURE
NETAWorld • 57MENTORSHIP IS CRITICAL IN THE ELECTRICAL SECTOR
in 2020 to 60.4 percent in 2030. The decline 
in labor force participation is due to the aging 
of the baby-boom generation, a continuation of 
the declining trend in men’s participation, and a 
slight decline in women’s participation. By 2030, 
all baby boomers will be at least 65 years old.[2] 
More specifically, the BLS Employment Outlook 
Handbook notes:
Employment of electricians is projected to grow 
9 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as 
the average for all occupations. About 84,700 
openings for electricians are projected each year, on 
average, over the decade. Many of those openings 
are expected to result from the need to replace 
workers who transfer to different occupations or 
exit the labor force, such as to retire.[3] 
And in Canada, the Province of Ontario is 
offering free training and paid apprenticeships 
for electricians. The news release states:
Data suggest the need to replace retiring workers 
is elevated in the skilled trades. In 2016, nearly 1 
in 3 journeypersons were aged 55 years or older. 
Between July 2021 and September 2021, there 
were 338,835 job vacancies (unfilled jobs) in 
Ontario. About 8% (25,495) of all vacancies in 
Ontario were in the construction sector.[4]
PASSING ON THE 
EXPERIENCE
It is extraordinarily clear that the continuing 
electrification of society is essential for ongoing 
prosperity and success for all concerned. 
Highly skilled electrical sector tradespeople, 
technicians, technologists, and engineers have 
been and will continue to be required. With 
so many of these extremely skilled people soon 
to leave the workforce in the next few years, it 
is essential that the culture of electrical safety 
and high-end technical excellence is passed on 
to the outstanding workforce that is already in 
place or starting out.
But time to do so is definitely running out. 
Leaders in the electrical sector must step up to 
ensure that their existing safety and technical 
best practices are sustainable and will be in 
place even after they move on. Ensuring 
sustainability for best practices after present 
leadership is gone is indicative of the very finest 
management qualities. Outstanding formal 
FEATURE
58 • SUMMER 2022
mentoring programs within the electrical 
sector need to be developed and executed in 
an accountable and due-diligent manner. 
The costs to the electrical safety culture and, 
in fact, to the electrical infrastructure if great 
mentoring programs are not put in place will 
be very difficult to recover from. 
Those with decades of experience are generally 
no smarter than those who are just starting 
out. It is most obvious that the only way to 
gain experience is to put in the time and effort 
that experience facilitates — there is no other 
way. Passing on the hard-won wisdom that was 
realized over the course of their working life by 
those willing to share is one of the main goals.
MENTOR REQUIREMENTS
What are the requirements to be an exceptional 
mentor? The mentor needs to be an expert and 
someone who has walked the talk. Ideally, 
they will not be too far removed from the 
current thinking of those they would work 
with. It is imperative to understand the 
potential differences between age groups and 
demographics to ensure there is a potential 
fit. Mentors need to be enthusiastic and, in 
particular, bring real clarity to the interactions 
they will have. The antonyms to clarity are 
murkiness and vagueness. Mentors who bring 
anything other than authentic clarity to the 
discussions will not bring value.
These are professional relationships that need 
to be respectful, honest, truthful, and caring. 
No one has ever erected a monument to a 
critic, and mentors must be able to listen with 
real understanding. They must also be willing 
to not impose their own beliefs too strongly. 
They must be able to relate to the person they 
are working with and put themselves in that 
person’s shoes.
Mentors need to enjoy and be invested in the 
success of others. In particular, along with great 
listening skills, they must be exceptionally good 
at receiving and giving feedback. Ideally, a 
great mentor was a mentee themselves at one 
time. The absolute best coaches in the sporting 
world will tell you that their coaching style is 
a compilation of a few great coaches that they 
played for themselves. Those experiences along 
with their own unique styles and mannerisms 
will make for a terrific mentoring foundation. 
A mentor is a person who provides the means, 
counseling, help, and feedback you need to 
flourish in your career, so it is very important 
for the mentor to select people to work with 
who are genuinely interested in accessing his or 
her experience and knowledge.
MENTOR QUESTIONS
W. Edwards Deming said: “If you do not know 
how to ask the right question, you discover nothing.” 
Insightful questions should be used by mentors 
to obtain successful outcomes with those they 
work with. Asking exploratory questions in a 
respectful and caring manner at the beginning 
of the potential and ongoing relationship can 
put the mentee at ease and let them know you 
are there to help, guide, and assist. Mentor 
questions can explore why the person is doing 
what they’re doing:
• What do you really want to do and be in 
the electrical sector? What is it that drives 
your passion? Do you want to be a leader 
in the electrical sector and, if so, what 
would you like to be known for? 
• Do you have a goal in mind regarding 
where you want to go? How and when 
are you going to get there? Are you 
curious to be a lifelong learner and to 
try things that you initially are not good 
at, or do you prefer to do things you’re 
already good at?
• What are you really good at and consider 
to be some of your primary strengths to 
get to your goals? What have you always 
been outstanding at that made you stand 
out from the rest?
• What are you currently not doing well 
that is blocking you from getting to your 
objectives? If you were to do a critical 
assessment of yourself, what three things 
are barriers, vulnerabilities, or roadblocks 
to you in the electrical sector? What is it 
that has been slowing you down — or is 
MENTORSHIP IS CRITICAL IN THE ELECTRICAL SECTOR
FEATURE
NETAWorld • 59
slowing you down presently? Have you 
had constructive feedback from others 
regarding some of these barriers in school 
or personally and, if so, what was it?• What outstanding qualities, 
characteristics, and attributes do you 
bring specifically to the electrical sector? 
• Are you a great listener? Are 
you empathetic? Are you a good 
communicator? Do you have an 
outstanding work ethic? What is the one 
thing you do better than anybody else 
and why?
• What are you going to do to constantly 
improve on your journey through the 
electrical sector? What are your priorities? 
Do you believe these are the right priorities? 
• Is electrical safety in particular embedded 
in your DNA? 
• Very important: How can I support you 
and where do you think you need the 
most assistance?
MENTEE QUESTIONS
It is also critical for the mentee to ask great 
questions of the mentor, and it is up to the 
mentor to facilitate and guide those questions 
if necessary to ensure they have a good match. 
• What led you to the education you 
currently have? Was it well-planned or 
MENTORSHIP IS CRITICAL IN THE ELECTRICAL SECTOR
did it just happen? What was the most 
important thing you learned at school?
• If you could have done anything 
differently in your education, what 
would it have been?
• What was your very first job as a 
student, and what was your very first 
full-time job after your formal education 
was done? 
• Who are the three most impactful 
people you have worked with and why? 
Who are the three most impactful 
managers you have worked with?
• How long has electrical safety been a 
vital part of your personal culture? Who 
has had the most influence on the things 
you believe specifically about electrical 
safety? Have you had or do you know of 
any significant electrical incidents during 
your working career? How has that 
impacted you? 
• When did you first hear about NFPA 
70E or CSA Z462? How about NESC 
(IEEE C2) or CAN/ULC–S801? 
What do you believe is the single most 
important concept in these standards? 
• How will this mentoring relationship be a 
benefit to me going forward?
• Did you have mentors yourself, and what 
did you learn? How have they inspired you? 
• What’s the very best advice you can give me? 
FEATURE
most valuable things a mentor can provide is 
exceptional networking opportunities. After 
many years in the electrical sector, they will 
typically have many connections that can 
be invaluable to those starting out. Mentors 
characteristically are highly respected, and 
when they recommend a mentee to an 
important connection, the possibilities can be 
remarkable. In fact, as we all know, networking 
usually has far more to do with career success 
than many other things. Great mentors can 
ensure great networking prospects.
It is important for mentees to let the mentor know 
what it is they require. It is also critical to be on 
time, be prepared, and be truly professional. They 
must follow up with ideas, recommendations, 
action items, and corrective action plans.
CONCLUSION
Mentoring in the electrical sector will be critical 
for the rest of this decade in particular. It will 
build skills, decrease employee turnover, and 
• What is your own individual style? 
• What are the three specific values you 
believe are the most important within the 
electrical sector? 
• Are you an exceptional listener? 
• What are three or four of your favorite 
books and why? 
• If you could only tell me one electrical 
safety story, what would it be?
BENEFITS
Mentoring is intended to be extremely 
beneficial to both parties. It should be equal 
parts insight, motivation, and inspiration. To 
be successful, the mentor and the mentee must 
be sounding boards for each other. To ensure a 
great relationship, they must honestly listen to 
each other’s concerns and be able to brainstorm 
any suggestions with tremendous clarity.
Mentors must continue to ask thought-
provoking questions, steer the relationship, 
and ensure successful outcomes. One of the 
FEATURE
certainly increase loyalty. High-end formal 
mentoring programs can also significantly 
improve retention rates for high-quality 
electricians, technicians, technologists, and 
engineers by building stronger company loyalty, 
safety, and technical excellence. 
REFERENCES
[1] “Work Related Electrical Injuries: Study 
Sparks New Insights,” Liberty Mutual 
Research Institute for Safety, Vol. 13, No. 3, 
Winter 2010.
[2] Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment 
Projections —2020-2030 Summary. Available 
at www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecopro.pdf. 
[3] Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. 
Department of Labor. Occupational 
Outlook Handbook, Electricians. Available 
at www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-
extraction/electricians.htm. 
[4] Ontario Newsroom. “Ontario Invests in 
Electrical Training and Apprenticeships 
Programs Across Province.” Available at 
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001770/
ontario-invests-in-electrical-training-and-
apprenticeships-programs-across-province. 
Mike Doherty is an independent Electrical 
Safety Consultant and training contractor 
for e-Hazard and is President/Owner of Blue 
Arc Electrical Safety Technologies Inc. Mike 
has over 47 years of industrial and electrical 
utility experience as an instrumentation 
technician, licensed electrician, training 
professional, electrical utility safety professional, and electrical 
safety consultant. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and IEEE 
(PCIC) Emeritus; Chair of ULC CAN/ULC-S801-14, 
Standard on Electric Utility Workplace Electrical Safety 
for Generation, Transmission and Distribution; and Past 
Chair of the Association of Electrical Utility Safety Professionals 
(AEUSP) in 2018 and 2019. He was Chair of CSA Z462 
Technical Committee Workplace Electrical Safety Canada from 
March 2006–December 2018 and continues to serve as a Z462 
Technical Committee voting member on the current edition. Mike 
was the 2013 recipient of the IEEE IAS Petroleum and Chemical 
Industry Committee (PCIC) Electrical Safety Excellence Award, 
the 2017 Best of Electrical Safety Technical Presentation Award 
at NETA’s PowerTest Conference, and the 2019 IEEE Electrical 
Safety Workshops Outstanding Service Award.
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FEATURE
62 • SUMMER 2022 BATTERY SAFETY
BY ANDREW SAGL, Megger
It’s happened to nearly everyone. You go to use a simple electrical 
device…a flashlight, a voltmeter, a TV remote, or a child’s toy…and 
the battery is dead. It has become exhausted and must be replaced. 
Or worse, you open the device to find that the battery has corroded, 
possibly damaging or even destroying the contacts. In some critical 
respects, essentially the same thing can happen to the largest standby 
battery system that might be providing backup support for a 
substation, a computer room, a hospital, a manufacturing process — 
anywhere uninterruptible power is essential.
Standby battery banks can corrode, short out, 
lose capacity through unintentional grounds 
or aging, and fall victim to a host of other 
breakdowns and failures. They can also be victim 
to an out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality. Most 
electrical functions are readily observable: The 
lights are on, motors are running, the building 
is heated. But standby batteries are tucked away 
out of sight and often forgotten. That is, until 
there’s an event.
When a utility experiences a fault, the battery 
bank should immediately come on line and 
provide alternate power until the utility comes 
back on line. Failure to doso can be nothing 
short of catastrophic. Switchgear can fail to 
operate to open faults. Buildings can catch fire, 
production lines stall and sacrifice materials, 
computer rooms go off line and lose data, and 
hospital patients on life support could die.
To prevent such tragedies, standby battery banks 
must be tested regularly for their continued 
ability to come on line and deliver full power 
whenever utility service is interrupted.
TESTING BATTERY STRINGS
A battery string is tested with a battery impedance 
tester that includes a DC current source that 
injects a test current through the string, then 
measures the voltage drop and calculates the 
impedance. An array of problems, including 
terminal corrosion, plate sulphation and 
corrosion, dry-out, and many more can increase 
the impedance to inhibit or prevent current 
propagation and take the battery out of operation.
Many battery banks are arranged in tiers of 
parallel strings. This can increase the supplied 
current, capacity, or reliability of the strings. 
Parallel strings allow the current delivery 
BATTERY 
SAFETY
FEATURE
NETAWorld • 63BATTERY SAFETY
capability to be doubled. They also increase 
capacity, allowing the load to be supported for 
a longer period.
Flooded lead-acid batteries, which are usually 
used in series strings, can fail in a shorted 
mode. They are not technically shorted and will 
still allow current to pass through them. They 
just aren’t making a contribution to the output, 
but the string still remains in service.
Sealed lead acid batteries (VRLA), which are 
typically used in parallel strings, tend to fail 
in open mode. They are not literally open, 
but current will not readily pass through 
them. Failure of one battery will stop current 
propagation in that string, but the parallel 
strings will still permit current flow and 
maintain the backup function. Lithium 
ion batteries use a management system that 
monitors safety parameters and will open the 
battery in case of a hazard. Parallel strings are 
recommended. If one cell opens, current can 
still pass through the other string(s).
Accordingly, parallel strings have notable 
advantages in overcoming failed cells and still 
being able to provide critical backup power 
FEATURE
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/TONGPATONG
Figure 1: Series String
64 • SUMMER 2022
to avert emergencies. But their arrangement 
introduces a fundamental testing complication. 
When testing a series string, test current has 
only one path — through the string. But when 
testing a parallel string, test current has multiple 
paths depending on the number of strings. 
A battery tester measures the total current it is 
able to inject, but it looks at the voltage drop 
between the potential probes. In a series string, 
current has a single path and remains constant, 
giving an accurate measurement of impedance 
across the cell (Figure 1). 
In a parallel string, current is divided between 
the strings. The impedance tester measures the 
total current through the string but only the 
voltage drop between the potential probes, 
BATTERY SAFETY
FEATURE
Figure 2: Parallel String
Figure 3: Parallel String Sample Calculation
NETAWorld • 65
thereby calculating an inaccurate measurement 
of cell impedance based on more current than is 
actually traveling through the tested cell (Figure 
2). A bad cell can therefore appear acceptable.
As an example, suppose the battery consisted 
of two tiers of five cells, each with 100  mΩ 
impedance (Figure 3). The charger is applying 
half an amp. The impedance tester measures 
0.0375 V across an individual cell. Since the 
string is balanced, only 0.25 A is flowing 
through the tested cell. The true measurement 
for this cell’s impedance would be 150  mΩ. 
However, the impedance tester measures the 
total current propagating through the entire 
string, which is 0.5 A. It calculates and displays 
0.75 mΩ — half the actual value. It is obvious 
that a deteriorated cell could test good under 
these circumstances, potentially rendering the 
string off line if called into service. 
STANDARDS & 
TECHNOLOGY
Traditionally, this issue was addressed by 
IEEE Std. 1188, Recommended Practice for 
Maintenance, Testing, and Replacement of 
Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) Batteries 
BATTERY SAFETY
FEATURE
for Stationary Applications. This standard 
calls for taking the string off line and 
segmenting the parallel strings. This is a lot 
of work! Fortunately, modern technological 
improvements have produced a convenient 
methodology that allows the testing and 
troubleshooting of parallel strings without 
segmentation and without taking them off line. 
The technological breakthrough that augments 
this process is the split-core current clamp, 
which appeared in the mid- to late-20th century. 
The current clamp can intercept and measure 
escape current that is propagating through the 
parallel strings, and the measurement circuit 
in the impedance tester can deduct this from 
the calculation. The impedance of the specific 
cell being tested is now calculated against the 
specific current passing through it and not the 
total current being injected by the impedance 
tester (Figure 4). The measurement is correct 
for the specific cell being tested, and faulty 
high-impedance cells will not elude detection.
BATTERY FAILURE
Routine preventive maintenance of standby 
batteries is easy to bypass because they aren’t 
Figure 4: Parallel String with Current Clamp
66 • SUMMER 2022
visibly active on a daily basis like computers, 
lighting, and machinery. But neglecting 
maintenance can come at a high price and all at 
once in the form of catastrophic and potentially 
lethal failure. 
Internal chemical decomposition can emit 
gases that cause the battery to swell and 
explode, releasing dangerous fumes. Failure 
of backup power to utility circuit breakers 
and relays can allow fault currents to wreak 
enormous damage. VRLA batteries can emit 
hydrogen as part of their normal operation. If 
left unattended in a poorly ventilated, poorly 
temperature-regulated battery room, hydrogen 
gas can accumulate and ignite, producing an 
explosion and massive structural damage. 
And although not physically destructive or 
threatening, failure of backup power to a 
computer room can result in a crippling loss 
of vital data. 
BATTERY SAFETY
FEATURE
Finally, National Electric Reliability Council 
(NERC) requirements have become mandatory 
and enforceable for all bulk power system 
owners, users, and operators in the United 
States. Founded in 1968 in response to 
devastating blackouts, NERC requirements 
for stationary battery backup strings require 
battery terminal connection resistance and 
intercell connection resistance tests to be 
performed and documented.
CONCLUSION
Modern technology has produced instruments 
that make the seemingly daunting task of 
testing the readiness and reliability of large, 
multi-tiered battery banks an integral part 
of your preventive/predictive maintenance 
program. This can be accomplished without 
taking the system off line. Data analysis and 
storage software enables complete and detailed 
record keeping for effective continuity of 
the program and presentation for NERC 
inspection. A comparatively small investment 
of time and effort in a maintenance program 
with a full-quality battery impedance tester can 
prevent and save the cost of prohibitive damage 
and outages in the electrical system. 
Andrew Sagl is the Power Quality 
and Battery Testing Product Manager 
at Megger. He has been with Megger 
for 20 years and is a specialist in power 
quality and battery testing technology and 
application. Andy develops and supports 
power quality equipment in addition to 
writing power quality and battery publications and delivering 
training and seminar courses. He has a degree in electronics 
and is a member of the IEEE Power Engineering Society and 
Battery Standards Group. In the past, Andy hasspecialized 
in nano-motor technology as well as military sub-systems and 
weapons guidance systems. 
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68 • SUMMER 2022 IMPROVED METHOD FOR SAFE TIMING MEASUREMENT OF GIS CIRCUIT BREAKERS 
BY RADENKO OSTOJIC, ADNAN SECIC, BUDO MILOVIC, 
and KERIM OBARCANIN, DV Power
In gas-insulated substations (GIS), the high-voltage elements, including 
conductors, circuit breaker interrupters, switches, current transformers 
(CTs), and voltage transformers, are encapsulated in SF6 gas inside 
grounded metal enclosures.[1] For that reason, direct access to circuit 
breaker (CB) main circuit terminals for testing purposes is not possible. 
The inaccessibility of main circuit terminals 
requires several actions to be taken before 
conducting the measurements. One of these 
actions requires disconnecting the ground 
connection (detachable shunt that connects the 
main circuit to the grounded enclosure during 
testing) from one side of the breaker. This 
action reduces the safety of the test procedure. 
According to regulations and demands 
described in IEEE Std. 510-1983[2] and 
Ostojic and Milovic,[3] all conducting points 
in the substation must be grounded during 
testing and maintenance. In the previously 
published paper by Ostojic and Secic[4] on this 
topic, we presented a novel method for testing 
high-voltage (HV) circuit breakers in GIS 
FEATURE
IMPROVED METHOD FOR SAFE 
TIMING MEASUREMENT OF 
GIS CIRCUIT
BREAKERS 
NETAWorld • 69IMPROVED METHOD FOR SAFE TIMING MEASUREMENT OF GIS CIRCUIT BREAKERS 
substations without the need to remove the 
ground connection. This new method is based 
on injecting high DC current through the 
parallel connection of the grounding path and 
main circuit, as well as measuring the response 
signals on the CT’s secondary. 
This method, however, is not applicable for GIS 
configurations where the CT is not included 
in the measurement circuit between the 
maintenance grounding switches. It is also not 
applicable for single-pole controlled GIS circuit 
breakers (with three separated enclosures) 
with very-low grounding path and enclosure 
resistance (≤ 50–60 µΩ). Consequently, we 
propose an improved GIS test method based 
on the test procedure previously described in 
Ostojic and Secic.[4]
GENERAL PROBLEM 
IDENTIFICATION
To measure operating times [opening time 
(O), closing time (C), open-close time (O-
C), close-open time (C-O), etc.] on the CB 
main circuit in the GIS substation with the 
conventional testing method, the CB main 
contact terminals must be accessed through the 
maintenance switches (Figure 1). By removing 
or disconnecting the detachable shunt, one side 
of the breaker is disconnected from the ground, 
which enables measurements without removing 
SF6 gas or opening the enclosure. However, the 
procedure to remove this shunt is unsafe, time-
consuming, often impractical, and as such, is 
undesirable for test personnel in the utilities.
[4] Furthermore, some GIS circuit breakers do 
not have purpose-built detachable shunts and 
FEATURE
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/PIXHOUSE
70 • SUMMER 2022
test terminals that are isolated from the GIS 
enclosure.[5] 
If the detachable shunt is not removed or 
disconnected, a parallel conducting circuit to 
the one consisting of the tested main circuit 
path is formed. The resistance of this parallel 
circuit consists of the resistance of the GIS 
enclosure and the grounding itself, and it is 
often comparable to or even lower than the 
resistance of the main circuit. 
To experimentally verify this claim, a high-
precision micrometer with a test current of 
500  A was used to measure GIS enclosure 
resistance on several GIS substations. The 
lowest measured value reached was 20 µΩ. 
This prevents a conventional CB timing 
measuring system from being able to deliver 
reliable results.
EXISTING METHOD 
SHORTCOMINGS 
The test method proposed in Ostojic and 
Secic[4] is based on the injection of the high 
DC current in parallel through the main circuit 
and GIS enclosure of all three poles and the 
simultaneous measurement of the response 
signals on the secondary of the CT during the 
circuit breaker operation. One power source 
must be connected between two marked access 
points for testing (Figure 1) where the main 
circuit is accessed through the maintenance 
grounding switches. This power source is a 
voltage-controlled DC current source with a 
high current output (up to 500 A), based on 
state-of-the-art power electronics converters.
Current transformers are an essential part of the 
HV GIS substation. One (primary) terminal of 
these elements is located in the pressurized gas 
area, while the secondary terminal is accessible 
in the auxiliary circuits.[6]-[8] These accessible 
CT secondary terminals can be used for 
measuring operation time in HV GIS circuit 
breakers. The measuring instrument should 
record either voltage or current on the CT 
secondary; based on this, the instant of the CB 
contacts touch or separation can be detected.
This method is successfully applied to GIS 
circuit breakers where the CT is available 
between test access points (grounding switch 
terminals) as shown in Figure 1a, even if the 
GIS switchgear does not have detachable 
shunts and test terminals. Another approach 
to this problem, described in Renaudin and 
FEATURE
GIS enclosure
GIS enclosure
CB main contacts
Current
transformer
Maintenance
switches
Detachable shunts
Access points for testing
Parallel circuit through the ground
Parallel circuit
through the GIS
enclosure
GIS enclosure
GIS enclosure
CB main contacts
Current
transformer
Maintenance
switches
Detachable shunts
Access points for testing
Parallel circuit through the ground
(a) (b)
Figure 1: Electric Diagram of GIS CB, CTs Within (a) and Outside (b) Earthing Switches Circuit
IMPROVED METHOD FOR SAFE TIMING MEASUREMENT OF GIS CIRCUIT BREAKERS 
NETAWorld • 71
Nenning,[9] is based on the usage of a Rogowski 
coil to measure the current variation in the 
ground conductor or the breaker path over 
time. 
However, the test method described in 
Renaudin and Nenning[9] is not applicable in 
the case when the tested circuit breaker does 
not include the detachable shunts since there 
is a permanent parallel connection across the 
enclosure to the main circuit. The Rogowski 
coil, essential for the current variation 
measurement for this test method, cannot be 
installed on such a circuit breaker.
For the method described in Ostojic and 
Secic,[4] the first limitation is related to the GIS 
configurations where the current transformer 
cannot be included in the measurement circuit 
(as shown in Figure 1b). In this case, there are 
no response signals on the secondary of CT, 
based on which a change in the main contact 
state is detected. 
Another challenge for Ostojic and Secic[4] is 
related to some single-pole operated GIS circuit 
breakers (each pole has its enclosure) with very-
low resistances of the pole’s enclosures (lower than 
50–60  µΩ). Our experimental results showed 
that a total current of 500  A, when divided 
into three current paths (poles), is not always 
enough to get a measurable response signal at the 
secondary of CT. For example, if the resistance 
FEATURE
of the GIS enclosure and the grounding path 
is about 30 µΩ and the resistance of the main 
arcing contact is about 1 mΩ, only about 5 A of 
the total 166 A (one-third of 500 A) will initially 
flow through the main circuit. 
For CTs with high transmission ratios, e.g. 
4,000:5, the value of the secondary current 
will be around 5–6 mA, which can be highly 
affected by external or measurement noise. 
This again can make the circuit breaker timing 
measurement results unreliable. The solutionANY PRODUCT 
OR SERVICE REFERENCED OR ADVERTISED HEREIN FOR ANY INJURIES OR 
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LEVEL III OR IV OR BY NICET CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS IN ELECTRICAL TESTING 
TECHNOLOGY/LEVEL III OR IV. FAILURE TO ADHERE TO ADEQUATE TRAINING, 
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, AND APPLICABLE PROCEDURES MAY RESULT IN LOSS 
OF PRODUCTION, CATASTROPHIC EQUIPMENT FAILURE, SERIOUS INJURY 
OR DEATH.
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PRESENT
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NETAWorld • 7
Summer is in full swing across the country, and I want to take some time to 
focus on safety. You’ll find many of our articles in this edition of NETA World 
revolve around some aspect of safety. Our cover story continues the discussion of 
the 2018 changes to the arc flash calculation process in IEEE 1584. (Editor’s 
note: Catch up on Part 1 in the Spring 2022 edition of NETA World).
I particularly want to focus my message on driving. Many times, we’re very focused on the electrical 
hazards associated with the jobs we do, and rightly so. However, we often forget about some of 
the other hazards that can sometimes be taken for granted.
For instance, perhaps the most dangerous thing each of us does every single day is drive to and 
from our place of work. This has been minimized to some extent for office staff working 
remotely during COVID, but has never changed for our technicians and engineers in the field. 
NHTSA reported that 39,000 people were killed in car accidents in 2020. Compare that to 400 
fatalities per year due to high-voltage electrical injuries reported by the NIH.
We’re constantly worried about getting to our jobsite on time, or maybe we’re running behind 
or in a hurry to get prepared for the job. Then we’re anxious to get home or back to the 
hotel after a hard day’s work. And especially during this era of technology, there are so many 
distractions. The one that is possibly the most distracting is the cell phone.
I know these are things everyone already knows, but it’s good to remind everyone of this particular 
hazard that exists every single day, on work as well as personal time.
Just a few tips and reminders for safe driving:
• Put your phone away when driving.
• Don’t eat and drive.
• Inspect your vehicle before use.
• Don’t drive fatigued.
• Practice defensive driving techniques.
• Slow down.
We work in a very dangerous industry, but remember that electrical hazards are just 
one of many dangers that exist in the daily life of a field technician and engineer.
Plan ahead, and always put safety first!
Eric Beckman, PE, President 
InterNational Electrical Testing Association 
PRESIDENT’S DESK
PRESIDENT’S DESK
A SAFETY REMINDER
8 • SUMMER 2022 MOSE RAMIEH III: STAY INVOLVED TO STAY RELEVANT
Mose Ramieh III says his path to success in the electrical testing industry 
has been “quite a road,” and his long list hits “just the high points.” A 
former Navy man, Texas Longhorn, vlogger, CrossFit enthusiast, and 
slow-cigar-smoking champion, Mose has been in the electrical testing 
industry for 24 years. Over the years, he has held positions at four 
companies in roles ranging from field service technician, operations, sales, 
business development, and company owner. 
Closing in on 25 years in the industry, this Level 4 NETA Technician 
shares his thoughts on how to make the most of your own road to success.
NW: Please share your journey on how 
you got to the job you currently hold. How 
long have you been in the field; how did you 
get started? What attracted you to electrical 
testing?
Ramieh: My entry into the electrical testing 
business began in November 1996 around 
the time of my wedding. I was less than one 
year from leaving the U.S. Navy, and my role 
in the Navy was not a perfect fit. As a steam-
plant engineer, my job was to boil water into 
steam to turn turbines. If those turbines turned 
generators, my responsibility ended when those 
electrons left the generator.
My father was weary of working for the electrical 
testing company that employed him at that 
time, and we had discussed the opportunity to 
join him in business after I left the Navy. So in 
August 1997, I left San Diego for Nashville, 
Tennessee, to join my father in the business he 
had started in January of that year — Power & 
Generation Testing, Inc. (PGTI).
While I had some electrical background 
from college and my time in the Navy, I had 
very little experience working on utility and 
industrial equipment. Because I also wanted 
to avoid the son-of-the-owner negative 
connotation that routinely occurs, I either 
volunteered or was volun-told to participate 
in every night, weekend, holiday, and outage. 
The less attractive the role, the better. I was 
going to earn my way. There was no going to 
a training class. Every day on the job was the 
classroom as I learned from some dedicated and 
hardworking men. I should mention there was 
also plenty of learning from books, equipment 
manuals, and NETA World. This was before the 
internet (LOL).
Before PGTI became a NETA company, I was 
the first in our company to take and pass the 
NICET exam, much to the surprise — dare I 
say frustration and confusion — of the more 
seasoned technicians we employed. After we 
became a NETA company, I took and passed 
Level 2 and Level 3 on the same day. At that 
INSIGHTS & INSPIRATION
MOSE RAMIEH III: 
STAY INVOLVED TO 
STAY RELEVANT
NETAWorld • 9MOSE RAMIEH III: STAY INVOLVED TO STAY RELEVANT
time, it was a paper test, and it took weeks to 
get a pass/fail notice.
Somewhere around 2005, I became an owner 
in PGTI and continued to work daily in the 
business. I worked in every role: sales, project 
management, and field testing. I was the poster 
child for being a jack of all trades and master 
of none. My father and I worked to grow that 
business and had many wonderful years (and 
more than a few disagreements ). Ultimately, 
in October 2015, we decided to sell the 
business to CE Power. I’ll skip the details of my 
time with CE Power other than to say it is hard 
to go from being an owner to being a “sales 
asset.” I left my company in September 2018.
So there I was, an unemployable NETA Level 
4 Technician with time on my hands. I tried 
some independent work and also worked as a 
manufacturer’s rep. During this time, I was able 
to travel to Chile for two months (June–August 
2019) to put my NETA Level 4 skills to work. 
It was during my time in Chile that I received 
a call from Finley Ledbetter to become a part 
owner in a company purchase in Michigan. 
Our group of investors bought PowerTech 
Services (PTS) in October 2019. I relocated 
to Swartz Creek, Michigan, and spent most 
of 2020 turning that business around. With a 
good bit of hard work, and definitely a bit of 
luck, PTS began to run well, allowing me to 
return to my 24-year home base in Nashville in 
November 2020, 
Now I’m Vice President of Business 
Development for CBS Field Services, which 
is the rebranded name of PowerTech Services, 
doing whatever is needed to help our business 
be successful.
INSIGHTS & INSPIRATION
10 • SUMMER 2022
NW: What about this work keeps you 
committed to the profession?
Ramieh: It’s ato this problem is to increase the test current 
by at least twice the value of the required test 
current per pole, which is about 330  A, or 
about 1,000 A in total.
IMPROVED TEST METHOD
The improved test method presented is 
applicable to the most demanding cases for 
testing, such as a single-pole operated GIS CB 
that has very-low resistance in its pole enclosures 
or where CTs cannot be included in the 
measurement circuit between test access points. 
The first improvement to the GIS test method[4] 
consists of replacing the high-frequency DC/
DC converter as a power source with high-
power lithium-polymer (Li-Po) batteries. The 
reason for this is to eliminate converter noise. 
As shown in Figure 2, three isolated battery-
based power sources are used to supply each 
pole of the single-pole controlled CB with 
IMPROVED METHOD FOR SAFE TIMING MEASUREMENT OF GIS CIRCUIT BREAKERS 
Figure 2: Three Battery-Based Power Sources Used for GIS CB Testing
72 • SUMMER 2022
a high current. Therefore, three such power 
sources integrated into one box will be needed 
for testing this GIS configuration. The current 
will be in the range of 400–500 A per pole, 
depending on the battery charge levels and the 
resistance of the tested circuit. 
The second improvement is related to the 
measurements on GIS breakers with the CT 
placed outside of the grounding switch circuit. 
In this case, instead of measuring the signal at 
the secondary of the CT, the primary current 
can be monitored within the power source. 
Since each pole of the GIS circuit breaker is 
supplied with a very-high DC current (400–
500 A), the change in the main contact state 
will cause a change in the total current that is 
measurable even in the case of the very-low 
resistance of GIS enclosures and grounding 
path. For easier detection of the signal 
transients, it is possible to measure the current 
signal through the measurement shunt or the 
time derivative of this signal. This measurement 
can be realized with a hardware differentiator 
based on operational amplifiers.[10]
METHOD VERIFICATION
Verification of the improved test method for 
GIS CB testing was performed on the GIS 
circuit breaker model Energoinvest SFI 11 
(manufactured in 1985), single-pole operated, 
without purpose-built test terminals. Since 
there were no purpose-built test terminals 
(access points), test clamps of the current cables 
were connected to the conducting points at the 
GIS enclosure, placed as close as possible to the 
earthing switches, as can be seen in Figure 3. 
Since CTs were included in the test circuit, 
response signals were measured at the CT 
secondary. Besides the fact that the circuit 
breaker was single-pole operated (with three 
separate enclosures) and didn’t have purpose-
built test terminals, one more aggravating 
circumstance was the very-low resistance of the 
grounding path (around 60 µΩ).
The generated test current was in the range of 
420–430 A per current output. The measured 
current signal at the secondary of the CT 
during opening and closing operations is 
shown in Figure 4. As concluded in Ostojic and 
Secic,[4] the highest or the lowest (depending 
on the signal direction) turning point at the 
response signal during the opening operation 
matches with the instant of the arcing contact 
separation, while the instant of the first 
appearance of the current signal during the 
closing operation matches with the instant of 
the first contact touch. 
With this in mind, and looking at Figure 4, it 
can be seen that instants of the contacts opening 
are around 21–22  ms, while the instants of 
the contacts closing are in a range of 125–
128 ms. These instances can easily be detected 
automatically with the appropriate software.
The results could not be verified by performing 
timing measurement with the conventional 
FEATURE
IMPROVED METHOD FOR SAFE TIMING MEASUREMENT OF GIS CIRCUIT BREAKERS 
Figure 3: Connection of Current Clamps to Points Close to Earthing Switches
NETAWorld • 73
FEATURE
IMPROVED METHOD FOR SAFE TIMING MEASUREMENT OF GIS CIRCUIT BREAKERS 
timing method since it is not applicable 
for this case without dismantling the GIS 
enclosure (a GIS circuit breaker doesn’t 
have detachable shunts). Instead, specified 
limit values prescribed by the OEM were 
considered. According to these specifications, 
circuit breaker model Energoinvest SFI  11 
has an opening time in the range of 18–24 ms 
and a closing time in the range 120–130 ms, 
meaning that interpreted values are within the 
allowed range. 
CONCLUSION
Method verification has shown that this 
improved test method with three isolated high-
power current sources (400–500 A per source) 
is applicable for single-pole operated circuit-
breakers without test terminals and with very-
low resistance of the grounding path.
Because of the option of direct measurement of 
the injected current changes as an alternative 
to measurement of current signal response at 
the (CT’s) secondary, this can be applied to all 
configurations of GIS switchgear: three-pole or 
single-pole controlled circuit breaker with or 
without CT in the measurement circuit and 
with or without test terminals. 
REFERENCES
[1] Electric Power Substations Engineering. 
Electrical Engineering Handbook, Edited 
Figure 4: Signal Response at CT Secondary During a) Opening and b) Closing Operation
(a) (b)
by John D. McDonald, CRC Press 
Published May 16, 2012. Reference - 
536 Pages - 271 B/W Illustrations ISBN 
9781439856383 - CAT# K12650.
[2] IEEE. IEEE Std. 510-1983, Recommended 
Practices for Safety in High-Voltage and 
High-Power Testing.
[3] Radenko Ostojic, Budo Milovic. 
“New Requiremens in Circuit Breaker 
Diagnostics: Integration of New Circuit 
Breaker Test Methods,“ NETA World, 2014.
[4] Radenko Ostojic, Adnan Secic. 
“Improving Safety in Operation Time 
Measurement Procedure for Circuit 
Breakers in Gas Insulated Substation,” 
Research Disclosure, 2019.
[5] Philip Bolin. Mitsubishi Electric Power Gas-
Insulated Substation, 2003 by CRC Press LLC.
[6] IEEE. IEEE Std. C37.122.1-1993, Guide 
for Gas-Insulated Substations.
[7] IEEE. IEEE Std. C37.123-1996, Guide 
to Specifications for Gas-Insulated, Electric 
Power Substation Equipment.
[8] IEC. IEC 62271-203:1990, Gas-Insulated 
Metal-Enclosed Switchgear for Rated Voltages 
of 72.5 kV and Above (3rd edition).
[9] T. Renaudin, A. Nenning. OMICRON 
electronics. “On-Site Non-Intrusive 
Testing of AC Circui Breakers,” CIGRÉ 
Winnipeg 2017 Colloquium, Study 
Committees A3, B4, & D1, Winnipeg, 
Canada, September 30–October 6, 2017.
FEATURE
[10] Radenko Ostojic, Adnan Secic. “Combined 
Current and Voltage Controlled Source in 
Arcing Contacts Condition Assessment,“ 
NETA World, 2015.
Radenko Ostojic is a Test and Diagnosis 
Engineer at DV Power – Sweden in 
the field of circuit breaker testing and 
maintenance. He has been employed at DV 
Power since 2010 and works on improving 
circuit breaker testing equipment and 
developing new methods for circuit breaker 
testing. Radenko’s area of special interest is testing circuit breakers 
in enhanced safety conditions, which implies testing of circuit 
breakers with both terminals grounded. He earned his BSEE at 
the University of East Sarajevo.
Adnan Secic is an R&D Engineer at 
DV Power – Sweden. As a project leader, 
he is responsible for developing the circuit 
breaker analyzer and timer (CAT) device 
series. Adnan received his BS in electrical 
engineering and MS from the University of 
Sarajevo, and is in the final stage of Ph.D. 
studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing 
in Zagreb, Croatia.
Budo Milovic has been employed at DV 
Power since 2007 and currently works as 
a Technical Application Engineer for CAT 
instruments and circuit breaker testing. 
His area of interest is improvement of the 
circuit breaker testing equipment. Budo 
received his BSEE from the University of 
East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Kerim Obarcaninis a Manager of the 
Software Engineering Department at DV 
Power – Sweden and an Industry Expert 
Lecturer at the Sarajevo School of Science 
and Technology, a collaboration partner of 
Buckingham University, UK. His primary 
research focus is on the domain of data 
acquisition, conditioning, and algorithms for data processing. 
Kerim is currently in the final stage of his Ph.D. studies at 
the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Sarajevo, Bosnia and 
Herzegovina.
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76 • SUMMER 2022 ACCEPTANCE TESTING COLLABORATION LEADS TO IMPROVED PROJECT DELIVERY
BY ERIC NATION, High Voltage Maintenance Corporation
Nearly 70 percent of early equipment failures can be traced to design, 
installation, or startup deficiencies. That’s why it is so important to protect 
a data center’s investment in new equipment or systems with acceptance 
testing. A thorough check of electrical power systems and components 
before energization can uncover and help correct problems that otherwise 
would lead to project schedule delays or larger and more costly issues 
in the future with impacts to data center downtime and consumer 
dissatisfaction. 
WHAT IS ACCEPTANCE 
TESTING AND IS IT 
NECESSARY? 
Acceptance testing is the physical and electrical 
inspection and testing of newly installed 
electrical equipment. This involves thorough 
visual and mechanical inspections using 
calibrated test instruments to ensure electrical 
components and completed systems operate 
as designed.  It occurs before electrical system 
commissioning and start-up as well as before 
the new equipment is put into operation. 
Taking this initial step verifies that 
manufactured devices are free from defects, 
operating as designed and intended, and 
installed correctly as specified. It is important 
that acceptance testing be performed by a 
third-party testing firm that is unbiased and 
independent in their evaluation and findings.
COMMON COSTLY ISSUES 
A number of issues that can be costly to correct 
after start-up can be found with acceptance 
testing:
• Failure of cabling damaged during 
installation
• Incorrect wiring
• Mechanical operating problems
• Nuisance tripping or breakers tripping 
outside of manufacturer’s curves
• Improper relay settings and programming 
• Compromised insulation dielectric 
systems 
• Improper grounding
• Wrong transformer taps and/or improper 
ratios for proper voltage
• Instrument transformer and metering 
circuit ratio and wiring issues
• Surge protection device defects 
ACCEPTANCE TESTING 
COLLABORATION 
LEADS TO IMPROVED 
PROJECT DELIVERY
INDUSTRY TOPICS
NETAWorld • 77ACCEPTANCE TESTING COLLABORATION LEADS TO IMPROVED PROJECT DELIVERY
• Switchgear bus and cable connections not 
properly assembled
• Bus connections improperly torqued 
Acceptance testing also avoids unnecessary 
expenses for data centers. Finding system 
and component anomalies during acceptance 
testing — while equipment is still under 
warranty and in a controlled environment 
— is critical. Determining and correcting 
deficiencies prior to startup can save an 
owner capital and maintenance expenses by 
preventing costly outages, equipment repairs, 
and potential safety issues. 
HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER 
REQUIREMENTS 
The hyperscale data center market continues 
to grow and with the amount of digital 
information being generated, there’s no end 
in sight. With this growth comes a need for 
new data centers and/or expansion of existing 
facilities at a much greater rate to keep up with 
digital demand. The increased demand for data 
storage drives larger and more complex power 
system requirements to handle the loading, not 
only for the servers storing the data, but also 
for the thermal systems required to cool the 
data center equipment. 
Traditionally, acceptance testing of the critical 
power distribution infrastructure for these types 
of facilities would have been performed fully at 
the data center. The testing agency would work 
alongside the electrical contractor during or in 
many cases after installation to complete all 
acceptance testing activities. 
With the increased demand and the need to 
bring these data centers on line faster, that 
model has evolved. Collaboration between 
equipment providers, installers, and the testing 
agency has improved and enabled off-site 
testing that shortens the overall construction 
schedule for these projects. It is important 
to note, however, that the quality assurance, 
INDUSTRY TOPICS
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/GORODENKOFF
testing, and commissioning aspects of the 
project must always remain the goal without 
compromises being made. 
OFF-SITE TESTING 
OPPORTUNITIES
A shift in the use of integrators creates an 
opportunity for testing to begin off-site. 
Acceptance testing at an integrator’s facility 
or an equipment provider is becoming more 
common and offers notable efficiencies. 
Collaboration with a system integrator at their 
location while the equipment is being built 
allows the integrator and electrical contractor 
to follow parallel paths with regard to all data 
center assets. 
The electrical contractor can be installing 
system components while the integrator 
is assembling the remaining portions of 
the power system distribution equipment. 
These components can be tested as they are 
connected offsite, reducing time on-site by 
upward of 40%. This time savings provides 
an improvement to the overall construction 
schedule that benefits all parties involved. 
It is important to note that acceptance testing 
will still need to be conducted at the final on-
site location to ensure no damage occurred 
during shipping or final installation. This 
multi-step approach will help save time overall 
as the testing firm can uncover any issues and 
make corrections off-site;  this leads to fewer 
issues being found on-site.
Acceptance testing is best performed by the same 
independent firm working with the integrator 
at their location as well as with the electrical 
contractor during installation on-site. Keeping a 
consistent partner makes for smoother transitions, 
increased efficiencies, standard processes and 
procedures, communication improvements, etc. 
While integrators are providing a customized 
solution involving numerous components 
INDUSTRY TOPICS
NETAWorld • 79
from various OEMs, the testing agency 
conducting the acceptance testing must be 
familiar with a wide range of manufacturers’ 
equipment. Utilizing qualified technicians who 
can implement industry-recognized testing 
methods and procedures will help ensure the 
quality and consistency of testing at the data 
center and off-site. 
Equipment tested at the integrator site can 
include skid-mounted systems in outdoor 
enclosures. Each skid includesmedium- and 
low-voltage equipment such as circuit breakers, 
trip units, protective relays, wiring, metering, 
instrument transformers, panelboards, batteries, 
etc. The integtrator also includes their own 
system for power, lighting, and HVAC controls. 
The electrical contractor can be wiring the loads 
at the data center and be ready and waiting 
for the skids of low- and medium-voltage 
switchboard and/or switchgear assemblies 
to arrive. Testing at the data center includes 
electrical contractor-installed equipment 
fed from the skids, such as busways, circuit 
breakers, bus plugs, disconnects, grounding, 
etc. Tests are often conducted concurrently at 
the site while integrator testing is under way. 
Testing on equipment from the skids that cannot 
be performed at the integrator includes items such 
as interconnect wiring, grounding, and complete 
system functional testing. These are completed at 
the data center to close out the onsite testing. 
CHOOSE THE RIGHT 
PARTNER 
Due to the importance of conducting proper 
acceptance testing, selecting a good acceptance 
testing firm whose experience and knowledge 
you can trust is crucial. Consider the following 
criteria when selecting a suitable acceptance 
testing firm:
• Independence from the manufacturer to 
ensure an unbiased, thorough assessment 
of equipment
• Ability to accurately interpret test results 
to determine the best course of action for 
each unique customer environment
INDUSTRY TOPICS
• Previous work experience on similar 
projects to determine the value added
• Technician certification and experience 
to ensure thorough testing by a trained 
professional 
• Size of the firm and ability to staff with 
qualified professionals to deliver the 
project on time and within budget
• Awareness of all safety standards to 
ensure safe work practices and require less 
supervision 
• Test equipment calibration program to 
ensure accurate test results. You cannot 
properly assess equipment if you are 
unable to confirm the test equipment you 
are using is in proper working order.
• Affiliations with reputable organizations 
such as NETA, NICET, and NFPA to 
confirm knowledge of testing standards
• Ability to perform new and innovative 
testing services to ensure a complete 
evaluation and comprehensive 
recommendations
• Ability for the same company to be 
utilized at the integrator as well as the 
physical site
• Strong financial standing and the ability 
to be a long-term provider 
ACCEPTANCE TESTING COLLABORATION LEADS TO IMPROVED PROJECT DELIVERY
The above criteria are important when 
identifying an independent testing company 
that can become a trusted advisor to help 
to extend system life, reduce downtime, 
and improve the safety surrounding your 
equipment.
CONCLUSION
Electrical systems are among a data center’s 
most critical assets, and they can have a big 
impact on the bottom line. In data centers that 
power the online economy 24x7, even a brief 
disruption can cost millions of dollars. Their 
production and management cost is high, 
and failures almost always lead to catastrophic 
losses. 
Hyperscale data centers are experiencing 
substantial growth, requiring collaboration 
and an integrated project delivery to 
improve consistency and shorten the overall 
construction schedule. Investing in thorough 
acceptance testing by utilizing a trusted, 
independent testing firm can save your 
organization money during construction and 
throughout the equipment life cycle. 
Eric Nation is the General Manager of 
High Voltage Maintenance Corporation 
and has been with the company since 
2001. He has over 20 years of experience 
in the electrical services industry helping 
customers increase the reliability of their 
electrical systems. Eric is a member of 
several professional organizations including the International 
Electrical Testing Association (NETA) and the National 
Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). He holds a BS from 
Wright State university and an MBA from Miami University.
This article was first published in 7x24 Exchange 
International, Spring 2021. Published by Data 
Center and Mission Critical Association. 
PowerSystemsTesting.1-2_NETA.WI15.indd 1 10/21/15 9:16 AM
INDUSTRY TOPICS
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82 • SUMMER 2022 POWER FACTOR: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DPF AND TPF
BY KEN KIOUS, PowerSight
People often refer to power factor without understanding that there are 
two types of power factor measurement, and it is important to understand 
the difference between them. If you have a power factor problem, it could 
mean you have:
• A power factor correction problem 
that requires adding (or taking away) 
capacitors
• A combination of a power factor 
correction problem and harmonics that 
make it look worse than it is
But how do you know which problem you 
have? And how do you measure it?
WHAT IS DISPLACEMENT 
POWER FACTOR?
Displacement power factor (DPF) is what 
most people think of when they talk of power 
factor. For those comfortable with the math, 
it is the cosine of the angle between a driving 
voltage and the resulting current. For the rest 
of us, it is a measure of how much the driven 
current waveform trails the driving voltage 
waveform in an inductive circuit.  
A few degrees of current phase lag makes very little 
difference in the circuit, but as that lag increases, it 
has an increasing effect on lowering the efficiency 
of the system. The relationship between increasing 
phase lag and the resulting lowered efficiency is 
expressed by the cosine of the lag angle. Therefore, 
rather than reporting the lag angle, we usually 
POWER FACTOR:
UNDERSTANDING THE 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 
DPF AND TPF
INDUSTRY TOPICS
NETAWorld • 83POWER FACTOR: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DPF AND TPF
report the cosine of the lag angle. That provides a 
more meaningful understanding of whether you 
have a displacement problem or not.
The downward bending curve seen in Figure 
1 for true power relative to apparent power 
is exactly the same as the downward bending 
curve of the cosine math function. Therefore, 
the cosine of the lag angle is an exact measure 
of how the true power component of apparent 
power (V x A) decreases as phase lag increases.
For this reason, rather than reporting the lag 
angle, we usually report the cosine of the lag angle 
(Figure 2), which provides a more meaningful 
understanding of whether you have a phase angle 
displacement problem or not. In a system where 
no harmonics are present, true power will be 
equal to the apparent power times the DPF:
W = Vrms x Arms x DPF  (when no harmonics 
are present)
WHAT IS TRUE POWER 
FACTOR?
True power factor (TPF) is what most people 
actually measure.  It is simply the ratio of true 
power (KW) to the apparent power (KVA).
TPF = W / VA  (whether harmonics are present 
or not)
It’s easy to measure and, traditionally, it is equal 
to the DPF (the cosine of the phase angle). If 
your TPF is low, you have a problem. The 
only question is whether the problem is due to 
current displacement or due to a combination 
of harmonic distortion and displacement.
WHY YOU CARE ABOUT DPF
If DPF is low, it takes more current to supply 
the same amount of power to a load.  We 
typically see this with motors, which are 
traditionally highly inductive loads. Inductance 
causes the current to lag the voltage.
INDUSTRY TOPICS
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/POBYTOV
120.00
True Power (KW)
100.00
80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
Cos(Lag Angle) 
Phase Lag Angle
120.00
True Power (KW)
100.00
80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00
0.001.20
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
Cos(Lag Angle) 
Phase Lag Angle
Figure 1: True Power Relative to Apparent Power
Figure 2: Cosine of Lag Angle
84 • SUMMER 2022
Here is an example of how this plays out. 
Suppose a single-phase motor that is running 
off 120 V needs 1,200 W to run efficiently. If 
there is no phase lag, then the lag angle equals 
0 degrees. The cosine of 0 degrees is 1, and the 
required current draw will be:
1,200 W/120 V/1= 10 A
Now, suppose the motor has very large 
inductance and, as a result, the phase lag angle 
is 60 degrees. The cosine of 60 degrees is 0.5, 
resulting in a current draw of:
1,200 W/120 V/0.5 = 20 A
The required current for the same amount of work 
has doubled because of the increased phase lag.
Figure 3 and Figure 4 are waveform captures that 
illustrate what was just described. The circuits in 
Figure 3 and Figure 4 consume nearly the same 
power, but the circuit in Figure 3 has a large phase 
lag of 60 degrees, resulting in a drop in DPF:
DPF = cos(60) = 0.50
The circuit in Figure 4 has no phase lag, 
resulting in:
DPF = cos(0) = 1.00
INDUSTRY TOPICS
POWER FACTOR: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DPF AND TPF
PS4550_DPF_0.50_1214W_20A
V1n
120.4
I1
20.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.58.51
-100.0
-200.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
-30.00
-40.00
-50.00
W1 = 1.214KW
PF1 = 0.80
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.214KW
PFt = 0.50
PS4550_DPF_1.00_1339W_11A
V1n
120.4
I1
11.1
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.56.27
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
W1 = 1.339KW
PF1 = 1.00
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.339KW
PFt = 1.00
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
0.33%
I1
12.0
38.91%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
0.33%
I1
12.0
0.42%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
V1n
I1
Phase Lag
V1,I1: -0.2°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 120.4V, 0.0°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
Phase Lag
V1,I1: 22.1°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 12.0A, -22.1°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
V
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
V1n
I1
PS4550_DPF_0.50_1214W_20A
V1n
120.4
I1
20.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.58.51
-100.0
-200.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
-30.00
-40.00
-50.00
W1 = 1.214KW
PF1 = 0.80
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.214KW
PFt = 0.50
PS4550_DPF_1.00_1339W_11A
V1n
120.4
I1
11.1
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.56.27
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
W1 = 1.339KW
PF1 = 1.00
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.339KW
PFt = 1.00
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
0.33%
I1
12.0
38.91%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
0.33%
I1
12.0
0.42%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
V1n
I1
Phase Lag
V1,I1: -0.2°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 120.4V, 0.0°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
Phase Lag
V1,I1: 22.1°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 12.0A, -22.1°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
V
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
V1n
I1
Figure 3: Large Phase Lag
Figure 4: No Phase Lag
The circuit with large phase lag (Figure 3) requires 
about twice the amount of current (I1 = 20 A) to 
supply similar power compared to the circuit with 
no phase lag (I1 = 10A) in Figure 4.
A single load with low DPF is usually not an 
important thing, but what if there are 1,000 such 
motors? Now the utility must supply twice the 
current to accomplish the same amount of work 
as if there were no phase lag. The user doesn’t 
mind, because in most cases, they are paying for 
true power (KW) not apparent power (KVA). But 
the utility is unhappy because now their 
distribution system is carrying twice the current 
that is actually needed to perform the work for 
the customer. That extra current results in twice 
the resistive power loss in their distribution 
system, which benefits no one. 
A similar problem arises for the end user if:
• Larger gauge conductors are required to 
supply the required amperage.
INDUSTRY TOPICS
• The facility is remote and the owner must 
supply anoversized distribution system of 
considerable length.
• The facility is geographically dispersed 
(such as for oil-well pump jacks or 
distributed fluid pumps).
Since they do not want to absorb the cost 
of inefficiency, the utility fights back with a 
power factor surcharge on your bill so you 
will share their pain.  This surcharge can 
be pretty steep, so power factor correction 
circuitry to lower the required current and 
eliminate power factor correction surcharges 
(or lower the cable gauge requirements in your 
dispersed or remote facility) may be a money-
saving investment.
WHY YOU CARE ABOUT TPF
TPF is often nearly equal to DPF, so if you care 
about DPF, you probably care about TPF. The 
two measurements deviate from each other 
when harmonics are present.  In the modern 
Industrial Electric Testing, Inc.
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Testing
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• Power Factor Studies 
11321 West Distribution Avenue • Jacksonville, Florida 32256 • (904) 260-8378
201 NW 1st Avenue • Hallandale, Florida 33009 • (954) 456-7020
86 • SUMMER 2022
era of non-linear loads and electronic power 
supplies, significant harmonics can be present. 
If the harmonic currents are not in phase with 
their harmonic driving voltages, then the true 
power (the KW) will be less than the apparent 
power (the KVA), and the resulting TPF will be 
lower than 1.00.
If you are monitoring a conventional motor 
without a variable speed drive (VSD), you will 
find that TPF is a pretty good measurement 
of DPF, so talking simply of power factor 
(PF) is usually accurate and explanatory. But 
if you are monitoring an electronic load with 
high harmonics, there is a good chance that 
the DPF (the phase lag of the fundamental 
frequency) is close to 1.00, even if the TPF is 
much lower. Therefore, you should know your 
load before you make assumptions about what 
the TPF means.
To illustrate, Figure 5 and Figure 6 show 
waveform captures from two different single-
phase simulations. Both circuits have a TPF of 
0.93 with 12 A. However, they are completely 
different situations that require completely 
different mitigation methods if you want to raise 
the TPF.
INDUSTRY TOPICS
POWER FACTOR: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DPF AND TPF
Figure 5: No Phase Lag; High Current-Waveform Distortion
Figure 6: No Harmonic Distortion; 22 Degrees of Phase Lag
PS4550_DPF_0.50_1214W_20A
V1n
120.4
I1
20.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.58.51
-100.0
-200.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
-30.00
-40.00
-50.00
W1 = 1.214KW
PF1 = 0.80
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.214KW
PFt = 0.50
PS4550_DPF_1.00_1339W_11A
V1n
120.4
I1
11.1
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.56.27
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
W1 = 1.339KW
PF1 = 1.00
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.339KW
PFt = 1.00
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
0.33%
I1
12.0
38.91%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
0.33%
I1
12.0
0.42%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
V1n
I1
Phase Lag
V1,I1: -0.2°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 120.4V, 0.0°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
Phase Lag
V1,I1: 22.1°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 12.0A, -22.1°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
V
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
V1n
I1
PS4550_DPF_0.50_1214W_20A
V1n
120.4
I1
20.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.58.51
-100.0
-200.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
-30.00
-40.00
-50.00
W1 = 1.214KW
PF1 = 0.80
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.214KW
PFt = 0.50
PS4550_DPF_1.00_1339W_11A
V1n
120.4
I1
11.1
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.56.27
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
W1 = 1.339KW
PF1 = 1.00
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.339KW
PFt = 1.00
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
0.33%
I1
12.0
38.91%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
0.33%
I1
12.0
0.42%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
V1n
I1
Phase Lag
V1,I1: -0.2°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 120.4V, 0.0°
I2: Too small
I3: Toosmall
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
Phase Lag
V1,I1: 22.1°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 12.0A, -22.1°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
V
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
V1n
I1
NETAWorld • 87
INDUSTRY TOPICS
POWER FACTOR: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DPF AND TPF
The circuit in Figure 5 has no phase lag, but it has 
high current-waveform distortion that results in 
W/VA  =  0.93.  The circuit in Figure 6 has no 
harmonic distortion, but it has 22 degrees of phase 
lag, resulting in W/VA = 0.93. The voltage and 
current RMS values are the same in both circuits. 
The W and VA are also the same, but they represent 
completely different challenges for mitigation.
Looking closer, we can see the harmonic 
distortion content of the two circuits. We can 
see that the simulation in Figure 7 has current 
total harmonic distortion (THD) of 39%. The 
simulation in Figure 8 has THD of 0%.
To complete this analysis, we can see the 
phasor diagrams for the two single-phase 
simulations. Figure 9 shows no displacement 
(DPF = 1.00).  Figure 10 has 22 degrees of 
displacement (DPF = 0.93).
Does it Matter?
If you have high harmonic content, it may not 
matter. A desktop computer with a low TPF 
due to harmonics probably makes no difference 
to your facility. But if you have 1,000 desktop 
computers with low TPF due to harmonics, 
you likely have substantial harmonic currents 
flowing through your facility wiring and 
Figure 7: Total Harmonic Distortion of 39%
Figure 8: Zero Total Harmonic Distortion 
PS4550_DPF_0.50_1214W_20A
V1n
120.4
I1
20.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.58.51
-100.0
-200.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
-30.00
-40.00
-50.00
W1 = 1.214KW
PF1 = 0.80
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.214KW
PFt = 0.50
PS4550_DPF_1.00_1339W_11A
V1n
120.4
I1
11.1
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.56.27
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
W1 = 1.339KW
PF1 = 1.00
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.339KW
PFt = 1.00
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
0.33%
I1
12.0
38.91%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
0.33%
I1
12.0
0.42%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
V1n
I1
Phase Lag
V1,I1: -0.2°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 120.4V, 0.0°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
Phase Lag
V1,I1: 22.1°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 12.0A, -22.1°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
V
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
V1n
I1
PS4550_DPF_0.50_1214W_20A
V1n
120.4
I1
20.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.58.51
-100.0
-200.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
-30.00
-40.00
-50.00
W1 = 1.214KW
PF1 = 0.80
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.214KW
PFt = 0.50
PS4550_DPF_1.00_1339W_11A
V1n
120.4
I1
11.1
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.56.27
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
W1 = 1.339KW
PF1 = 1.00
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.339KW
PFt = 1.00
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
0.33%
I1
12.0
38.91%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
0.33%
I1
12.0
0.42%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
V1n
I1
Phase Lag
V1,I1: -0.2°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 120.4V, 0.0°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
Phase Lag
V1,I1: 22.1°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 12.0A, -22.1°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
V
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
V1n
I1
88 • SUMMER 2022
INDUSTRY TOPICS
POWER FACTOR: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DPF AND TPF
through the distribution and step-downtransformers at your site. 
You care about this because harmonic currents 
have a heating effect that is far greater than 
currents of the same magnitude at the 
fundamental frequency. So you may measure 
an overall current of 200 A and feel safe, but 
the wiring in the cable trays and walls may 
be dangerously heated.  Your distribution 
transformers, if not properly K-rated, may 
be overheating and in a dangerous condition, 
and there may be hot spots on contacts and 
connection points.
HOW TO MEASURE 
POWER FACTOR
A standard power analyzer has all the 
measurements you need to allow you to assess 
your problems and verify your solutions with 
regards to power factor.
Most power analyzers will measure and log TPF 
— true power factor. If you are monitoring 
an inductive load, this gives you a good 
measurement for DPF — displacement power 
factor — so you can take proper mitigating 
measures. If you are monitoring an electronic 
load, branch circuit, or service entrance, you 
Figure 9: No Displacement 
Figure 10: 22 Degrees of Displacement 
PS4550_DPF_0.50_1214W_20A
V1n
120.4
I1
20.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.58.51
-100.0
-200.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
-30.00
-40.00
-50.00
W1 = 1.214KW
PF1 = 0.80
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.214KW
PFt = 0.50
PS4550_DPF_1.00_1339W_11A
V1n
120.4
I1
11.1
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.56.27
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
W1 = 1.339KW
PF1 = 1.00
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.339KW
PFt = 1.00
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
0.33%
I1
12.0
38.91%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
0.33%
I1
12.0
0.42%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
V1n
I1
Phase Lag
V1,I1: -0.2°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 120.4V, 0.0°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
Phase Lag
V1,I1: 22.1°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 12.0A, -22.1°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
V
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
V1n
I1
PS4550_DPF_0.50_1214W_20A
V1n
120.4
I1
20.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.58.51
-100.0
-200.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
-30.00
-40.00
-50.00
W1 = 1.214KW
PF1 = 0.80
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.214KW
PFt = 0.50
PS4550_DPF_1.00_1339W_11A
V1n
120.4
I1
11.1
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.56.27
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
W1 = 1.339KW
PF1 = 1.00
W2 = 0.0
PF2 = NA
W3 = 0.0
PF3 = NA
Wt = 1.339KW
PFt = 1.00
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
0.33%
I1
12.0
38.91%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
V1n
120.3
0.33%
I1
12.0
0.42%
Vo
lta
ge
 (V
)
C
ur
re
nt
 (A
)
Harmonics (#)
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.54.15
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
V1n
I1
Phase Lag
V1,I1: -0.2°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 120.4V, 0.0°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
Voltage
V1n: 120.4V, 0.0°
V2n: Too small
V3n: Too small
V Unbalance: NA
Phase Lag
V1,I1: 22.1°
V2,I2: NA
V3,I3: NA
Current
I1: 12.0A, -22.1°
I2: Too small
I3: Too small
I Unbalance: NA
Power Factor
PF1: 0.93
PF2: NA
PF3: NA
PFt:NA
PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
V1n
120.4
I1
12.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Vo
lta
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)
C
ur
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nt
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)
Time (msec)Fundamental Frequency: 60.0Hz Captured on 02/10/21 at 13.50.15
-100.0
-200.0
20.00
10.00
0.00
-10.00
-20.00
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
PF1 = 0.93 PF2 = NA PF3 = NA PFt = 0.93
V
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Harmonics
PS4550_PF_0.93_due_to_Phase_Lag
90°
-90°
±180° 0°
V1n
I1
INDUSTRY TOPICS
POWER FACTOR: UNDERSTANDING THE 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DPF AND TPF
can get a sense of whether a displacement and/
or harmonic problem is present.
Simple calculations can guide you to make 
the proper choice of power factor correction 
equipment and verify that such equipment is 
performing correctly. A good power analyzer 
will log the true power (KW), the apparent 
power (KVA), the average reactive power 
(KVAR), and the true power factor (TPF). An 
analyzer that will also log the signed (+/-) DPF 
so you can verify the actual phase lag (or phase 
lead) of current in each phase over time is ideal. 
Most analyzers measure DPF and display 
readings either on the analyzer itself (so you 
can take a direct measurement while wearing 
PPE with the analyzer in your hand) or on PC 
software.   Analyzers with waveform capture, 
phasor diagrams, and harmonic bar charts 
allow you to directly see the components of 
displacement and harmonics. Most analyzers 
also measure and log the THD of each voltage 
and each current so it is clear whether there is a 
harmonics issue or not.
Most analyzers will log the THD of each 
voltage and current so you can recognizeand 
size the scale of your harmonic problems. Some 
analyzers allow you to capture waveforms at 
any time and then transform the waveform 
into a harmonic breakdown of the magnitude 
of each harmonic frequency, so you can decide 
whether you wish to trap specific frequencies 
or filter the full range of frequencies. Logging 
individual harmonics can be beneficial in 
designing a harmonic trap for a specific 
harmonic.
When you mitigate, you will be able to verify 
the effectiveness of the mitigation by examining 
the log or waveforms. Of course, if low TPF 
is the result of both harmonics and current 
lag, your power analysis software will need to 
separate the two causes so you can select the 
correct mitigation action.
A solid report-creation wizard can provide 
summary reports of before and after 
mitigation.  It can also provide comparison 
reports where the before and after are compared 
directly, with percent improvement shown.
CONCLUSION 
Power factor is often referred to without 
understanding that there are two types of 
power factor measurement, and it is important 
to understand the differences. It is equally 
important to know how to measure and 
analyze power factor effectively and accurately. 
Choosing the right power analyzer to meet your 
needs will allow you to assess your problems 
and verify your solutions.
Ken Kious is Founder and President 
of Summit Technology, Inc.  He has a 
BSEE from UC Davis and an MS in 
Management from MIT. Ken has spent 30 
years worrying about customers’ success in 
doing power measurements and has created 
numerous unique solutions for monitoring 
and analyzing electric power. 
ELECTRICAL TESTING
LEADING EDGE
on the
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offers a comprehensive array of state-of-the-art
electrical testing services and expertise.
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AND MAINTENANCE OF:
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TESTING, CALIBRATION AND REPAIR 
OF METERS AND RELAYS
FIELD SERVICES:
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Load and Power Quality Recording and Analysis
 
CONTACT US TODAY • 24 HOUR SERVICE
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L i c e n c e d i n N e w Y o r k a n d N e w J e r s e y
®
90 • SUMMER 2022 MEDIUM-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER CONDITION ASSESSMENT
BY SIEGFRIED BERNHAUSER and ARI T IRRONIEMI, OMICRON electronics
Circuit breakers are indispensable in any electrical power system. They are 
the only piece of equipment that can switch not only under normal load, 
but also under fault conditions. They must be able to reliably disconnect 
a faulty section from the grid as quickly as possible. Circuit breakers must 
be able to meet this requirement even after they have been in service for a 
long time. Their reliability is essential for the prevention of consequential 
power system failures and the safety of the electrical power supply. 
Typical tests include measuring operating 
times and static contact resistance. A more 
extensive condition assessment is possible 
when further measurements, such as motion/
contact travel measurements or measurement 
of the motor current signature, are performed. 
For circuit breakers that are equipped with an 
under-voltage release or an over-current release, 
testing these features further increases the 
available information that can be used during 
the condition assessment of the circuit breaker. 
MEDIUM-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT 
BREAKERS 
While old medium-voltage circuit breakers 
often used oil as the interrupting medium, 
in modern times, vacuum is the preferred 
medium and is thus used almost exclusively. 
Essential elements of a breaker include the 
interrupter unit, the mechanical linkage, and 
the operating mechanism with an energy 
storage system. The energy that is needed to 
operate a circuit breaker is high, and it must 
be made available within a few milliseconds 
— almost instantaneously. Springs are used 
in most cases because they are simple in 
comparison and very reliable at the same time. 
Two separate springs allow the energy for the 
opening and the closing operation to be stored. 
In order to release the energy that is stored in 
the springs, two coils are needed to control the 
springs remotely. The opening spring is charged 
during the closing operation of the breaker, and 
the closing spring is charged by a motor.
TESTING MEDIUM-VOLTAGE 
CIRCUIT BREAKERS 
Following is a brief overview of the most 
important medium-voltage circuit breaker 
measurement methods.
MEDIUM-VOLTAGE 
CIRCUIT BREAKER 
CONDITION ASSESSMENT
INDUSTRY TOPICS
NETAWorld • 91
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/GURUXOOX
MEDIUM-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER CONDITION ASSESSMENT
Off-Service Measurement 
Methods 
• Timing. Timing measurements according 
to IEC 62271-100[1] are used to 
determine operation time and are part of 
the most common tests. The timing test 
uses a resistance or voltage threshold to 
determine the state of the main contacts.
• Static contact resistance. Verifies 
whether the resistance of the main 
contacts allows the current to flow with 
low losses. 
• Dynamic contact resistance. Records the 
contact resistance during the operation 
of the breaker and delivers information 
about wear-related problems with 
main and arcing contacts, while also 
determining timing results. 
• Motion/contact travel. Verifies operating 
mechanism and mechanical linkage and 
indicates potential mechanical wear. 
• Coil current. Records the current 
signature curve of the command coils 
during breaker operation during a timing 
test. Deviations show possible electrical 
or mechanical defects of the trip or close 
control components. According to the 
IEC, the trip coil shall work between 
70% and 110% of nominal voltage, and 
the close coil shall work between 85% 
and 110% of nominal voltage. 
• Motor current. The motor current 
analysis records the inrush and steady-
state currents as well as the spring 
charging time. According to the IEC, 
the motor shall work between 85% and 
110% of nominal voltage. 
• Minimum pick-up. Determines the 
minimum voltage necessary to trip and 
close the breaker and verifies whether it 
can reliably operate in the event of a low 
DC supply.
• Under-voltage release test. Determines 
the trip voltage of the under-voltage coil. 
• Over-current release test. Used to 
determine the current that trips the 
breaker. Over-current releases are 
commonly used together with self-
powered over-current protection relays. 
In-Service Measurement Methods 
• First-trip test. The first trip test is carried 
out while the breaker is still in service 
and has been in service for a long time. 
Connections are made at the trip coil and 
at the CT’s secondary side. The opening 
times are measured by monitoring 
secondary current of the CTs. 
• Voltage-based timing measurement 
(VTM). VTM is the only measurement 
method available to measure the timing 
of a medium-voltage GIS, since the 
INDUSTRY TOPICS
92 • SUMMER 2022
main contacts are sealed and cannot be 
accessed. It can be applied to all circuit 
breakers with a voltage detection system 
(VDS) that makes the main voltages 
accessible. 
UNDER-VOLTAGE RELEASE 
 
Purpose of Under-Voltage Release 
Circuit breakers are equipped with an under-
voltage release if the related protection system 
has no supply voltage backup, for example, if 
a protection relay is powered by a battery, but 
the battery voltage is not monitored. If the 
battery voltage falls below 70% of its nominal 
voltage (see IEC 62271-1:2017[2] for details) so 
it is no longer able to operate the protection 
relay, any failure (e.g., an over-current) would 
no longer be discovered. The under-voltage 
release is often found in industry grids, as it 
is a relatively cheap solution to make sure the 
breaker is opened when a batteryfailure occurs. 
An under-voltage release may operate when 
supply voltage is between 35% and 70% of the 
nominal voltage and must operate when the 
supply voltage drops below 35%. In addition, 
the under-voltage release prevents closing when 
the release has operated, such as after opening 
the circuit breaker. 
Under-Voltage Release Test 
The under-voltage coil is supplied, after 
which the breaker is closed. Then the voltage 
is ramped down in steps from the nominal 
voltage until the under-voltage release trips 
(Figure 1). This is the trip voltage.
OVER-CURRENT RELEASE 
 
Purpose of Over-Current Releases 
Current transformer releases are used on 
circuit breakers in substations where no grid-
independent supply voltage is available. These 
are low-cost stations with basic functionality. 
Quite often, they do not have any remote-
control features, and the breakers do not have 
a close coil. Such substations are common 
in distribution grids where the downstream 
infrastructure is not critical, such as in 
residential areas. 
Over-current releases are activated by a 
current. The current comes from the tripping 
transformer, which usually has a nominal 
value of 0.5, 1.0, or 5 A AC. An over-current 
relay feeds the current flow from the tripping 
transformer to the circuit breaker. The tripping 
transformer and the over-current relay (self-
powered over-current relay) are usually 
powered by the secondary side of the CTs. In 
the event of an over-current, the relay switches 
the current of the tripping transformer to the 
MEDIUM-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER CONDITION ASSESSMENT
INDUSTRY TOPICS
Trip voltage
Supply 
Under-voltage 
coil
Breaker closed
Start 
Ramping
End 
Ramping
Breaker 
trips
Nominal
Voltage
Main
Contacts
Time
Figure 1: Under-Voltage Release Test Signal
Start
Ramping
End ramping
Breaker
trips
Trip current
Current
Main
Contacts
Time
Figure 2: Over-Current Release Test Signal
NETAWorld • 93
circuit breaker; this causes it to open the main 
contacts and isolate the faulty grid part. 
Over-Current Release Test 
With the breaker in closed position, a current 
is ramped up in steps until the breaker trips 
(Figure 2). This is the trip current. 
Other Designations 
• IEC 62271-100: Indirect current release 
• ABB: Transformer operated release 
• Siemens: Current transformer operated 
release 
• Also in use: Indirect over-current release 
CLOSING TIME 
CALCULATION FOR 
CIRCUIT BREAKERS 
WITHOUT A CLOSE COIL 
All breakers should have at least a trip coil so 
that faults can be isolated. Some old breakers or 
breakers with over-current release do not have 
a close coil. These breakers are closed manually. 
According to IEC 62271-100,[1] closing time 
is the elapsed time from the moment the close 
coil is energized until the contacts touch all 
poles (Figure 3).
For circuit breakers without a close coil, the 
closing time calculation according to the IEC 
standard cannot be applied. Therefore, an 
alternative approach must be used. The closing 
time can be the time when the circuit breaker 
main contacts begin to move until the contacts 
touch all poles (Figure 4).
REFERENCES
[1] IEC 62271-100 
[2] IEC 62271-1:2017 
Siegfried Bernhauser has worked 
for OMICRON electronics in Klaus, 
Austria, for more than 25 years. After 
starting as a Technical Writer, he worked 
as a Marketing Communications 
Engineer with a focus on business-to-
business communication for power system 
testing products such as the CMC 356, the CPC 100, the 
CT Analyzer, the TESTRANO 600, the MPD 800, and 
MEDIUM-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER CONDITION ASSESSMENT
INDUSTRY TOPICS
the CIBANO 500. Most recently, he focused on producing 
switchgear testing videos. Siegfried studied TV and film 
production at the Danube University Krems, Austria.
Ari Tirroniemi has worked for 
OMICRON electronics in Klaus, Austria, 
for more than 15 years as a firmware 
developer and later as Project Manager for 
products such as DIRANA and CIBANO 
500. He is currently an Application 
Engineer focusing on circuit breaker testing. 
Ari studied applied physics and electrical engineering at the 
Linköping University of Technology, Sweden. 
Coil energized Main contacts
close
End Pos.
Start Pos.
Coil
Current
Main
Contacts
Main
Contact
Motion
TimeClosing 
Time
Motion Start Main
contacts
close
End Pos.
Start Pos.
Coil
Current
Main
Contacts
Main
Contact
Motion
TimeClosing
Time
Coil energized Main contacts
close
End Pos.
Start Pos.
Coil
Current
Main
Contacts
Main
Contact
Motion
TimeClosing 
Time
Motion Start Main
contacts
close
End Pos.
Start Pos.
Coil
Current
Main
Contacts
Main
Contact
Motion
TimeClosing
Time
Figure 3: Closing Time Calculation According to IEC 62271-100[1]
Figure 4: Closing Time with Motion/Contact Travel as Start Reference
94 • SUMMER 2022 THE KEY TO RELAY PROTECTION SUCCESS: COOPERATION
BY ED KHAN, Doble Engineering
The objective of protective relays and protective schemes is to protect 
electrical equipment such as transformers, lines, cables, bus bars, etc. 
during abnormal system conditions. Hence, protective relaying demands 
the utmost attention and diligence. However, when dealing with relay 
protection, protection engineers may inadvertently focus only on the 
relays. Engineers talk about selecting appropriate relays, applying correct 
settings, checking out the wiring, ensuring correct interconnections, and 
performing effective tests.
However, we must realize that relay protection 
does not exist on an island. In addition to 
protective relays, substations contain other critical 
equipment including circuit breakers, current 
transformers (CTs), potential transformers (PTs), 
battery systems, and transformers. 
In many large utilities, there is often a barrier 
between the relay department and the substation 
equipment department. Substation equipment, 
along with relays and relay protection schemes, 
is tested at regular intervals by the respective 
departments.
There is little realization regarding the critical 
dependency of relay protection on CTs, 
circuit breakers, etc. Hence, we should avoid 
isolating relay protection from CTs, PTs, 
THE KEY TO RELAY 
PROTECTION SUCCESS: 
COOPERATION
ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
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Figure 1: Building Blocks of a Relay Protection Scheme
NETAWorld • 95THE KEY TO RELAY PROTECTION SUCCESS: COOPERATION
breakers, and batteries. These are intertwined. 
Figure 1 illustrates the building blocks of the 
relay protection system: relays, current and 
voltage transformers, breakers, batteries, and 
communication links. 
Failure in any one of these blocks will disrupt the 
relay protection scheme.
As mentioned above, utilities perform tests 
on CTs, PTs, the battery system, and circuit 
breakers. However, the results of periodic 
maintenance testing typically are not shared 
with relay protection engineers. As an example, 
protection staff may not be aware of newly 
developed sluggishness in breaker opening 
time or that the age of a CT may have led to 
deterioration of the saturation characteristics 
level. In some cases, we do notice an exchange 
of CT, PT, and circuit breaker testing data 
especially in the event of relay mis-operation 
leading to forensic analysis. The team responsible 
for maintaining relay settings should be kept 
updated with these test results since access to this 
knowledge can impact the assumptions used to 
develop relay settings.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO 
RELAY PROTECTION
The relay protection scheme is the nucleus with 
all necessary logic built in; the other elements 
support relay protection schemes. CTs and PTs 
provide current and voltage inputs to the relays. 
The relays in turn provide input to energize the 
trip circuit resulting in opening of the breaker to 
isolate the faulted section of the power system. 
Station batteries, another building block of 
relay protection, energize the tripcircuit with 
a DC supply. Understanding how each of these 
components contributes to proper operation 
of the relay protection scheme is essential to 
smooth operation of your protection system.
ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
Relay 
Protection 
Scheme
CTs PTs
Communication 
Links
Breakers Batteries
96 • SUMMER 2022
Relays
Engineers must select appropriate relays and 
provide appropriate settings. The relays and 
protection schemes must be tested at the time 
of commissioning, and subsequent maintenance 
must be performed at predefined intervals.
For relay testing, a software program that 
provides a comprehensive test environment 
flexible enough to accommodate technical 
and operational requirements — including for 
networks based on IEC 61850 standards — is 
ideal. The right software can help standardize 
elements of the relay testing program, reduce 
complexity, provide consistency, and capture and 
store important maintenance information and 
test records. This automation enables increased 
efficiency, accuracy, and productivity.
Any shortcomings in selection, setting, wiring, 
or testing can lead to mis-operation of the 
relay protection scheme during abnormal 
system conditions. Some schemes include 
communication links between the relays at 
the two ends of a transmission line. End-
to-end testing must be performed to ensure 
correct operation of the protective relay scheme 
including receivers and transmitters.
Furthermore, digital substations built around 
the IEC 61850 standard have different testing 
needs than conventional substations. Testing in 
digital stations involves extensive verification of 
communication between the relays. There is a 
need to test the entire system as an entity, and 
system simulators can provide a solution for 
testing IEC 61850-based protection devices and 
schemes. 
Current Transformers 
The role of a CT is much simpler than the role 
of a relay. CTs simply provide current to the 
relays. The primary winding of the CT sees the 
actual current in the circuit while its secondary 
winding provides reduced current levels based 
on the ratio of the CT. Under normal load 
current, CTs reproduce currents correctly.
However, during short-circuit conditions when 
fault current is high, CTs may not reproduce 
the current accurately. Under such conditions, 
the current provided to the relay is normally 
lower than what it is expected. The degree of 
inaccuracy will depend on the magnitude of 
the short circuit current, X/R ratio, etc. This 
behavior of the CT is due to saturation of the 
CT core, which impacts the performance of 
simple overcurrent, distance, and differential 
relays.
It is very important to perform the following 
tests on CTs:
• CT excitation
• Current ratio
• Polarity
• Ratio and phase angle error
• Insulation resistance
• Winding resistance
• Burden check
Each utility determines the maintenance interval 
for testing based on its internal procedures.
Instruments designed specifically for testing CTs 
can help increase productivity and save time 
during commissioning. The ideal test set can 
verify CT excitation curve, polarity, and ratio. It 
can also perform phase angle and burden tests and 
measure insulation level and winding resistance.
THE KEY TO RELAY PROTECTION SUCCESS: COOPERATION
ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
Bushing CTs
In digital substations that implement process 
bus, the analog values of CT outputs are fed 
into a merging unit. The merging units provide 
equivalent digitized samples that are fed into 
IEC 61850-ready intelligent electronic devices 
(IEDs). IEDs are essentially microprocessor 
relays with significant built-in protection and 
communication logic. The IEC 61850-ready 
IEDs cannot accept analog signals from CTs and 
PTs, hence digitized samples must be provided. 
In this case, in addition to testing the CTs, the 
merging units must be tested as well.
Some merging units have built-in optical CTs 
and do not require input from conventional 
inductive CTs. These merging units require 
special testing tools and techniques.
Circuit Breakers
Circuit breakers must trip (open) when called 
upon by the protective relaying. If the dedicated 
breaker does not open, back-up protection will 
ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
Stand-Alone CTs
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98 • SUMMER 2022
cause other related breakers to open in order to 
isolate the faulty equipment. However, the fault 
clearance by backup relaying will cause an outage 
of a larger part of the system; although this is 
not desirable, it is necessary. For this reason, it is 
essential for breakers to be maintained and tested 
appropriately to perform this function.
In addition to a breaker failing to open, issues 
can also be created if it takes longer than 
necessary to open the contacts. In protective 
schemes, breaker opening time is taken into 
consideration when setting a relay scheme. An 
actual contact opening time that exceeds the 
time that was used in the relay settings can cause 
unnecessary outage of a larger part of the system.
For example, when we set up a breaker failure 
scheme, we use the breaker opening time in 
the calculations. If the actual time turns out 
to be greater, several breakers will trip as part 
of a back-up scheme. This is an undesirable 
situation leading to the tripping of the 
entire bus. Similarly, when coordinating two 
overcurrent relays, miscoordination will occur 
if a breaker takes much longer to open. Hence, 
testing breakers is critical to ensure that they 
are operational within published parameters 
including the contact opening times.
The following tests must be run to ensure the 
integrity of circuit breakers:
 1. Breaker timing
 2. Static contact resistance
 3. Dynamic contact resistance
 4. Trip and close coil currents
 5. Minimum pickup voltage
 6. Travel time
 7. Power factor test
In addition, specific tests are conducted on SF6, 
vacuum, and air-blast breakers. A state-of-the-
art circuit breaker analyzer can provide efficient 
and accurate performance measures for all 
types of circuit breakers. Digital circuit breaker 
analyzers can perform dynamic resistance tests 
and measure main contact and resistor contact 
time, stroke, velocity, over-travel, bounce-back, 
and contact wipes.
Battery System
The battery system plays a vital role in completing 
the sequence of tripping circuit breakers when 
called upon by the protective relaying scheme. 
The trip coil that is responsible for tripping the 
circuit breakers is energized when DC voltage is 
provided to it, and the protective relays provide 
the permissive. If relays provide the permissive but 
no DC power is available, the trip coil will not 
energize, and the breaker will not trip. Batteries 
are a crucial link in the chain of events and must 
be tested at regular intervals to ensure integrity.
To ensure the battery system is operational and 
will comply within specified parameters, the 
following tests are recommended:
 1. Impedance
 2. Intercell resistance
 3. Voltage (battery float and cell float)
 4. Specific gravity
 5. Current
 6. Temperature
 7. Discharge testing
 8. Infrared scanning
 9. Capacity testing
THE KEY TO RELAY PROTECTION SUCCESS: COOPERATION
ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
Circuit Breaker
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• Ratio and phase angle error
• Insulation resistance
• Winding resistance
• Burden check
• Power factor test
The tests to be conducted and the related 
maintenance interval are listed in the 
maintenance procedures. In general, the 
ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
Battery System
Potential Transformers/CCVTs
The impact of inductive and capacitive potential 
transformers on relaychallenging business. It tests 
you mentally and physically. There have been 
times where I have wanted to throw my tools 
down and walk out the door. So what keeps 
me committed? The recognition I get when 
customers and other industrial professionals 
seek me out to help them solve problems. It’s 
sort of like that sweet golf shot that keeps you 
coming back and playing that frustrating game.
NW: What about this work is specifically 
challenging for you, and how are you 
overcoming that challenge?
Ramieh: I’m challenged by the “race to the 
bottom” pricing of many clients, including 
large utilities that shall remain nameless. As 
salaries continue to increase for P&C talent, 
customers continue to expect more for less. 
NW: If you were talking to a young person 
interested in knowing more about being an 
electrical testing technician, how would you 
describe the job, and what advice would you 
give?
Ramieh: Every day is different. Just when 
you think you have it all figured out, there 
will be something new. A symptom of a 
problem that you have never seen before will 
derail your troubleshooting and challenge your 
understanding of electrical power. It can be 
frustrating to have to wait to take the NETA 
Level 3 exam, but those five years are important 
to become exposed to as many situations as 
possible.
My best advice: There is always that point 
in the project when the bulk of the work is 
done. Everyone is tired and ready to go home. 
Typically, one or two of the most experienced 
technicians are tasked with getting the plant 
back online. Inevitably, there will be something 
that does not work like it is supposed to. It is 
those moments where the greatest learning 
happens. Be in the hip pocket of those guys 
every chance you get. Avoid being the ones 
who are hanging out at the truck waiting to 
drive out the gate. Volunteer for every night, 
weekend, difficult job, and emergency call-out. 
That is where we begin to separate the good 
technicians from the great ones.
Second best advice: Do not violate the laws of 
physics to explain why something happened. 
The vast majority of electrical problems and 
failures are simple, and people try to make it 
way too complicated.
NW: Describe one of your best work days…
What happened?
Ramieh: My best day was actually a 
several-week-long project. It involved testing 
a 34-breaker metal-clad substation three 
times: once at the factory with the individual 
sections free standing in a warehouse, and the 
second time after the individuals sections were 
packaged into their e-houses. The final testing 
was after their installation onsite. The final 
installation was completed in seven long days 
involving dozens of men from the equipment 
manufacturer, relay manufacturer, electrical 
contractor, and our company. When the power 
to the plant was restored, the client and I stood 
outside the substation fence and enjoyed a cigar 
in celebration of a project well done. 
I also got a hug from a client. On a Friday 
around 4:00 PM, a small data center lost 
power, and their transfer switch didn’t 
transfer to emergency. I got the second call 
and was the first to arrive onsite. The facility 
manager (a young lady) was frantic and her 
boss (in New York City) was on the phone 
attempting to give directions. Following 
one of my rules (slow it down), I calmly 
assessed the situation and politely ignored 
the guy from New York City. Identifying the 
problem, I enabled the transfer switch, and 
the lights came back on at the data center. 
She was so overjoyed, she gave me my first 
and only customer hug for a job well done. 
NW: Share the story of a day that didn’t 
go as planned. How did you respond to the 
situation and what did you learn?
INSIGHTS & INSPIRATION
MOSE RAMIEH III: STAY INVOLVED TO STAY RELEVANT
TO THIS DAY, MOSE 
CLAIMS HE IS ON 
CALL 24/7/365 
TO ASSIST 
ANYONE WITH 
AN ELECTRICAL 
CHALLENGE. THAT 
INCLUDES YOU, 
SO BE SURE TO 
CONNECT WITH 
HIM ON THE 
SOCIALS.
Ramieh: I can think of several:
•	 A technician opened a switch under 
load causing damage to equipment and 
shutting down production. 
•	 A set of grounds on a 161 KV system 
was overlooked and closed in a live 
switch, causing significant damage and an 
extended outage.
•	 A technician re-energized a 
13.8 KV system, and a potential 
transformer drawer blew up because of 
condensing moisture in the room.
•	 A technician inadvertently left a tool in a 
breaker, and it exploded and caught fire. 
Some lessons were also learned from pain:
•	 Superior performance is often the result 
of prior bad experiences.
•	 In each of these situations, immediately 
stepping up and taking ownership for 
any contribution to the event would 
have created customer loyalty in my 
experience.
•	 When things go wrong, slow it down. 
Rushing to fix the situation can create 
additional issues and hazards. 
•	 Take care of the people involved. They are 
often scared and are beating themselves 
up for the mistakes they made. You aren’t 
helping by beating them more.
•	 Document the lessons learned and update 
procedures and processes to avoid these 
mistakes in the future.
NW: How important is ongoing training 
and professional development in this field? 
How do you keep updated on standards, 
safety, and new technologies?
Ramieh: It’s important to stay involved in 
the industry to stay relevant. Training and 
professional development is important, but it 
pales in the face of doing the work. The best 
technician will get rusty if they aren’t in the 
plants and substations doing the work. 
INSIGHTS & INSPIRATION
E A S T E R N H I G H V O L T A G E , I N C . AREAS OF EXPERTISE
PREVENTATIVE ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS
DATA CENTERS, COMMERICAL HIGH RISES,
CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTS & FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS
DEVELOPMENT & UPDATES OF ELECTRICAL
SINGLE LINE DIAGRAMS
EMERGENCY GENERATOR & PARALLELING
SWITCHGEAR TESTING 
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ENGINEERING STUDIES · ARC FLASH, SHORT
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12 • SUMMER 2022
Building relationships with individuals and 
companies that are developing the technology is 
the best way. New testing technology? Become 
an early adopter. Learn how to use it and be 
part of the group that refines the technology. 
Build your network so that when you come 
across a situation you are not familiar with, 
you can call on others for help. Avoid being an 
island. As tempting (and easy) as it has been 
for me to be a “cowboy” over the years, my best 
results have come from involving other smart 
individuals.
NW: What are some of the energy trends 
you believe will affect your work in the 
future (e.g., EVs, wind, solar, etc.)? How are 
you preparing for future changes that may be 
coming your way?
Ramieh: I’m of the opinion that I don’t 
much care how the power is produced (carbon 
fuels or renewable sources) — electrons are 
electrons. In my view, my function and our 
team’s function is to ensure that the power 
systems that distribute that power are safe 
and reliable. I am personally most curious 
about energy storage systems and how they 
could possibly change the future of power 
production.
I am currently working on using wearable, 
hands-free computer technology to see how 
that will empower the technicians of the future, 
including the availability of remote expert 
assistance and streamlined testing processes. 
NW: As an industry, what do you think 
should be the No. 1 priority over the next 
year? Where do we need to improve and grow 
as an industry and a profession?
Ramieh: The No. 1 priority is recruiting the 
next generation of technicians. The demand for 
our services is only increasing, and the supply 
of the men and women to do the work is not 
keeping up. As an industry, we must focus on 
hiring inexperienced people and training them 
quickly.performance is important. 
However, PTs/CCVTs do not undergo the type 
of duty that CTs undergo, and the performance 
of CTs has a much greater impact than those of 
PTs/CCVTs. During short circuit faults, the high 
current imposes extreme pressure on CTs. On the 
other hand, the voltage during short-circuit faults 
is depressed; therefore, the PTs do not experience 
any stress and continue performing as usual. 
Even with less stress imposed on PTs/CCVTs 
during short circuit, these devices are prone to 
damage due to other external and internal system 
conditions. Hence, they may not perform at the 
expected level of performance. PTs/CCVTs are as 
critical as CTs in ensuring correct operation of the 
relay protection scheme. 
The recommended tests include:
• Voltage ratio
• Polarity
100 • SUMMER 2022
maintenance interval for PTs/CCVTs is much 
longer than those for CTs. 
Communication Links
Communication is a critical link in 
several protection schemes. In high-speed 
communication-assisted protection schemes, 
communications between the two substations 
are connected by a transmission line. The 
relaying at each end depends on information 
received from the other end to operate correctly. 
The medium used for communication can be 
fiber optic, power line carrier, microwave, etc., 
with transmitters and receivers installed at each 
end. To test such relay schemes, utilities conduct 
end-to-end testing to ensure the scheme works 
appropriately, and this testing includes both the 
transmitters and receivers.
in a digital substation designed per the IEC 
61850 standard, the IEDs communicate with 
each other using GOOSE (generic object-
oriented substation event) and SV (sampled 
value) protocols. GOOSE/SV is a layer-2 
protocol for messages transported over Ethernet. 
In a conventional station, communication 
between IEDs is accomplished via point-to-
point wiring. Hence, communication assumes 
a much bigger role in a digital substation, and 
the relay protection scheme relies heavily on 
proper communication. Testing such protection 
schemes involves extensive debugging of the 
communication network.
CONCLUSION
Relay protection is a multifaceted scheme 
comprised of relays, breakers, CTs/PTs/CCVTs, 
batteries, and communication links. Effective 
relay protection is achieved only if all constituent 
components work together and perform within 
an acceptable level of performance. 
 
Ed Khan has been with Doble Engineer-
ing Company for 14 years working in var-
ious capacities including Product Manager 
for protection testing-related instruments. 
He is currently the Director of Protection 
R&D and Protection Training at Doble. 
In this capacity, he manages and con-
ducts the relay protection training program. Prior to Doble, 
Ed worked for GE, ABB, SEL, KEMA, and others in various 
capacities. He has 38 years of experience in system studies, pro-
tection applications, relay design, power plant design, teaching, 
and product management. He has thorough knowledge about 
product development, protection, harmonic analysis, harmon-
ic filter design, stability studies, real-time digital simulations, 
generator protection, and more. Ed has written several articles 
and has made presentations at several venues. He holds an MS 
in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University.
ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
THE KEY TO RELAY PROTECTION SUCCESS: COOPERATION
ORDER NOW
Visit NETAWORLD.ORG 
or call 888.300.6382
FEATURING NEW CONTENT
Arc Energy Reduction System Test
Partial Discharge Survey for 
Switchgear Updates
NEW
EDITION
2021
102 • SUMMER 2022
SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS ACTIVITY
ANSI/NETA STANDARDS UPDATE
ANSI/NETA ETT–2022 
REVISION COMPLETED
ANSI/NETA ETT, Standard for Certification of Electrical 
Testing Technicians, has completed an American National 
Standard revision process. ANSI administrative approval was 
granted January 7, 2022. The new edition was released at 
PowerTest in March 2022 and supersedes the 2018 edition. 
ANSI/NETA ETT establishes minimum requirements 
for qualifications, certification, training, and experience 
for the electrical testing technician. It provides criteria for 
documenting qualifications for certification and details the 
minimum qualifications for an independent and impartial 
certifying body to certify electrical testing technicians.
ANSI/NETA STANDARDS UPDATE
2021
STANDARD FORACCEPTANCE
TESTING SPECIFICATIONS
FOR ELECTRICAL POWER EQUIPMENT & SYSTEMS
ANSI/NETA ATS-2021
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STANDARDS
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STANDARD FOR
CERTIFICATIONOF ELECTRICAL TESTING TECHNICIANSFOR ELECTRICAL POWER EQUIPMENT & SYSTEMS
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STANDARDS
2020
2020
STANDARD FOR
ELECTRICAL
COMMISSIONING SPECIFICATIONS
FOR ELECTRICAL POWER EQUIPMENT & SYSTEMS
REVISION
COMPLETE
REVISION
SCHEDULED
NETAWorld • 103
SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS ACTIVITY
ANSI/NETA STANDARDS UPDATE
ANSI/NETA MTS–2019 
REVISION SCHEDULED FOR 2022 
A project intent notification was published in ANSI’s 
Standards Action on October 26, 2021, announcing the 
opening of a 45-day public comment period. The initial 
ballot is expected to begin in June of 2022. A second ballot 
is scheduled for issue in November of 2022. The revised 
edition of NETA MTS is scheduled to debut at PowerTest 
2023.
ANSI/NETA MTS contains specifications for suggested 
field tests and inspections to assess the suitability for 
continued service and reliability of electrical power 
equipment and systems. The purpose of these specifications 
is to assure that tested electrical equipment and systems 
are operational and within applicable standards and 
manufacturers’ tolerances, and that the equipment and 
systems are suitable for continued service. ANSI/NETA 
MTS–2019 revisions include online partial discharge 
survey for switchgear, frequency of power systems studies, 
frequency of maintenance matrix, and more. ANSI/NETA 
MTS–2019 is available for purchase at the NETA Bookstore 
at www.netaworld.org.
ANSI/NETA ECS–2020 
LATEST EDITION 
ANSI/NETA ECS, Standard for Electrical Commissioning 
of Electrical Power Equipment & Systems, 2020 Edition, 
completed the American National Standard revision process. 
ANSI administrative approval was received on September 9, 
2019. ANSI/NETA ECS–2020 supersedes the 2015 Edition.
ANSI/NETA ECS describes the systematic process of 
documenting and placing into service newly installed or 
retrofitted electrical power equipment and systems. This 
document shall be used in conjunction with the most recent 
edition of ANSI/NETA ATS, Standard for Acceptance Testing 
Specifications for Electrical Power Equipment & Systems. 
The individual electrical components shall be subjected to 
factory and field tests, as required, to validate the individual 
components. It is not the intent of these specifications 
to provide comprehensive details on the commissioning 
of mechanical equipment, mechanical instrumentation 
systems, and related components.
The ANSI/NETA ECS–2020 Edition includes updates 
to the commissioning process, as well as inspection and 
commissioning procedures as it relates to low- and medium-
voltage systems.
Voltage classes addressed include:
• Low-voltage systems (less than 1,000 volts)
• Medium-voltage systems (greater than 1,000 volts and 
less than 100,000 volts)
• High-voltage and extra-high-voltage systems (greater 
than 100 kV and less than 1,000 kV)
References:
• ASHRAE, ANSI/NETA ATS, NECA, NFPA 70E, 
OSHA, GSA Building Commissioning Guide
ANSI/NETA ATS–2021 
LATEST EDITION
ANSI/NETA ATS, Standard for Acceptance Testing 
Specifications for Electrical Power Equipment & Systems, 2021 
Edition, has completed an American National Standard 
revision process. ANSI administrative approvalwas granted 
September 18, 2020. The new edition was released in March 
2021 and supersedes the 2017 edition. 
ANSI/NETA ATS covers suggested field tests and 
inspections for assessing the suitability for initial 
energization of electrical power equipment and systems. 
The purpose of these specifications is to assure that tested 
electrical equipment and systems are operational, are within 
applicable standards and manufacturers’ tolerances, and are 
installed in accordance with design specifications. ANSI/
NETA ATS-2021 new content includes arc energy reduction 
system testing and an update to the partial discharge survey 
for switchgear. ANSI/NETA ATS-2021 is available for 
purchase at the NETA Bookstore at www.netaworld.org. 
PARTICIPATION
Comments and suggestions on any of the standards 
are always welcome and should be directed to NETA. 
To learn more about the NETA standards review 
and revision process, to purchase these standards, 
or to get involved, please visit www.netaworld.org or 
contact the NETA office at 888-300-6382.
104 • SUMMER 2022 NETA WELCOMES CFM SERVICES AS NETA ACCREDITED COMPANY
CFM Services, Inc. is an electrotechnical and 
engineering service firm formed by Christian 
Comtois, Stéphane Forgues, and Frédéric 
Morin to offer quality services at competitive 
prices. The young and dynamic company 
specializes in electrical services and electrical 
power. CFM offers maintenance services, 
testing, installation, repair and engineering 
in the areas of production, processing and 
distribution of low-, medium- and high-voltage 
electricity.
Since its debut, CFM Services has quickly 
earned a standout spot on the electrical and 
electrotechnical market with technicians and 
engineers who are qualified to test, diagnose, 
and repair your equipment with high-quality 
service. CFM’s instruments are  at the cutting 
edge of technology and are calibrated annually. 
CFM’s team of engineers  provides a wide 
range of engineering services and is available 
to complete the simplest projects to the most 
complex ones. 
“CFM Services is excited to achieve NETA 
accreditation because our existing and future 
customers require the structure, expertise, 
training, and documentation that NETA 
provides,” says Frédéric Morin, Vice President 
of Engineering. “While we believe we have 
these qualities as a company and as highly 
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NETA WELCOMES 
CFM SERVICES AS 
NETA ACCREDITED COMPANY
experienced field technicians, this is our 
opportunity to show that more concisely 
through NETA accreditation.”
“NETA recognizes the hard work NETA 
Accredited Companies like CFM Services have 
to put in to achieve this important milestone,” 
says Eric Beckman, PE, President of National 
Field Services, Inc. and current NETA 
President. “NETA Accredited Companies 
play a critical role in securing electrical power 
system safety and reliability for all, and NETA 
is a stronger organization due to the dedication 
of these companies to our industry.”
CFM Services Inc. 
845 St-Jacques Local 600 
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu 
Québec J3B 2N2 
514-316-8512 
info@cfmservices.ca
106 • SUMMER 2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT KEN BASSETT: 
‘NETA INSPIRED ME TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD’
In NETA circles, Ken Bassett winning his third Outstanding Achievement 
Award is business as usual. The Washington Commanders fan with a 
sense of adventure was honored again for the third time at PowerTest 
2022. A family-focused individual whose company includes many of his 
family members, his influence in NETA is far-reaching. 
“Ken is and has been one of the most dedicated 
individuals within NETA. He’s done so much 
for the organization, from strategic initiatives 
to growing membership,” says Eric Beckman, 
President of National Field Services and NETA 
President. “He holds a passion for the industry, 
and there’s no doubt NETA would not be 
where it is today without Ken’s contributions 
to the organization.”
Bassett, President of Potomac Testing, Inc., 
should have been the least surprised person 
when the winner was announced, but humor 
and humility are core features of his life. 
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT 
AWARD RECIPIENT KEN BASSETT: 
‘NETA INSPIRED ME TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD’
Ken Bassett Accepting the Outstanding Achievement Award.
NETAWorld • 107OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT KEN BASSETT: 
‘NETA INSPIRED ME TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD’
“My first reaction was ‘I’m going to have 
one hell of a bar tab,’” Bassett laughed. “But 
seriously, I was very surprised and caught off 
guard. Every year, we have many deserving 
individuals who support our association. To be 
recognized this year, or any year, is surely an 
honor.” 
Ron Widup, Vice Chairman of NETA’s Board 
of Directors and Senior Advisor for Technical 
Services for Shermco Industries says Bassett’s 
reputation for being one of the hardest-
working members of NETA as well as one of 
the hardest-working members of the electrical 
testing industry makes him a leading candidate 
for the award every year. 
Widup points to a favorite quote by Amy 
Poehler — actress, comedian, writer, producer, 
and director: Find a group of people who 
challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with 
them, and it will change your life. “Ken’s work 
with NETA has inspired and changed us — 
and that’s a good thing,” Widup says.
Ironically, Bassett says NETA inspired him to 
be a force for good. 
“Early on in my NETA career, I was fortunate 
enough to interact with some amazing folks,” 
Bassett says. “Those individuals represented 
the Association in a truly inspiring way. The 
Ken with Ron Widup and John White after 
another successful Member Review Committee 
meeting.
Ken with his daughters Crystal and Michelle, wife Jayne, and son Marshall hopping a plane to see 
Denali Mountain.
108 • SUMMER 2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT KEN BASSETT: 
‘NETA INSPIRED ME TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD’
meaningful work and accomplishments I have 
experienced with the Association are things 
they instilled in me as business-as-usual — the 
NETA way of thinking. 
“Mary Jordan, Charlie Blizard, Rod Hageman, 
and Al Peterson are some of the early 
relationships that influenced me extensively,” 
Bassett continues. “At that time, NETA was 
a smaller, scrappier association, and we had 
to fight hard for everything we created and 
accomplished. These folks helped inspire and 
create the work-hard/play-hard culture that still 
lives within NETA now. My continued belief 
in our organization stems from the people I 
have been fortunate enough to spend time 
with since we joined NETA in 1993. These 
past leaders had great vision and represented 
our association well.”
Bassett says that can-do attitude will be one 
of the most important things for NETA to 
hold onto in the coming years. “NETA has 
always been very mindful of its succession 
of leadership, which has provided the ability 
to maintain a high level of success over the 
years. Proper planning has enabled NETA to 
accomplish many goals over a long period of 
time,” he notes.
Like any organization or association, NETA 
must continue being mindful of what led to 
its successes and, at the same time, adapt and 
react to the industry it serves, Bassett says. 
“During my tenure, acceptance of the NETA 
standard has grown immensely, specifically 
by A&E firms and end users. Additionally, 
safety continues to be at the forefront of 
our industry. And as the industries we serve 
MEET KEN BASSETT
Bassett is President of Potomac Testing has 
a NETA Accredited Company with service 
centers located throughout the Mid-Atlantic 
region. Established in 1985, Potomac Testing, 
Inc. has earned its position as the Mid-Atlantic 
leader in comprehensive low- and medium-
voltage electrical equipment services including 
NETA acceptance and maintenance testing, 
planned and emergency field services, 
power quality and engineering studies, 
andretrofitting and refurbishing electrical 
equipment. Potomac Testing joined the TechPro 
Power Group family of companies in 2020.
Bassett has served on NETA’s Board of 
Directors since 1998. A past-President, he 
currently chairs the Membership Committee, 
co-chairs the Association Development Committee, and serves on the Nominating 
Committee, NAMO Committee, Promotions & Marketing Committee, Conference 
Committee, CTD Review Committee, and Finance Committee.
Bassett is a NETA Certified Test Technician with over 25 years of experience in the 
operation and maintenance of electrical power distribution systems.
NETAWorld • 109OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT KEN BASSETT: 
‘NETA INSPIRED ME TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD’
continue to expand, where NETA mainly 
supported industrial and commercial end 
users, NETA now has a very large presence 
within the utilities market, assisting them 
with their required maintenance and system 
upgrades.”
The strategic plan developed in 2019 was 
dedicated to supporting the Association’s 
growth, and Bassett’s focus on growing 
membership has allowed NETA to stay ahead 
of the ever-changing electrical testing industry.
“There is no argument that it takes many 
people with passion and a desire to succeed for 
an industry association like NETA to thrive, 
and Ken has been an inspiration to all of us 
as we work beside him,” says Ron Widup. 
“Having a business in the Washington, DC, 
metro area has also given Ken the unique ability 
to listen first and speak second. This allows him 
to get things done without weakening his — or 
NETA’s — position. That’s a special leadership 
talent that NETA has benefitted from many 
times through the years.”
“My belief in our organization stems from the 
people I have been fortunate enough to have 
spent time with,” says Bassett. “These past 
leaders had great vision and represented our 
association well.” 
Ken and family getting ready to launch at a hot-air balloon festival in Albuquerque.
Ken and Jayne cruising the strip during a NETA site visit in Dubai.
P O W E R T E S T 2 0 2 2 A W A R D R E C I P I E N T S
CONGRATULATIONS
JAMES R. WHITE ELECTRICAL SAFETY TRACK
Safety Performance and Corporate 
Profitability as a Contractor in the High 
Voltage Utility Sector
Ken Peterson
HAMPTON TEDDER TECHNICAL SERVICES
EQUIPMENT TRACK
Battery Health and Assessment through 
Electrical Testing
Volney Naranjo & Sanket Bolar
MEGGER
RELIABILITY TRACK
Challenges and Opportunities: How the 
Focus on Reliability Impacts the NETA 
Practitioner 
Alan Ross
ELECTRIC POWER RELIABILITY ALLIANCE
SALES & MANAGEMENT TRACK
Creating a Comprehensive Employee 
Development Program: A Case Study
Stephanie McLaughlin
HOOD PATTERSON & DEWAR
RENEWABLE ENERGY TRACK
Improving the Reliability of MV Cables 
through Testing & Diagnostic Techniques 
for Wind Farm Applications 
Jason Aaron & Charles Nybeck
MEGGER
BEST OVERALL PRESENTATION
Relay Panel Session
Drew Welton, Karl Zimmerman, 
Chasen Tedder, Lorne Gara, 
and Chris Werstiuk
THE JAMES R. WHITE SAFET Y AWARD 
The James White Family
ALLIANCE RECOGNITION AWARD
Drew Welton
I N T E L L I R E N T
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ken Bassett
P O TO M A C T E ST I N G
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112 • SUMMER 2022 ALLIANCE RECOGNITION AWARD HONOREE KNOWN FOR EXPERTISE AND TRAINING
If the name Drew Welton sounds familiar, it’s most likely because his 
technical presentations, including those at PowerTest, are some of the 
most well-regarded and well-attended.
That accolade combined with his renown 
for knowledge of substation maintenance 
testing made him the obvious choice for this 
year’s Alliance Recognition Award. The award 
honors an individual who has been a dedicated 
supporter of NETA and has also furthered the 
industry and inspired others.
Welton, Vice President of Sales and Business 
for intellirent, credits his success over the years 
to the incredible support of his family, friends, 
and colleagues.
“None of it would have been possible had I not 
had great support from my family, especially 
ALLIANCE RECOGNITION
AWARD HONOREE
KNOWN FOR EXPERTISE AND TRAINING
Drew Welton Accepting Alliance Recognition Award
NETAWorld • 113ALLIANCE RECOGNITION AWARD HONOREE KNOWN FOR EXPERTISE AND TRAINING
Stacey, my wife of 26 years,” he says. “This 
industry we work in can be very demanding 
in terms of time away from home and a 
commitment to often working long hours. 
My passion for the industry has always been a 
driving force, especially because of all the great 
people I’ve worked with.”
Among those treasured colleagues is Wayne 
Hartmann, who has known Welton for more 
than 30 years, worked with him in multiple 
capacities, and considers him a friend. 
“I have seen Drew grow in the industry and 
transcend the roles of student, practitioner, 
and now teacher,” says Hartmann, Solutions 
Growth Leader, North America, for GE Grid 
Automation. “He has embraced the power of 
education as a philosophy with his numerous 
papers, presentations, and training materials 
that address testing and commissioning of 
system protection and primary infrastructure.”
“We tag-teamed at Western Electric Institute’s 
Relay School for years, and it was enjoyable and 
a highlight of each year we taught there,” he says. 
“I was there with an in-depth professional in 
Drew, and the students, facilitators, and steering 
committee could all see that.”
Neil McCaw, President of intellirent, says 
Welton continues to exude that air of expertise 
combined with a willingness to help and share 
his knowledge. 
“Drew’s passion and commitment to this 
industry is unparalleled. He is deeply respected 
by his colleagues and customers and is someone 
who takes on challenges with optimism and a 
commitment to solving the problem,” McCaw 
says. “He is an amazing resource to customers 
and his fellow employees and a huge contributor 
in knowledge sharing in our field. The entire 
intellirent team is thrilled to congratulate him 
on this honor and achievement.”
Known for doing the work for work’s sake — 
not for recognition or praise — Welton was 
understandably surprised to hear his name 
announced at the presentation.
“It took me a while to realize what was 
happening, and I was wondering why my 
boss was videotaping the presentation,” 
he says. “These are all wonderful people, 
and the emotion of the moment was quite 
overwhelming.”
Much as the award was a surprise, Welton 
admits that his career in electrical testing was 
unexpected as well.“I really didn’t intend on working in this 
particular industry. I have a bachelor’s degree 
in business administration from a small college 
in Colorado and sold radio advertising as my 
first job,” he says. 
Drew and Stacey Welton
114 • SUMMER 2022 ALLIANCE RECOGNITION AWARD HONOREE KNOWN FOR EXPERTISE AND TRAINING
“When I finally took to materials management, 
I accepted a job with Beckwith Electric in 
inventory control. Then Vice President of 
Sales and Marketing Lew Roberson recognized 
I had a gift for learning quickly and a strong 
sales aptitude, so he provided me with the 
opportunity to move into inside sales,” Welton 
says. 
“It was then I had the fortunate opportunity 
to work for Charles ‘Chuck’ Mozina, who was 
instrumental in teaching me so much about 
protective relaying. What really helped me 
turn the corner was an opportunity to join 
OMICRON electronics in 1997, and over the 
next 20 years or so, I came to love this industry 
even more. There was so much to learn and 
experience and so many great people to learn 
from that I never stopped having fun.”
What Welton calls fun, intellirent’s Director of 
Inside Sales Jason Creese calls a true passion for 
and understanding of the industry as well as a 
drive to invest in it. 
“Drew’s commitment over his many years has 
contributed to so many great opportunities 
to learn, speak, and apply across the various 
avenues within our industry,” Creese says. 
“Drew is instrumental in our support of the 
industry. In addition to equipment knowledge, 
testing standards, and field application 
awareness, he provides necessary insight into 
up and coming technologies and training to 
MEET DREW WELTON
Welton is the Vice President of Sales and Business 
at intellirent, providing leadership to the sales teams 
and developing business opportunities. He has 
more than 25 years of experience in power system 
engineering focused mainly on sales and sales 
management for relays, controls, and primary and 
secondary test equipment.
He got his start in the industry with Beckwith Electric, 
then AREVA T&D before working almost 20 years 
with OMICRON. Drew is a 20-year Senior Member 
of IEEE-PES/IAS and an active member of the IEEE 
Transformers Committee. He has authored technical 
papers that have appeared in various technical 
journals, including NETA World. 
Welton received a bachelor’s degree in business 
administration and management from Fort Lewis 
College in Colorado. Today, he is highly regarded 
for his knowledge of substation maintenance testing 
and has conducted training sessions for substation 
technicians and engineers across North America. His 
technical sessions at PowerTest are highly regarded 
and some of the most well-attended.
NETAWorld • 115
JET Electrical Testing, LLC is a 24/7 full 
service testing company founded upon the 
premise of providing exceptional customer 
service and the most highly skilled 
technicians in the industry. The team of 
project managers, engineers, support staff, 
and field technicians form the cohesive 
team in which customers have relied on 
year after year. JET specializes in 
commissioning, preventative maintenance, 
equipment repair, apparatus testing, and 
emergency response/troubleshooting. 
Electrical system reliability is JET’s goal.
24/7/365 Emergency Services: 
609.285.2800
100 Lenox Drive, Lawrenceville NJ 08648
www.JETElectricalTesting.com
not only the team here at intellirent, but also 
to our customers.”
Indeed, whether it was his own career or in the 
training he provides, Welton says he always 
advises others in the industry — especially 
new or emerging professionals — to constantly 
push to learn and grow. 
“What was always important to me was helping 
others and being able to share what I have learned 
and experienced over the years. We often become 
so complacent in our day-to-day routines that 
new technologies designed to make our lives 
better get overlooked. Sometimes people are 
afraid to make changes or try new technologies 
— especially in the field of electrical testing,” 
he says. “Organizations such as NETA, IEEE-
PES/IAS, and others are continuously rewriting 
standards and providing expert knowledge, and 
we should be taking advantage of this. There is 
always something new to improve upon.”
It’s that drive for education, improvement, and 
growth that makes Welton special, Hartmann 
says. 
“Drew’s passion to pass on his knowledge and 
experience to others truly makes him an industry 
guy,” Hartmann says. “He’s the real deal.” 
REAL WORLD LEARNING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
Introducing NETA Series III Handbooks
We’ve got answers.
Discover page after page of comprehensive, component-specific, technical resources for 
training and reference purposes. Over 200 of the very best articles from NETA World 
Journal and technical presentations from NETA’s PowerTest conferences. 
To order, please visit netaworld.org or call 888.300.6382
NETAWorld • 117
Focused on generating powerful connections for the future, NETA’s 
PowerTest Conference returned on February 28–March 4, 2022, with 
more all-new content, attendee options, and networking opportunities 
than ever.
The PowerTest Conference is the premier 
electrical maintenance and safety conference. 
It is the largest annual gathering of NETA 
Accredited Company representatives and 
industry professionals and is supported by 
companies committed to safety, reliability, 
and quality across the electrical power systems 
industry.
The PowerTest 2022 agenda featured five 
days of educational and interactive sessions 
with an emphasis on shaping the future of the 
electrical power systems industry and recreating 
connections lost due to COVID. Electrical testing 
technicians, engineers, and managers from a cross-
section of industries were represented and actively 
engaged in making PowerTest 2022 a success. 
GENERATING POWERFUL 
CONNECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
POWERTEST 2022: GENERATING POWERFUL CONNECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
Luncheons Offered 
Opportunities for 
Networking
118 • SUMMER 2022 POWERTEST 2022: GENERATING POWERFUL CONNECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
“As organizations gradually open up their 
employee travel permissions in a post-pandemic 
world, we were proud to welcome our loyal 
and committed community to PowerTest 
2022,” says NETA Executive Director Missy 
Richard. “Attendees told us that the PowerTest 
participants this year were the right people in 
the right place at the right time. Connections 
were made that will advance careers and lead to 
new business.”
HIGHLIGHTS
2022 marked the first fully hybrid PowerTest, 
featuring expert sessions and seminars available 
in person at the Hyatt Regency Denver as 
well as via PowerTest TV, a virtual conference 
experience. And with on-demand content 
available through June 30, PowerTest 2022 is 
still more accessible than ever before: 
• 332 full conference attendees
• 29 detailed, 45-minute technical 
presentations by industry leaders 
• 16 in-depth, 4-hour seminars covering 
current topics and industry issues
• 65 Trade Show exhibitors
• More than 150 social passes for 
networking events
• 18 companies delivered presentations 
on the latest products and services at the 
New Product Forum
Attendees were excited to be back in person 
after an all-virtual event in 2021, and 
exhibitors appreciated the meaningful, focused 
conversations and strong leads.
 
 
 
 
 
 
50 Years of NETA 
2022 marks NETA’s 50-year anniversary, and 
PowerTest attendees joined in the celebration 
of how far the association and the industry 
have come and explored the possibilities of 
the next 50 years. Special events included 
a commemorative President’s Wall, all-new 
contests, giveaways, and more for in-person as 
well as virtual attendees. 
Keynote Speaker
Acclaimed author Robert Bryce kicked off 
PowerTest week with his keynote address. A 
Keynote Speaker Robert Bryce
NETAWorld • 119POWERTEST 2022: GENERATING POWERFUL CONNECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
passionateand engaging speaker, he is also 
a leading thinker on global energy, power 
systems, and innovation. Bryce’s sixth and 
latest book, A Question of Power: Electricity and 
the Wealth of Nations, was recently published, 
and he is the producer of a feature-length 
documentary, Juice: How Electricity Explains the 
World. Attendees applauded his presentation on 
energy’s impact around the world.
Monday Tracks
Monday’s sessions in six tracks were carefully 
selected and presented by leading experts in the 
field. Two new tracks, Sales & Management 
and Renewable Energy, focused on navigating 
today’s challenges and identifying tomorrow’s 
industry trends.
Trade Show
Tuesday afternoon’s PowerTest Trade Show, 
an industry favorite, featured 65 top-tier 
vendors dedicated to providing PowerTest 
attendees with actionable, real-world solutions 
to everyday challenges. With door prize 
giveaways, a complimentary lunch buffet, and 
over five hours to explore the latest and greatest 
products and services, the always-popular Trade 
Show had something for everyone.
PowerTest TV featured access to exclusive on-
demand online content tailored to the needs 
of electrical testing professionals as well as 
opportunities to earn CEUs and NETA CTD 
credits. 
Attendees used PowerTest TV as a supplement 
to in-person attendance or chose to participate 
completely virtually with 2022’s robust, 
easy-to-use platform. PowerTest TV’s virtual 
registration provided access to approximately 
30 hours (30 CTDs/3. 0 CEUs) worth of on-
demand content, and an addition bundle was 
available for access to an extra 18 hours (18 
CTDs/1.8 CEUs) of material.
NETA Exam Prep
The NETA Exam Prep Seminar at PowerTest 
was back by popular demand. Open to NETA 
Certified Technicians, this two-part seminar 
offered a review of exam materials and the 
ability to participate in the new NETA Practice 
Exam. Attendees developed their knowledge and 
boosted their exam confidence levels. 
Reliability Track Presentation by Ross Ignall of Dranetz
120 • SUMMER 2022 POWERTEST 2022: GENERATING POWERFUL CONNECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
NETA MEETINGS FEATURE 
PEER DISCUSSION AND 
LATEST NETA UPDATES
More than 120 NETA Accredited Company 
representatives, Alliance Partners, and 
Corporate Alliance participants gathered 
on Sunday, February 28, 2022, at the Hyatt 
Regency Denver for NETA’s 2022 Annual 
Member and Alliance Meetings. The annual 
meetings are held on the Sunday before 
PowerTest and are the traditional kickoff to the 
conference each year.
NETA Member Meeting
A gathering especially for representatives 
and technicians from NETA Accredited 
Companies, the NETA Member Meeting 
brought reports from all sides of the association. 
From updates on membership and strategic 
initiatives to a review of program plans for the 
coming year and recognition of volunteers and 
committee chairs, the meeting also included 
the nomination and election of officers. Newly 
elected officers include 1st Vice President Bob 
Shepard, Premier Power Maintenance; 2nd 
Vice President Dan Hook, CBS Field Services; 
and Secretary Chasen Tedder, Hampton 
Tedder Technical Services; Eric Beckman, 
National Field Services, continues as President 
for another year. Leif Hoegberg, Electrical 
Reliability Services, was elected to a three-year 
Board of Directors term, while Dan Hook, Eric 
Beckman, Chasen Tedder, and Dave Huffman, 
Power Systems Testing, were re-elected. 
NETA Member and Alliance 
Meeting
NETA Corporate Alliance and Alliance 
Partners were invited to join NETA Accredited 
Companies for the second half of the Member 
Meeting. Among other updates, participants 
heard reports on industry activity from NETA 
technical representatives.
Throughout PowerTest week, a series of special 
events delivered opportunities for attendees to 
network and lay the groundwork for future 
collaborations. For upcoming Alliance Partner 
events, watch your inbox for emails from 
NETA and look for notices in NETA World 
Journal. For additional information about the 
NETA Alliance Program or to enroll, visit 
www.netaworld.org/allianceprogram. 
SAVE THE DATE : 
POWERTEST 2023 IN ORLANDO
 
Join NETA and leading electrical power systems professionals at 
the next premier industry conference March 8–12, 2023, at Rosen 
Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. This year’s conference will look 
and feel a little different with an all-new date pattern (Wednesday–
Sunday), but attendees will still find the tailored content and 
valuable networking opportunities they’ve come to expect. Both 
in-person and virtual attendance options will be offered, and early 
bird registration is set to open September 1, 2022. Sponsorship 
and exhibitor opportunities are available for companies seeking 
leadership visibility at the event. NETA’s industry partners are 
encouraged to reserve exhibit space and confirm sponsorships as 
soon as possible. Inquiries should be directed to Laura McDonald 
at 269-488-6382 or lmcdonald@netaworld.org.
2023
NETAWorld • 121TECH QUIZ
A N S W E R S
No. 137
ANSWERS
1. a. Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA). OSHA’s 
mission is to ensure a safe and healthful 
environment by setting and enforcing 
standards and by providing training, 
outreach, education, and assistance. 
2. c. NFPA 70E. NFPA 70E, Standard 
for Electrical Safety in the Workplace 
helps companies and employees avoid 
workplace injuries and fatalities due 
to shock, electrocution, arc flash, and 
arc blast and assists in complying with 
OSHA 1910 Subpart S and OSHA 1926 
Subpart K. 
3. b. Safety briefing. A safety briefing is a 
tool to increase safety awareness among 
workers. It is used to discuss and share 
information regarding potential hazards 
and concerns.
4. c. Failure to identify or recognize 
hazards. OSHA states that one root 
cause of workplace injuries, illnesses, 
and incidents is the failure to identify or 
recognize hazards that are present or that 
could have been anticipated. A critical 
element of any effective health and safety 
program is a proactive, ongoing process to 
identify and assess hazards.
TECH QUIZ ANSWERS
5. d. All of the above. Electric shock, 
arc flash, and arc blast are all hazards 
associated with the use of electrical 
energy. Each one must be identified and 
then analyzed using a risk assessment.
6. b. Electrically safe working condition. 
All other answers detail hazard control 
methods, but only creating an electrically 
safe working condition eliminates 
the electrical hazards. An electrically 
safe condition is a state in which an 
electrical conductor or circuit part 
has been disconnected from energized 
parts, locked/tagged in accordance with 
established standards, tested to verify 
the absence of voltage and, if necessary, 
temporarily grounded for personnel 
protection. 
Virginia Balitski, CET, Manager – 
Training and Development has worked 
for Magna IV Engineering since 2006. 
Virginia started her career as a Field 
Service Technologist and achieved NETA 
Level 4 Senior Technician Certification. 
She has since dedicated her time to the 
advancement of training and safety in the electrical industry. 
Virginia is a Certified Engineering Technologist through 
ASET – The Association of Science & Engineering Technology 
Professionals of Alberta. Virginia is current Vice-Chair of the 
CSA Z462, Workplace Electrical Safety Technical Committee 
and is a member of the NFPA 70E, Electrical Safety in the 
Workplace Technical Committee. She was recently appointed 
to the NETA Board of Directors.
122 • SUMMER 2022 NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES
249th Engineer Battalion
249th EN BN S3 NCOIC
9450 Jackson Loop. Bldg. 1418
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060
(703) 805-9981
james.e.phillips180.mil@mail.mil
www.usace.army.mil/Home.aspx
249th Engineer Battalion, Alpha 
Company
1251 Pirowski Rd, Bldg 1407
Schofield Barracks, HI 96857
(808) 787-4604
ali.n.abubekr.mil@mail.mil
SFC Aldher Maldonado Serrano
249th Engineer Battalion, Bravo 
CompanyBldg 3-2631 Butner Rd
Fort Bragg, NC 28310-0001
(703) 853-3958
john.w.crosby.mil@mail.mil
SFC John Crosby
249th Engineer Battalion, Charlie 
Company
9410 Jackson Loop Bldg 1416
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5116
(703) 806-1078
william.s.maddox13.mil@mail.mil
SSG William Maddox
249th Engineer Battalion, HHC
9450 Jackson Loop Bldg 1416
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5147
(571) 515-0173
SSG Michael Hamilton
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
720 S Rochester Ste A
Ontario, CA 91761-8177
(301) 397-3500
abm.com/Electrical
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
6541 Meridien Dr
Suite 113
Raleigh, NC 27616
(919) 877-1008
brandon.davis@abm.com
abm.com/Electrical
Brandon Davis
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
2631 S. Roosevelt St
Tempe, AZ 85282
(602) 722-2423
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
3600 Woodpark Blvd Ste G
Charlotte, NC 28206-4210
(704) 273-6257
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
6940 Koll Center Pkwy Suite# 100
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(408) 466-6920
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
9800 E Geddes Ave Unit A-150
Englewood, CO 80112-9306
(303) 524-6560
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
3585 Corporate Court
San Diego, CA 92123-1844
(858) 754-7963
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
1005 Windward Ridge Pkwy
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 521-7550
abm.com/Electrical
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
4221 Freidrich Lane Suite 170
Austin, TX 78744
(210) 347-9481
ABM Electrical Power Services, LLC
11719 NE 95th St. Ste H
Vancouver, WA 98682
(360) 713-9513
Paul.McKinley@abm.com
www.ABM.com/Electrical
Paul McKinley
ABM Electrical Power Solutions
4390 Parliament Place
Suite S
Lanham, MD 20706
(240) 487-1900
ABM Electrical Power Solutions
3700 Commerce Dr # 901-903
Baltimore, MD 21227-1642
(410) 247-3300
www.abm.com
ABM Electrical Power Solutions
317 Commerce Park Drive
Cranberry Township, PA 16066-
6407
(724) 772-4638
christopher.smith@abm.com
Chris Smith - General Manager
ABM Electrical Power Solutions
814 Greenbrier Cir Ste E
Chesapeake, VA 23320-2643
(757) 364-6145
keone.castleberry@abm.com
www.abm.com
Keone Castleberry
ABM Electrical Power Solutions
1817 O’Brien Road
Columbus, OH 43228
(724) 772-4638
www.abm.com
www.abm.com
Absolute Testing Services, Inc.
8100 West Little York
Houston, TX 77040
(832) 467-4446
ap@absolutetesting.com
www.absolutetesting.com
Accessible Consulting Engineers, Inc.
1269 Pomona Rd Ste 111
Corona, CA 92882-7158
(951) 808-1040
info@acetesting.com
www.acetesting.com
Advanced Electrical Services
4999 - 43rd St. NE
Unit 143
Calgary, AB T2B 3N4
(403) 697-3747
accounting@aes-ab.com
Advanced Electrical Services Ltd.
9958 - 67 Ave
Edmonton, AB T6E 0P5
(403) 697-3747
www.aes-ab.com
www.aes-ab.com
Advanced Testing Systems
15 Trowbridge Dr
Bethel, CT 06801-2858
(203) 743-2001
pmaccarthy@advtest.com
www.advtest.com
Pat McCarthy
A&F Electrical Testing, Inc.
80 Lake Ave S Ste 10
Nesconset, NY 11767-1017
(631) 584-5625
kchilton@afelectricaltesting.com
www.afelectricaltesting.com
A&F Electrical Testing, Inc.
80 Broad St Fl 5
New York, NY 10004-2257
(631) 584-5625
afelectricaltesting@afelectricaltesting.com
www.afelectricaltesting.com
Florence Chilton
Alpha Relay and Protection Testing, LLC
2625 Overland Ave Unit A
Billings, MT 59102
(406) 671-7227
zfettig@arptco.com
www.arptco.com
Zeb Fettig
American Electrical Testing Co., LLC
25 Forbes Boulevard
Suite 1
Foxboro, MA 02035
(781) 821-0121
www.aetco.us
Jason Briggs
American Electrical Testing Co., LLC
5540 Memorial Rd
Allentown, PA 18104
(484) 538-2272
jmunley@aetco.us
www.aetco.us
American Electrical Testing Co., LLC
34 Clover Dr
South Windsor, CT 06074-2931
(860) 648-1013
jpoulin@aetco.us
www.aetco.us
Gerald Poulin
American Electrical Testing Co., LLC
76 Cain Dr
Brentwood, NY 11717-1265
(631) 617-5330
bfernandez@aetco.us
www.aetco.us
Billy Fernandez
American Electrical Testing Co., LLC
91 Fulton St., Unit 4
Boonton, NJ 07005-1060
(973) 316-1180
jsomol@aetco.us
www.aetco.us
Jeff Somol
AMP Quality Energy Services, LLC
352 Turney Ridge Rd
Somerville, AL 35670
(256) 513-8255
brian@ampqes.com
Brian Rodgers
AMP Quality Energy Services, LLC
41 Peabody Street
Nashville, TN 37210
(629) 213-4855
Nick Tunstill
Apparatus Testing and Engineering
11300 Sanders Dr Ste 29
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742-6822
(916) 853-6280
jcarr@apparatustesting.com
www.apparatustesting.com
Jerry Carr
Apparatus Testing and Engineering
7083 Commerce Cir Ste H
Pleasanton, CA 94588-8017
(916) 853-6280
jcarr@apparatustesting.com
www.apparatustesting.com
Jerry Carr
Applied Engineering Concepts
894 N Fair Oaks Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 389-2108
michel.c@aec-us.com
www.aec-us.com
Michel Castonguay
Applied Engineering Concepts
8160 Miramar Road
San Diego, CA 92126
(619) 822-1106
michel.c@aec-us.com
www.aec-us.com
Michel Castonguay
ARM CAMCO, LLC
667 Industrial Park Road
Ebensburg, PA 15931
(814) 472-7980
acct@armcamco.net
Sam Morello
NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES Setting the Standard
NETAWorld • 123NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES
NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES Setting the Standard
BEC Testing
50 Gazza Blvd
Farmingdale, NY 11735-1402
(631) 393-6800
ddevlin@banaelectric.com
www.bectesting.com
Blue Runner Switchgear Testing, LLC
924 Highway 98 East
Suite C-200
Destin, FL 32541
(270) 590-4974
cneitzel@bluerunnerswitchgear.com
www.bluerunnerswitchgear.com
Chris Neitzel
Burlington Electrical Testing Co., LLC
300 Cedar Ave
Croydon, PA 19021-6051
(215) 826-9400
waltc@betest.com
www.betest.com
Walter P. Cleary
Burlington Electrical Testing Co., LLC
846 Waterford Drive
Delran, NJ 08075
(609) 267-4126
Capitol Area Testing, Inc.
P.O. Box 259
Suite 614
Crownsville, MD 21032
(757) 650-0740
carl@capitolareatesting.com
www.capitolareatesting.com
Carl VanHooijdonk
CBS Field Services
14311 29th St E
Sumner, WA 98390-9690
(253) 891-1995
dhook@westernelectricalservices.com
www.westernelectricalservices.com
Dan Hook
CBS Field Services
12794 Currie Court
Livonia, MI 48150
(810) 720-2280
mramieh@powertechservices.com
www.powertechservices.com
CBS Field Services
5680 S 32nd St
Phoenix, AZ 85040-3832
(602) 426-1667
www.westernelectricalservices.com
www.westernelectricalservices.com
CBS Field Services
3676 W California Ave Ste C106
Salt Lake City, UT 84104-6533
(888) 395-2021
www.westernelectricalservices.com
www.westernelectricalservices.com
CBS Field Services
4510 NE 68th Dr Unit 122
Vancouver, WA 98661-1261
(888) 395-2021
www.westernelectricalservices.com
Jason Carlson
CBS Field Services
5505 Daniels St.
Chino, CA 91710
(602) 426-1667
Matt Wallace
CBS Field Services
620 Meadow Ln.
Los Alamos, NM 87547
(505) 469-1661
CBS Field Services
5385 Gateway Boulevard #19-21
Lakeland, FL 33811
(810) 720-2280
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
4040 Rev Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45232
(800) 434-0415
info@cepower.net
Jim Cialdea
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
11620 Crossroads Cir
Middle River, MD 21220-2874
(410) 344-0300
Peter Earlston
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
480 Cave Rd
Nashville, TN 37210-2302
(615) 882-9455
dave.mitchell@cepower.net
www.cepower.net
Dave Mitchell
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
4089 Landisville Rd.
Doylestown, PA 18902
(215) 364-5333
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
40 Washington St
Westborough, MA 01581-1088
(508) 881-3911
jim.cialdea@cepower.net
www.cepower.net
Jim Cialdea
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
9200 75th Avenue N
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
(877) 968-0281
jason.thompson@cepower.net
www.cepower.net
Cameron Dooley
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
72 Sanford Drive
Gorham, ME 04038
(800) 649-6314
mike.roach@cepower.net
www.cepower.net
Michael Roach
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
8490 Seward Rd.
Fairfield, OH 45011
(800) 434-0415
info@cepower.net
www.cepower.net
Jerry Daugherty
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
1803 Taylor Ave.
Louisville, KY 40213
(800) 434-0415
Eric.croner@cepower.net
www.cepower.net
Eric Croner
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
1200 W. West Maple Rd.
Walled Lake, MI 48390
(810) 229-6628
www.cepower.net
Ryan Wiegand
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
10840 Murdock Drive
Knoxville, TN 37932
(800) 434-0415
don.williams@cepower.netwww.cepower.net
Don Williams
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
3496 E. 83rd Place
Merrillville, IN 46410
(219) 942-2346
lucas.gallagher@cepower.net
www.cepower.net
Lucas Gallagher
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
1260 Industrial Park
Eveleth, MN 55734
(218) 744-4200
Joseph Peterson
CE Power Engineered Services, LLC
401 Independence Pkwy S
La Porte, TX 77571
(361) 443-7714
Dusty Nations
CE Power Solutions of Florida, LLC
3502 Riga Blvd., Suite C
Tampa, FL 33619
(866) 439-2992
robert.bordas@cepowersol.com
www.cepowersol.com
Robert Bordas
CE Power Solutions of Florida, LLC
3801 SW 47th Avenue Suite 505
Davie, FL 33314
(866) 439-2992
robert.bordas@cepowersol.com
www.cepowersol.com
Robert Bordas
CFM Services, Inc.
845 St-Jaques local 600
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC J3B 2N2
(514) 436-0052
frederic@cfmservices.ca
www.cfmservices.ca
Frederic Morin
Control Power Concepts
141 Quail Run Rd
Henderson, NV 89014
(702) 448-7833
jtravis@ctrlpwr.com
www.controlpowerconcepts.com
Dude Electrical Testing, LLC
145 Tower Drive, Unit 9
Burr Ridge, IL 60527-7840
(815) 293-3388
scott.dude@dudetesting.com
www.dudetesting.com
Scott Dude
Eastern High Voltage, Inc.
11A S Gold Dr
Robbinsville, NJ 08691-1685
(609) 890-8300
bobwilson@easternhighvoltage.com
www.easternhighvoltage.com
Robert Wilson
Electek Power Services, Inc.
870 Confederation Street
Sarnia, ON N7T2E5
(519) 383-0333
kgadsby@electek.ca
Kathy Gadsby
ELECT, P.C.
375 E. Third Street
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 365-9775
btyndall@elect-pc.com
www.elect-pc.com
Barry W. Tyndall
Electrical & Electronic Controls
6149 Hunter Rd
Ooltewah, TN 37363-8762
(423) 344-7666
eecontrols@comcast.net
Michael Hughes
Electrical Energy Experts, LLC
W129N10818 Washington Dr
Germantown, WI 53022-4446
(262) 255-5222
tim@electricalenergyexperts.com
www.electricalenergyexperts.com
Tim Casey
Electrical Energy Experts, LLC
815 Commerce Dr.
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(847) 875-5611
Michael Hanek
Electrical Engineering & Service Co., Inc.
289 Centre St.
Holbrook, MA 02343
(781) 767-9988
jcipolla@eescousa.com
www.eescousa.com
Joe Cipolla
Electrical Equipment Upgrading, Inc.
21 Telfair Pl
Savannah, GA 31415-9518
(912) 232-7402
kmiller@eeu-inc.com
www.eeu-inc.com
Kevin Miller
124 • SUMMER 2022 NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES
Electrical Reliability Services
610 Executive Campus Dr
Westerville, OH 43082-8870
(877) 468-6384
info@electricalreliability.com
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
5909 Sea Lion Pl Ste C
Carlsbad, CA 92010-6634
(858) 695-9551
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
1057 Doniphan Park Cir Ste A
El Paso, TX 79922-1329
(915) 587-9440
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
6900 Koll Center Pkwy Ste 415
Pleasanton, CA 94566-3119
(925) 485-3400
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
8500 Washington St NE Ste A6
Albuquerque, NM 87113-1861
(505) 822-0237
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
2275 Northwest Pkwy SE Ste 180
Marietta, GA 30067-9319
(770) 541-6600
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
12130 Mora Drive
Unit 1
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
(562) 236-9555
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
400 NW Capital Dr
Lees Summit, MO 64086-4723
(816) 525-7156
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
7100 Broadway Ste 7E
Denver, CO 80221-2900
(303) 427-8809
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
2222 W Valley Hwy N Ste 160
Auburn, WA 98001-1655
(253) 736-6010
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
221 E. Willis Road, Suite 3
Chandler, AZ 85286
(480) 966-4568
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
1380 Greg St. Ste. 216
Sparks, NV 89431-6070
(775) 746-4466
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
11000 Metro Pkwy Ste 30
Fort Myers, FL 33966-1244
(239) 693-7100
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
245 Hood Road
Sulphur, LA 70665-8747
(337) 583-2411
wayne.beaver@vertivco.com
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
9736 South Sandy Pkwy 500 West
Sandy, UT 84070
(801) 561-0987
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
6351 Hinson Street, Suite A
Las Vegas, NV 89118-6851
(702) 597-0020
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
36572 Luke Drive
Geismar, LA 70734
(225) 647-0732
www.electricalreliability.com
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
9636 Saint Vincent Ave Unit A
Shreveport, LA 71106-7127
(318) 869-4244
Electrical Reliability Services
1426 Sens Rd. Ste. #5
La Porte, TX 77571-9656
(281) 241-2800
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Reliability Services
9753 S. 140th Street, Suite 109
Omaha, NE 68138
(402) 861-9168
Electrical Reliability Services
190 E. Stacy Road
306 #374
Allen, TX 75002
(972) 788-0979
Electrical Reliability Services
4833 Berewick Town Ctr Drive
Ste E-207
Charlotte, NC 28278
(704) 583-4794
Electrical Reliability Services
324 S. Wilmington St.
Ste 299
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 807-0995
Electrical Reliability Services
8983 University Blvd
Ste. 104. #158
North Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 797-0514
Electrical Reliability Services
13720 Old St. Augustine Rd.
Ste. 8 #310
Jacksonville, FL 32258
(904) 292-9779
Electrical Reliability Services
4099 SE International Way Ste 201
Milwaukie, OR 97222-8853
(503) 653-6781
www.electricalreliability.com
Electrical Testing and Maintenance Corp.
3673 Cherry Rd Ste 101
Memphis, TN 38118-6313
(901) 566-5557
r.gregory@etmcorp.net
www.etmcorp.net
Ron Gregory
Electrical Testing, Inc.
2671 Cedartown Hwy SE
Rome, GA 30161-3894
(706) 234-7623
clifton@electricaltestinginc.com
www.electricaltestinginc.com
Electrical Testing Solutions
2909 Greenhill Ct
Oshkosh, WI 54904-9769
(920) 420-2986
tmachado@electricaltestingsolutions.com
www.electricaltestingsolutions.com/
Tito Machado
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
21 Millpark Ct
Maryland Heights, MO 63043-3536
(314) 890-9999
STL@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
James Vaughn
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
11211 E. Arapahoe Rd
Ste 108
Centennial, CO 80112
(720) 857-7273
den@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Mike Benitez
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
120 Turner Road
Salem, VA 24153-5120
(540) 375-0084
rnk@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Richard Kessler
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
1090 Montour West Ind Park
Coraopolis, PA 15108-9307
(412) 276-4559
PIT@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Jon Rapuk
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
4300 NE 34th Street
Kansas City, MO 64117
(816) 241-9990
KAN@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Rodrigo Lallana
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
1230 N Hobson St.
Suite 101
Gilbert, AZ 85233
(480) 633-1490
PHX@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Mike Benitez
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
915 Holt Ave Unit 9
Manchester, NH 03109-5606
(603) 657-7371
MAN@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Sam Bossee
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
3806 Caboose Place
Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 578-6424
ORL@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Justin McGinn
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
1129 E Highway 30
Gonzales, LA 70737-4759
(225) 644-0150
BAT@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Josh Galaz
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
684 Melrose Avenue
Nashville, TN 37211-3121
(615) 834-0999
NSH@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
James Vaughn
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
2888 Nationwide Parkway
2nd Floor
Brunswick, OH 44212
(330) 460-3706
CLE@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Jon Rapuk
NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES Setting the Standard
NETAWorld • 125NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES
NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES Setting the Standard
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
54 Eisenhower Lane North
Lombard, IL 60148
(815) 577-9515
CHI@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
George Bratkiv
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
1330 Industrial Blvd.
Suite 300
Sugar Land, TX 77478
(713) 644-5400
HOU@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
56 Bibber Pkwy # 1
Brunswick, ME 04011-7357
(207) 837-6527
BRU@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Sam Bosse
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
1361 Glory Rd
Green Bay, WI 54304-5640
(920) 632-7929
info@energisinc.com
www.energisinc.com
ElectricPower Systems, Inc.
11861 Longsdorf St
Riverview, MI 48193-4250
(734) 282-3311
DET@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Greg Eakins
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
4416 Anaheim Ave. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
(505) 792-7761
ABQ@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Mike Benitez
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
3209 Gresham Lake Rd.
Suite 155
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 322-2670
RAL@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Yigitcan Unludag
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
5850 Polaris Ave., Suite 1600
Las Vegas, NV 89118
(702) 815-1342
LAS@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Devin Hopkins
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
7925 Dunbrook Rd.
Suite G
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 566-6317
SAN@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Devin Hopkins
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
6679 Peachtree Industrial Dr.
Suite H
Norcross, GA 30092
(770) 416-0684
ATL@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Justin McGinn
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
306 Ashcake Road suite A
Ashland, VA 23005
(804) 526-6794
RIC@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Chris Price
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
7169 East 87th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46256
(317) 941-7502
IND@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Ben Hocking
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
7308 Aspen Lane North
Suite 160
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
(763) 315-3520
MIN@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Paul Cervantez
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
140 Lakefront Drive
Cockeysville, MD 21030
(443) 689-2220
WDC@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Jon Rapuk
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
783 N. Grove Rd Suite 101
Richardson, TX 75081
(214) 821-3311
Thomas Coon
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
11912 NE 95th St. Suite 306
Vancouver, WA 98682
(855) 459-4377
VAN@epsii.com
www.epsii.com
Anthony Asciutto
Electric Power Systems, Inc.
Padre Mariano
272, Of. 602
Providencia, Santiago, 
Electro Test, LLC
401 N. Cane Street
Unit A-4
Wahiawa, HI 96786
(808) 321-2028
bhelminen@electrotest.pro
www.electrotest.pro
Brad Helminen
Elemco Services, Inc.
228 Merrick Rd
Lynbrook, NY 11563-2622
(631) 589-6343
courtney@elemco.com
www.elemco.com
Courtney Gallo
EnerG Test, LLC
206 Gale Lane
Kennett Square, PA 19348
(484) 731-0200
info@energtest.com
www.energtest.com
EPS Technology
37 Ozick Dr.
Durham, CT 06422
(203) 679-0145
www.eps-technology.com
Sean Miller
ESR Electrical Services
425 S. 48th Street
Suite 114
Tempe, AZ 85281
(661) 644-2430
jacob@esreliability.com
Jacob Webb
ESR Electrical Services
5009 Pacific Hwy East, Unit 13
Fife, WA 98424
(800) 342-4560
chuck@esreliability.com
Charles Duncan III
ESR Electrical Services
3204 NE 13th Place
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(800) 342-4560
chuck@esreliability.com
Charles Duncan III
ESR Electrical Services
1737 NE 8th Street
Hermiston, OR 97838
(800) 342-4560
chuck@esreliability.com
Charles Duncan III
ESR Electrical Services
23421 Spicebush Terrace
Ashburn, VA 20148
(800) 342-4560
jacob@esreliability.com
Jacob Webb
Giga Electrical & Technical Services, Inc.
5926 E. Washington Boulevard
Commerce, CA 90040
(323) 255-5894
gigaelectrical@gmail.com
www.gigaelectrical-ca.com/
Hermin Machacon
Grubb Engineering, Inc.
2727 North Saint Mary’s St.
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 658-7250
rgrubb@grubbengineering.com
www.grubbengineering.com
Robert Grubb
Halco Testing Services
5773 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 933-9431
www.halcotestingservices.com
Don Genutis
Hampton Tedder Technical Services
4563 State St
Montclair, CA 91763-6129
(909) 628-1256
chasen.tedder@hamptontedder.com
www.httstesting.com
Chasen Tedder
Hampton Tedder Technical Services
3747 W Roanoke Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85009-1359
(480) 967-7765
www.httstesting.com
Linc McNitt
Hampton Tedder Technical Services
4113 Wagon Trail Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89118
(702) 452-9200
www.httstesting.com
Roger Cates
Harford Electrical Testing Co., Inc.
1108 Clayton Rd
Joppa, MD 21085-3409
(410) 679-4477
testing@harfordtesting.com
www.harfordtesting.com
High Energy Electrical Testing, Inc.
5042 Industrial Road, Unit D
Farmingdale, NJ 07727
(732) 938-2275
judylee@highenergyelectric.com
www.highenergyelectric.com
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
5100 Energy Dr
Dayton, OH 45414-3525
(937) 278-0811
www.hvmcorp.com
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
24 Walpole Park S
Walpole, MA 02081-2541
(508) 668-9205
www.hvmcorp.com
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
1052 Greenwood Springs Rd.
Suite E
Greenwood, IN 46143
(317) 322-2055
www.hvmcorp.com
www.hvmcorp.com
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
355 Vista Park Dr
Pittsburgh, PA 15205-1206
(412) 747-0550
www.hvmcorp.com
126 • SUMMER 2022 NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
8787 Tyler Blvd.
Mentor, OH 44061
(440) 951-2706
www.hvmcorp.com
www.hvmcorp.com
Greg Barlett
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
24371 Catherine Industrial Dr Ste 
207
Novi, MI 48375-2422
(248) 305-5596
www.hvmcorp.com
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
3000 S Calhoun Rd
New Berlin, WI 53151-3549
(262) 784-3660
www.hvmcorp.com
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
1 Penn Plaza
Suite 500
New York, NY 10119
(718) 239-0359
www.hvmcorp.com
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
29 Diana Court
Cheshire, CT 06410
(203) 949-2650
www.hvmcorp.com
www.hvmcorp.com
Peter Dobrowolski
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
941 Busse Rd
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-2400
(847) 640-0005
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
(410) 279-0798
www.hvmcorp.com
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
10704 Electron Drive
Louisville, KY 40299
(859) 371-5355
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
1 Penn Plaza, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10119
(718) 239-0359
New York Area Service Center
High Voltage Maintenance Corp.
Cincinnati/Kentucky
Area Satellite Office
(859) 371-5355
Hood Patterson & Dewar, Inc.
850 Center Way
Norcross, GA 30071
(770) 453-1415
info@hoodpd.com
https://hoodpd.com/
Brandon Sedgwick
Hood Patterson & Dewar, Inc.
15924 Midway Road
Addison, TX 75001
(214) 461-0760
info@hoodpd.com
https://hoodpd.com/
Hood Patterson & Dewar, Inc.
4511 Daly Dr.
Suite 1
Chantilly, VA 20151
(571) 299-6773
info@hoodpd.com
https://hoodpd.com/
Hood Patterson & Dewar, Inc.
1531 Hunt Club Blvd
Ste 200
Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 527-7084
info@hoodpd.com
https://hoodpd.com/
Industrial Electric Testing, Inc.
11321 Distribution Ave W
Jacksonville, FL 32256-2746
(904) 260-8378
gbenzenberg@bellsouth.net
www.industrialelectrictesting.com
Gary Benzenberg
Industrial Electric Testing, Inc.
201 NW 1st Ave
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009-4029
(954) 456-7020
gbenzenberg@bellsouth.net
www.industrialelectrictesting.com
Gary Benzenberg
Industrial Tests, Inc.
4021 Alvis Ct Ste 1
Rocklin, CA 95677-4031
(916) 296-1200
greg@indtest.com
www.industrialtests.com
Greg Poole
Infra-Red Building and Power Service, Inc.
152 Centre St
Holbrook, MA 02343-1011
(781) 767-0888
Tom.McDonald@infraredbps.com
www.infraredbps.com
Thomas McDonald Sr.
JET Electrical Testing, LLC
100 Lenox Drive
Suite 100
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
(609) 285-2800
jvasta@jetelectricaltesting.com
jetelectricaltesting.com
Joe Vasta
J.G. Electrical Testing Corporation
3092 Shafto Road
Suite 13
Tinton Falls, NJ 07753
(732) 217-1908
h.trinkowsky@jgelectricaltesting.com
www.jgelectricaltesting.com
KT Industries, Inc.
3203 Fletcher Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 255-7143
eric@kti.la
ktiengineering.com
Eric Vaca
Magna IV Engineering
1103 Parsons Rd. SW
Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2
(780) 462-3111
info@magnaiv.com
www.magnaiv.com
Virginia Balitski
Magna IV Engineering
141 Fox Cresent
Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0C1
(780) 791-3122
info@magnaiv.com
Ryan Morgan
Magna IV Engineering
3124 Millar Ave.
Saskatoon, SK S7K 5Y2
(306) 713-2167
info.saskatoon@magnaiv.com
Adam Jaques
Magna IV Engineering
96 Inverness Dr E Ste R
Englewood, CO 80112-5311
(303) 799-1273
info.denver@magnaiv.com
Kevin Halma
Magna IV Engineering
Avenida del Condor sur #590
Oficina 601
Huechuraba, 
8580676
+(56) -2-26552600 
info.santiago@magnaiv.com
Harvey Mendoza
Magna IV Engineering
Unit 110, 19188 94th Avenue
Surrey, BC V4N 4X8
(604) 421-8020
info.vancouver@magnaiv.com
Rob Caya
Magna IV Engineering
Suite 200, 688 Heritage Dr. SE
Calgary, AB T2H 1M6
(403) 723-0575
info.calgary@magnaiv.com
Morgan MacDonnell
Magna IV Engineering
4407 Halik Street Building E
Suite 300
Pearland, TX 77581
(346) 221-2165
info.houston@magnaiv.com
www.magnaiv.com
AricProskurniak
Magna IV Engineering
10947 92 Ave
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3J3
1.800.462.3157
info.grandeprairie@magnaiv.com
Matthew Britton
Magna IV Engineering
531 Coster St.
Bronx, NY 10474
(800) 462-3157
Info.newyork@magnaiv.com
Donald Orbin
Midwest Engineering Consultants, Ltd.
2500 36th Ave
Moline, IL 61265-6954
(309) 764-1561
m-moorehead@midwestengr.com
www.Midwestengr.com
Monte Moorehead
M&L Power Systems, Inc.
109 White Oak Ln Ste 82
Old Bridge, NJ 08857-1980
(732) 679-1800
milind@mlpower.com
www.mlpower.com
Milind Bagle
MTA Electrical Engineers
350 Pauma Place
Escondido, CA 92029
(760) 658-6098
tim@mtaee.com
Timothy G. Shaw
MUSE
1000 23rd Ave BLDG 1360
Port Hueneme, CA 93043
(805) 982-1178
waverly.r.holland@navy.mil
Waverly Holland
National Field Services
651 Franklin
Lewisville, TX 75057-2301
(972) 420-0157
eric.beckman@natlfield.com
www.natlfield.com
Eric Beckman
National Field Services
1760 W. Walker Street
Suite 100
League City, TX 77573
(800) 420-0157
don.haas@natlfield.com
Donald Haas
National Field Services
1405 United Drive
Suite 113-115
San Marcos, TX 78666
(800) 420-0157
matt.lacoss@natlfield.com
www.natlfield.com
Matthew LaCoss
NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES Setting the Standard
NETAWorld • 127NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES
NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES Setting the Standard
National Field Services
3711 Regulus Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89102
(888) 296-0625
www.natlfield.com
National Field Services
2900 Vassar St. #114
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 410-0430
tylor.pereza@natlfield.com
www.natlfield.com
Tylor Pereza
National Field Services
21818 S. Wiliminton Ave #409
Carson, CA 90810
(310) 549-5673
Butch Bustamante
Nationwide Electrical Testing, Inc.
6515 Bentley Ridge Drive
Cumming, GA 30040
(770) 667-1875
Shashi@N-E-T-Inc.com
www.n-e-t-inc.com
North Central Electric, Inc.
69 Midway Ave
Hulmeville, PA 19047-5827
(215) 945-7632
bjmessina@ncetest.com
www.ncetest.com
Robert Messina
Orbis Engineering Field Services Ltd.
#300, 9404 - 41st Ave.
Edmonton, AB T6E 6G8
(780) 988-1455
accountspayable@orbisengineering.net
www.orbisengineering.net
Orbis Engineering Field Services Ltd.
#228 - 18 Royal Vista Link NW
Calgary, AB T3R 0K4
(403) 374-0051
Amin Kassam
Orbis Engineering Field Services Ltd.
Badajoz #45, Piso 17
Las Condes
Santiago, 
+56 2 29402343
framos@orbisengineering.net
Felipe Ramos
Pace Technologies, Inc.
9604 - 41 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T6E 6G9
(780) 450-0404
www.pacetechnologies.com
Pace Technologies, Inc.
#10, 883 McCurdy Place
Kelowna, BC V1X 8C8
(250) 712-0091
Pace Technologies, Inc.
110-7685 56 St. SE
Calgary, AB T2C 5S7
(780) 450-0404
mcollins@pacetechologies.com
Micah Collins
Pacific Powertech Inc.
#110, 2071 Kingsway Ave.
Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 6N2
(604) 944-6697
okirby@pacificpowertech.ca
www.pacificpowertech.ca
Owen Kirby
Pacific Power Testing, Inc.
14280 Doolittle Dr
San Leandro, CA 94577-5542
(510) 351-8811
steve@pacificpowertesting.com
www.pacificpowertesting.com
Steve Emmert
Phasor Engineering
Sabaneta Industrial Park #216
Mercedita, PR 00715
(787) 844-9366 
rcastro@phasorinc.com
www.phasorinc.com
Rafael Castro
Potomac Testing
1610 Professional Blvd Ste A
Crofton, MD 21114-2051
(301) 352-1930
kbassett@potomactesting.com
www.potomactesting.com
Ken Bassett
Potomac Testing
1991 Woodslee Dr
Troy, MI 48083-2236
(248) 689-8980
ldetterman@northerntesting.com
www.northerntesting.com
Lyle Detterman
Potomac Testing
12342 Hancock St
Carmel, IN 46032-5807
(317) 853-6795
Potomac Testing
1130 MacArthur Rd.
Jeffersonville, OH 43128
Power Engineering Services, Inc.
9179 Shadow Creek Ln
Converse, TX 78109-2041
(210) 590-6214
pes@pe-svcs.com
www.pe-svcs.com
Power Engineering Services, Inc.
4041 Ellis Road Suite 100
Friendswood, TX 77546
(210) 590-4936
pes@pe-svcs.com
www.pe-svcs.com
Power Engineering Services, Inc.
1001 Doris Lane
Suite E
Cedar Park, TX 78613
(210) 590-4936
pes@pe-svcs.com
www.pe-svcs.com
Power Products & Solutions, LLC
6605 W WT Harris Blvd
Suite F
Charlotte, NC 28269
(704) 573-0420 x12
adis.talovic@powerproducts.biz
www.powerproducts.biz
Adis Talovic
Power Products & Solutions, LLC
13 Jenkins Ct
Mauldin, SC 29662-2414
(800) 328-7382
raymond.pesaturo@powerproducts.biz
www.powerproducts.biz
Raymond Pesaturo
Power Products & Solutions, LLC
9481 Industrial Center Dr.
Unit 5
Ladson, SC 29456
(844) 383-8617
www.powerproducts.biz
www.powerproducts.biz
Power Solutions Group, Ltd.
425 W Kerr Rd
Tipp City, OH 45371-2843
(937) 506-8444
bwilloughby@powersolutionsgroup.com
www.powersolutionsgroup.com
Barry Willoughby
Power Solutions Group, Ltd.
251 Outerbelt St.
Columbus, OH 43213
(614) 310-8018
sspohn@powersolutionsgroup.com
www.powersolutionsgroup.com
Power Solutions Group, Ltd.
5115 Old Greenville Highway
Liberty, SC 29657
(864) 540-8434
fcrawford@powersolutionsgroup.com
www.powersolutionsgroup.com
Anthony Crawford
Power Solutions Group, Ltd.
172 B-Industrial Dr.
Clarksville, TN 37040
(931) 572-8591
Chris Brown
PowerSouth Testing, LLC
130 W. Porter St.
Suite 120
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 901-0205
samuel.townsend@powersouthtesting.com
www.powersouthtesting.com
Power System Professionals, Inc.
429 Clinton Ave
Roseville, CA 95678
(866) 642-3129
jburmeister@powerpros.net
James Burmeister
Power Systems Testing Co.
4688 W Jennifer Ave Ste 108
Fresno, CA 93722-6418
(559) 275-2171 ext 15 
dave@pstcpower.com
www.powersystemstesting.com
David Huffman
Power Systems Testing Co.
600 S Grand Ave Ste 113
Santa Ana, CA 92705-4152
(714) 542-6089
www.powersystemstesting.com
Power Systems Testing Co.
6736 Preston Ave Ste E
Livermore, CA 94551-8521
(510) 783-5096
www.powersystemstesting.com
Power Test, Inc.
2220 Hwy 49
Harrisburg, NC 28075-7506
(704) 200-8311
rich@powertestinc.com
www.powertestinc.com
Praetorian Power Protection, LLC
PO Box 3366
Lynnwood, WA 98046
(206) 612-6367
MChislett@praetorianpower.com
Michael Chislett
Precision Testing Group
5475 Highway 86 Unit 1
Elizabeth, CO 80107-7451
(303) 621-2776
office@precisiontestinggroup.com
www.precisiontestinggroup.com
Premier Power Maintenance Corporation
4035 Championship Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46268
(317) 879-0660
bob.sheppard@premierpower.us
Premier Power Maintenance Corporation
2725 Jason Rd
Ashland, KY 41102-7756
(606) 929-5969
jay.milstead@premierpower.us
www.premierpowermaintenance.com
Jay Milstead
Premier Power Maintenance Corporation
3066 Finley Island Cir NW
Decatur, AL 35601-8800
(256) 355-1444
johnnie.mcclung@premierpower.us
www.premierpowermaintenance.com
Johnnie McClung
Premier Power Maintenance Corporation
7262 Kensington Rd.
Brighton, MI 48116
(517) 715-9997
steve.monte@premierpower.us
Steve Monte
128 • SUMMER 2022 NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES
Premier Power Maintenance Corporation
1901 Oakcrest Ave., Suite 6
Saint Paul, MN 55113
(612) 430-0209
Zac.mrdgenovich@premierpower.us
Zac Mrdjenovich
Premier Power Maintenance Corporation
119 Rochester Dr.
Louisville, KY 40214
(256) 200-6833
Jeremiah.evans@premierpower.us
Jeremiah Evans
QP Testing, LLC
15941 S Harlem
Suite 222
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(815) 724-2216
spioppo@qp-testing.com
Steve Pioppo
RESA Power Service
50613 Varsity Ct.
Wixom, MI 48393
(248) 313-6868
lester.mcmanaway@resapower.com
www.resapower.com
RESA Power Service
3890 Pheasant Ridge Dr. NE
Suite 170
Blaine, MN 55449
(763) 784-4040
Michael.mavetz@resapower.com
www.resapower.com
Mike Mavetz
RESA Power Service
6148 Tim Crews Rd
Macclenny, FL 32063-4036
(904) 653-1900
mark.chapman@resapower.com
Mark Chapman
RESA Power Service
4540 Boyce Parkway
Cleveland, OH 44224
(800) 264-1549
garth.paul@resapower.com
www.resapower.com
Garth Paul
RESA Power Service
19621 Solar Circle, 101
Parker, CO 80134
(303) 781-2560
john.leusink@resapower.com
John Leusink
RESA Power Service
40 Oliver Terrace
Shelton, CT 06484-5336
(800) 272-7711
adam.stevens@resapower.com
Adam Stevens
RESA Power Service
13837 Bettencourt Street
Cerritos, CA 90703
(800) 996-9975
bryan.larkin@resapower.com
www.resapower.com
Bryan Larkin
RESA Power Service
2300 Zanker Road
Suite D
San Jose, CA 95131(800) 576-7372
bryan.larkin@resapower.com
www.resapower.com
RESA Power Service
1401 Mercantile Court
Plant City, FL 33563
(813) 752-6550
matt.rice@resapower.com
www.resapower.com
Matt Rice
RESA Power Service
6268 Route 31
Cicero, NY 13039
(315) 699-5563
art.mcmanus@resapower.com
Art McManus
RESA Power Service
#181-1999 Savage Road,
Vancouver, BC V6V OA5
(604) 303-9770
ralph.schmoor@resapower.com
Ralph Schmoor
RESA Power Service
3190 Holmgren Way
Green Bay, WI 54304
(920) 639-0742
kevin.carr@resapower.com
Kevin Carr
RESA Power Service
4552 Happy Valley Rd
Cave City, KY 42127
(270) 670-7942
matthew.reynolds@resapower.com
Matthew Scott Reynolds
RESA Power Service
1010 N. Plaza Drive
Visalia, CA 93291
(559) 651-0141
sean.broderick@resapower.com
Sean Broderick
RESA Power Service
2443 W. 12th St. Suite #3
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 730-8871
brandon.carrasco@resapower.com
Brandon Carrasco
Rondar Inc.
333 Centennial Parkway North
Hamilton, ON L8E2X6
(905) 561-2808
rshaikh@rondar.com
www.rondar.com
Rajeel Shaikh
Rondar Inc.
9-160 Konrad Crescent
Markham, ON L3R9T9
(905) 943-7640
Saber Power Field Services, LLC
9841 Saber Power Ln
Rosharon, TX 77583-5188
(713) 222-9102
mtummins@saberpower.com
www.saberpowerfieldservices.com
Mitchell Tummins
Saber Power Field Services, LLC
9006 Western View
Helotes, TX 78023
(210) 444-9514
jnorsworthy@saberpower.com
www.saberpowerfieldservices.com
Jacob Norsworthy
Saber Power Field Services, LLC
1908 Lone Star Rd. Suite A-D
Mansfield, TX 76063
(682) 518-3676
wosborne@saberpower.com
www.saberpowerfieldservices.com
Wesley Osborne
Saber Power Field Services, LLC
433 Sun Belt Dr. Suite C
Corpus Christi, TX 78408
(361) 452-1695
jnorsworthy@saberpower.com
www.saberpowerfieldservices.com
John Norsworthy
Saber Power Field Services, LLC
6097 Old Jefferson Hwy
Geismar, LA 70734
(877) 912-9102
colin.bamber@saberpower.com
www.saberpowerfieldservices.com
Colin Bamber
Saber Power Field Services, LLC
9672 IH-10
Orange, TX 77632
(346) 335-7011
wosborne@saberpower.com
www.saberpowerfieldservices.com
Wesley Osborne
Saber Power Field Services, LLC
2611 S. County Road 1206
Midland, TX 79706
(877) 912-9102
jnorsworthy@saberpower.com
Jacob Norsworthy
Scott Testing, Inc.
245 Whitehead Rd
Hamilton, NJ 08619
(609) 689-3400
rsorbello@scotttesting.com
www.scotttesting.com
Russ Sorbello
Sentinel Field Services, LLC
7517 E Pine St
Tulsa, OK 74115-5729
(918) 359-0350
vigneshpn@sentfs.com
www.sentfs.com
Vignesh Palanichamy
Shermco Industries
2425 E Pioneer Dr
Irving, TX 75061-8919
(972) 793-5523
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
112 Industrial Drive
Minooka, IL 60447-9557
(815) 467-5577
info@shermco.com
Shermco Industries
233 Faithfull Cr.
Saskatoon, SK S7K 8H7
(306) 955-8131
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
2231 E Jones Ave Ste A
Phoenix, AZ 85040-1475
(602) 438-7500
info@shermco.com
Shermco Industries
1711 Hawkeye Dr.
Hiawatha, IA 52233
(319) 377-3377
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
1705 Hur Industrial Blvd
Cedar Park, TX 78613-7229
(512) 267-4800
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
7015-8 St NE
Calgary, AB T2E 8A2
(403) 769-9300
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
5145 Beaver Dr
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 265-3377
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
4510 South 86th East Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74145
(918) 234-2300
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
1375 Church Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R2X 2T7
(204) 925-4022
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
1033 Kearns Crescent
RM of Sherwood, SK S4K 0A2
(306) 949-8131
Shermco Industries
33002 FM 2004
Angleton, TX 77515-8157
(979) 848-1406
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES Setting the Standard
NETAWorld • 129NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES
NETA ACCREDITED COMPANIES Setting the Standard
Shermco Industries
1355 Central Parkway S #700
San Antonio, TX 78232
(210) 392-9175
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
3731 - 98 Street
Edmonton, AB T6E 5N2
(780) 436-8831
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
417 Commerce Street
Tallmadge, OH 44278
(614) 836-8556
info@shermco.com
Shermco Industries
3807 S Sam Houston Pkwy W
Houston, TX 77053
(281) 835-3633
info@shermco.com
Shermco Industries
7050 S.109th Ave
La Vista, NE 68128
(402) 933-8988
info@shermco.com
Shermco Industries
1301 Hailey St.
Sweetwater, TX 79556
(325) 236-9900
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
2901 Turtle Creek Dr.
Port Arthur, TX 77642
(409) 853-4316
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
5145 NW Beaver Dr.
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 265-3377
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
998 E. Berwood Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55110
(651) 484-5533
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
37666 Amrhein Rd
Livonia, MI 48150
(734) 469-4050
Shermco Industries
2080 West Kenny Drive
Gonzales, LA 70737
(225) 647-9301
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
7136 Weddington Rd #128
Concord, NC 28027
(910) 568-1053
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
9475 Old Hwy 43
Creola, AL 36525
(251) 679-3224
info@shermco.com
Shermco Industries
5211 Linbar Dr. Suite 507
Nashville, TN 37211
(615) 928-1182
info@shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Shermco Industries
#307-2999 Underhill Ave
Burnaby, BC V5A 3C2
(972) 793-5523
Brad Wager
Shermco Industries
1411 Twin Oaks Street
Wichita Falls, TX 76302
(972) 793-5523
Trey Ingram
Shermco Industries
11800 Jordy Rd.
Midland, TX 79707
(972) 793-5523
Trey Ingram
Shermco Industries
6551 S Revere Parkway
Suite 275
Centennial, CO 80111
(877) 456-1342
www.shermco.com
www.shermco.com
Sigma Six Solutions, Inc.
2200 W Valley Hwy N Ste 100
Auburn, WA 98001-1654
(253) 333-9730
jwhite@sigmasix.com
www.sigmasix.com
John White
Sigma Six Solutions, Inc.
www.sigmasix.com
Quincy, WA 98848
(253) 333-9730
Chris Morgan
Southern New England Electrical Testing, 
LLC
3 Buel St Ste 4
Wallingford, CT 06492-2395
(203) 269-8778
www.sneet.org
www.sneet.org
John Stratton
Star Electrical Services & General 
Supplies, Inc.
PO Box 814
Las Piedras, PR 00771
(787) 716-0925
ahernandez@starelectricalpr.com
www.starelectricalpr.com
Aberlardo Hernandez
Taifa Engineering Ltd.
9734-27 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T6N 1B2
(780) 405-4608
fsteyn@taifaengineering.com
Taurus Power & Controls, Inc.
9999 SW Avery St
Tualatin, OR 97062-9517
(503) 692-9004
powertest@tauruspower.com
www.tauruspower.com
Rob Bulfinch
Taurus Power & Controls, Inc.
8714 South 222nd St. STE A
Kent, WA 98031
(425) 656-4170
powertest@tauruspower.com
www.taruspower.com
TAW Technical Field Services, Inc.
5070 Swindell Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810-7804
(863) 686-5667
www.tawinc.com
Tidal Power Services, LLC
4211 Chance Ln
Rosharon, TX 77583-4384
(281) 710-9150
monty.janak@tidalpowerservices.com
www.tidalpowerservices.com
Monty Janak
Tidal Power Services, LLC
8184 Highway 44 Ste 105
Gonzales, LA 70737-8183
(225) 644-8170
darryn.kimbroug@tpsgse.com
www.tidalpowerservices.com
Darryn Kimbrough
Tidal Power Services, LLC
1056 Mosswood Dr
Sulphur, LA 70665-9508
(337) 558-5457
rich.mcbride@tidalpowerservices.com
www.tidalpowerservices.com
Rich McBride
Tidal Power Services, LLC
1806 Delmar Drive
Victoria, TX 77901
(281) 710-9150
kelly.grahmann@tps03.com
Kelly Grahmann
Titan Quality Power Services, LLC
1501 S Dobson Street
Burleson, TX 76028
(866) 918-4826
www.titanqps.com
Titan Quality Power Services, LLC
7630 Ikes Tree Drive
Spring, TX 77389
(281) 826-3781
Titan Quality Power Services, LLC
7000 Meany Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93308
(661) 589-0400
Tony Demaria Electric, Inc.
131 W F St
Wilmington, CA 90744-5533
(310) 816-3130
neno@tdeinc.com
www.tdeinc.com
Neno Pasic
US Army Prime Power School
Bldg 12630, Flw 28
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473
(253) 380-0194
brandon.s.sheppard.mil@mail.mil
SSG Brandon Sheppard
Utilities Instrumentation Service, Inc.
2290 Bishop Cir E
Dexter, MI 48130-1564
(734) 424-1200
gary.walls@UIScorp.com
www.uiscorp.com
Gary Walls
Utilities Instrumentation Service - Ohio, LLC
998 Dimco Way
Centerville, OH 45458
(937) 439-9660
www.uiscorp.com
www.uiscorp.comNW: Is there anything else you’d like to 
share?
Ramieh: The Internet of Things (IOT): 
The technology exists today that virtually 
every power system failure can be predicted 
or prevented. The best part is that most of 
this technology can be implemented on legacy 
systems. What gets in the way is the cost and 
a lingering perception that so long as the lights 
are on, there isn’t a problem. The cost still 
outweighs the benefit for many facilities.
This task of reflecting on my career (life) has 
brought a great deal of gratitude and thanks 
to mind. I am so thankful to have the support 
of Dusti, my wife of 25 years. Her amazing 
strength and resilience kept our family together 
through the rough patches. Thankful that our 
grown young men are finding their path into 
adulthood. Thankful for the opportunity that 
my father provided for us to work and grow 
together. Thankful for all the electricians, 
technicians, and engineers who worked with 
me, trained me, challenged me, and coached me 
over the years. Finally, I’m thankful for all the 
friendships that I have built in this industry. So 
many wonderful peers, partners, and customers. 
I am blessed in so many ways. Thank you all. 
INSIGHTS & INSPIRATION
MOSE RAMIEH III: STAY INVOLVED TO STAY RELEVANT
WANT TO TELL YOUR 
STORY?
NETA World is looking for technicians, 
emerging leaders, and industry thought 
leaders to be featured in our Insight 
& Inspiration department. If you know 
someone who would make a great 
interview — or if you would like to be 
interviewed yourself — please contact 
Carla Kalogeridis at ckalogeridis@
netaworld.org.
“We have all drunk from wells we did not dig;
We have been warmed by fires we did not build;
We have sat in the shade of trees we did not plant;
We are where we are because of what someone 
else did.”
www.shermco.com l 888-SHERMCO
The largest NETA Accredited technical group 
in the industry, that never compromises safety.
One Line. One Company.
As North America’s largest independent electrical testing company, our 
most important Company core value should come as no surprise: assuring 
the safety of our people and our customer’s people. First and foremost.
Our service technicians are NETA-certified and trained to comply and 
understand electrical safety standards and regulations such as OSHA, 
NFPA 70E, CSA Z462, and other international guidelines. Our entire 
staff including technicians, engineers, administrators and management is 
involved and responsible for the safety of our co-workers, our customers, 
our contractors as well as our friends and families.
Our expertise goes well beyond that of most service companies. From 
new construction to maintenance services, acceptance testing and 
commissioning to power studies and rotating machinery service and repair, 
if it’s in the electrical power system, up and down the line, Shermco does it.
14 • SUMMER 2022 SYNC CHECK SUPERVISION
BY STEVE TURNER, Arizona Public Service – Generation System Protection
The purpose of the sync check function (25) is to ensure that the voltage 
magnitude, phase angle, and frequency of the generator (VX) and the 
utility system (VS) are within a set of acceptable limits before the generator 
is synchronized with the system via closing the circuit breaker that 
connects them (Figure 1).
An improper sync can result in electrical and 
mechanical transients that damage the prime 
mover (for example, turbine), generator, GSU, 
and other vital power system components. 
Therefore, some users opt to externally 
supervise the sync check. 
This article describes an application that uses 
two external relays to supervise the main sync 
check. Figure 2 shows the output contact 
arrangement for this scheme.
• R1 is the sync check output from the first 
supervisory relay.
• R2 is the sync check output from the 
second supervisory relay.
SYNC CHECK
SUPERVISION
RELAY COLUMN
Figure 1: Sync Check Application Diagram 
Generator
52X
13.8 kV
PTRS
PTRX
A to B
R1
R2
25
a
c b
E25X Synchronism Check Enable
Y Select: Y, N
25VLOX Voltage Window - Low Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00104.00
25VHIX Voltage Window - High Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00127.00
25VDIFX Maximum Voltage Difference (%)
Range = 1.0 to 15.0, OFFS. 1
25RCFX Voltage Ratio Correction Factor
Range = 0.500 to 2.0001.000
GENV+ Generator Voltage High Required
Select: Y, NN
25SLO Minimum Slip Fequency (Hz)
Range = -1.00 to 0.990.00
25SHI Maximum Slip Frequency (Hz)
Range = -0.99 to 1.000.10
25ANG 1X Maximum Angle 1 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8010
25ANG2X Maximum Angle 2 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8030
CANGLE Target Close Angle (degrees)
Range = -15 to 15-3
SYNCPX Synchronism Check Phase (VABX, VBCX, VCAX or deg lag VABX)
Select: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, VABX, VBCX, VCAXVBCX
TCLOSDX Breaker Close Time for Angle Compensation (milliseconds)
Range = 1 to 1000, OFF83
Synchronism Check Elements
Phase Angle Limit: 0 90 (Degree)10
Upper Voltage Limit: 60 140 (V)127
Lower Voltage Limit: 40 120 (V)104
Sync Check Delay: 1 8160 (Cycles)1
Delta Voltage: 1.0 50.0 (V)5.8
Delta Frequency: 0.001 0.500 (Hz)0.100
+
–
Setting
25VHIX
filter|VS|
|VSf|
|Vpxc|
|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
Setting
25VDIFX
Relay
Word
Bits
59VPX
59VSX
GENVHI
GENVLO
VDIFX
25VCDB
VENX 1
Settings
25VLOX
BSYNCHX
GENV+ = Y
25VDIFX•0.80
GENV+ = Y
Vpxc = 25RCFX•VP (where 25RCFX is the setting and VP is determined by SYNCPX setting).
Setting
VDIFX
25VDIFX = OFF
59VPX
59VSX
BSYNCHX
SELOGIC
Setting
3.0
CYC
0
NETAWorld • 15SYNC CHECK SUPERVISION
• 25 is the output from the sync check 
relay. 
All three must close simultaneously to allow a 
sync check.
R1 SETTINGS
Figure 3 shows the settings chosen for R1.
R2 SETTINGS
Figure 4 shows the settings chosen for R2. 
These settings correspond directly to R1; 
however, it does not provide as much control. 
Therefore, R1 must be set to match R2.
COMMISSIONING 
ANALYSIS
 
Voltage Magnitude
The scheme was a live system tested to ensure 
it will work properly during synchronization. 
Figure 5, Figure 6, and Figure 7 show the 
measured voltage during these tests. VAB is 
the generator potential while VX is the system 
potential. Review of Figures 5 through 7 shows 
that the magnitudes of VAB and VX are almost 
identical (that is, matched).
Originally, R1 was set so that a sync was only 
allowed when the generator potential magnitude 
was greater than the system. However, R2 does 
not provide this functionality if the generator 
potential magnitude is greater than the real 
power flows out of the machine into the system, 
which prevents motoring on startup.
RELAY COLUMN
Generator
52X
13.8 kV
PTRS
PTRX
A to B
R1
R2
25
a
c b
E25X Synchronism Check Enable
Y Select: Y, N
25VLOX Voltage Window - Low Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00104.00
25VHIX Voltage Window - High Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00127.00
25VDIFX Maximum Voltage Difference (%)
Range = 1.0 to 15.0, OFFS. 1
25RCFX Voltage Ratio Correction Factor
Range = 0.500 to 2.0001.000
GENV+ Generator Voltage High Required
Select: Y, NN
25SLO Minimum Slip Fequency (Hz)
Range = -1.00 to 0.990.00
25SHI Maximum Slip Frequency (Hz)
Range = -0.99 to 1.000.10
25ANG 1X Maximum Angle 1 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8010
25ANG2X Maximum Angle 2 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8030
CANGLE Target Close Angle (degrees)
Range = -15 to 15-3
SYNCPX Synchronism Check Phase (VABX, VBCX, VCAX or deg lag VABX)
Select: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, VABX, VBCX, VCAXVBCX
TCLOSDX Breaker Close Time for Angle Compensation (milliseconds)
Range = 1 to 1000, OFF83
Synchronism Check Elements
Phase Angle Limit: 0 90 (Degree)10
Upper Voltage Limit: 60 140 (V)127
Lower Voltage Limit: 40 120 (V)104
Sync Check Delay: 1 8160 (Cycles)1
Delta Voltage: 1.0 50.0 (V)5.8
Delta Frequency: 0.001 0.500 (Hz)0.100
+
–
Setting
25VHIX
filter|VS|Utility Service Corporation
PO Box 1471
Huntsville, AL 35807
(256) 837-8400
apeterson@utilserv.com
www.utilserv.com
Alan D. Peterson
VISTAM, Inc.
2375 Walnut Ave
Signal Hill, CA 90755
(562) 912-7779
ulyses@vistam.com
130 • SUMMER 2022 ADVERTISERS
INDEPENDENT NETA 
ACCREDITED COMPANIES
Absolute Testing Services Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
American Electrical Testing Co., LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Apparatus Testing and Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Burlington Electrical Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Eastern High Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Electrical Energy Experts, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Elemco Services Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
EnerG Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Industrial Electric Testing, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
JET Electrical Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
North Central Electric, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Potomac Testing, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Power Products & Solutions, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Power Systems Testing Co.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Scott Testing Inc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Shermco Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Taurus Power & Controls Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Tony Demaria Electric, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
ADVERTISERS
MANUFACTURERS AND 
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS 
AEMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Aero Tech Laboratories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
BCS Switchgear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Belyea Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Bullock Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Doble Engineering Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Doble Engineering Company, Phenix Technologies . . . . . . . . . . 111
e-Hazard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
ETI Precision  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
HV Diagnostics, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
High Voltage Electric Service Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
High Voltage, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
HV Technologies Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Intellirent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover
National Switchgear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
NETA ANSI/NETA ATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
NETA Handbook Series III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
NETA PowerTest 2022 Call for Exhibitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
NETA PowerTest 2023 Call for Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
NETA PowerTest 2023 Save the Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
OMICRON electronics Corp, USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover
Protec Equipment Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Raytech USA Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Back Cover
Sertec Relay Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Team UIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Technitrol, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Thyritronics, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Utility Relay Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
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AD22008-TESTRANO600-NETA-8,5x11-ENU.indd 1 2022-05-06 08:54:32|VSf|
|Vpxc|
|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
Setting
25VDIFX
Relay
Word
Bits
59VPX
59VSX
GENVHI
GENVLO
VDIFX
25VCDB
VENX 1
Settings
25VLOX
BSYNCHX
GENV+ = Y
25VDIFX•0.80
GENV+ = Y
Vpxc = 25RCFX•VP (where 25RCFX is the setting and VP is determined by SYNCPX setting).
Setting
VDIFX
25VDIFX = OFF
59VPX
59VSX
BSYNCHX
SELOGIC
Setting
3.0
CYC
0
Generator
52X
13.8 kV
PTRS
PTRX
A to B
R1
R2
25
a
c b
E25X Synchronism Check Enable
Y Select: Y, N
25VLOX Voltage Window - Low Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00104.00
25VHIX Voltage Window - High Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00127.00
25VDIFX Maximum Voltage Difference (%)
Range = 1.0 to 15.0, OFFS. 1
25RCFX Voltage Ratio Correction Factor
Range = 0.500 to 2.0001.000
GENV+ Generator Voltage High Required
Select: Y, NN
25SLO Minimum Slip Fequency (Hz)
Range = -1.00 to 0.990.00
25SHI Maximum Slip Frequency (Hz)
Range = -0.99 to 1.000.10
25ANG 1X Maximum Angle 1 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8010
25ANG2X Maximum Angle 2 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8030
CANGLE Target Close Angle (degrees)
Range = -15 to 15-3
SYNCPX Synchronism Check Phase (VABX, VBCX, VCAX or deg lag VABX)
Select: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, VABX, VBCX, VCAXVBCX
TCLOSDX Breaker Close Time for Angle Compensation (milliseconds)
Range = 1 to 1000, OFF83
Synchronism Check Elements
Phase Angle Limit: 0 90 (Degree)10
Upper Voltage Limit: 60 140 (V)127
Lower Voltage Limit: 40 120 (V)104
Sync Check Delay: 1 8160 (Cycles)1
Delta Voltage: 1.0 50.0 (V)5.8
Delta Frequency: 0.001 0.500 (Hz)0.100
+
–
Setting
25VHIX
filter|VS|
|VSf|
|Vpxc|
|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
Setting
25VDIFX
Relay
Word
Bits
59VPX
59VSX
GENVHI
GENVLO
VDIFX
25VCDB
VENX 1
Settings
25VLOX
BSYNCHX
GENV+ = Y
25VDIFX•0.80
GENV+ = Y
Vpxc = 25RCFX•VP (where 25RCFX is the setting and VP is determined by SYNCPX setting).
Setting
VDIFX
25VDIFX = OFF
59VPX
59VSX
BSYNCHX
SELOGIC
Setting
3.0
CYC
0
Generator
52X
13.8 kV
PTRS
PTRX
A to B
R1
R2
25
a
c b
E25X Synchronism Check Enable
Y Select: Y, N
25VLOX Voltage Window - Low Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00104.00
25VHIX Voltage Window - High Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00127.00
25VDIFX Maximum Voltage Difference (%)
Range = 1.0 to 15.0, OFFS. 1
25RCFX Voltage Ratio Correction Factor
Range = 0.500 to 2.0001.000
GENV+ Generator Voltage High Required
Select: Y, NN
25SLO Minimum Slip Fequency (Hz)
Range = -1.00 to 0.990.00
25SHI Maximum Slip Frequency (Hz)
Range = -0.99 to 1.000.10
25ANG 1X Maximum Angle 1 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8010
25ANG2X Maximum Angle 2 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8030
CANGLE Target Close Angle (degrees)
Range = -15 to 15-3
SYNCPX Synchronism Check Phase (VABX, VBCX, VCAX or deg lag VABX)
Select: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, VABX, VBCX, VCAXVBCX
TCLOSDX Breaker Close Time for Angle Compensation (milliseconds)
Range = 1 to 1000, OFF83
Synchronism Check Elements
Phase Angle Limit: 0 90 (Degree)10
Upper Voltage Limit: 60 140 (V)127
Lower Voltage Limit: 40 120 (V)104
Sync Check Delay: 1 8160 (Cycles)1
Delta Voltage: 1.0 50.0 (V)5.8
Delta Frequency: 0.001 0.500 (Hz)0.100
+
–
Setting
25VHIX
filter|VS|
|VSf|
|Vpxc|
|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
Setting
25VDIFX
Relay
Word
Bits
59VPX
59VSX
GENVHI
GENVLO
VDIFX
25VCDB
VENX 1
Settings
25VLOX
BSYNCHX
GENV+ = Y
25VDIFX•0.80
GENV+ = Y
Vpxc = 25RCFX•VP (where 25RCFX is the setting and VP is determined by SYNCPX setting).
Setting
VDIFX
25VDIFX = OFF
59VPX
59VSX
BSYNCHX
SELOGIC
Setting
3.0
CYC
0
Figure 2: Double Supervision
Figure 3: R1 Settings 
E25X := Y # ENABLE SYNC CHECK FUNCTION
25VLOX := 104 V # LOW VOLTAGE THRESHOLD
25VHIX := 127 V # HIGH VOLTAGE THRESHOLD
25VDIFX := 5.1% # MAXIMUM VOLTAGE DIFFERENCE
GENV+ := N # GENERATOR VOLTAGE HIGH REQUIRED
25SLO := 0.00 # MINIMUM SLIP FREQUENCY (Hz)
25SHI := 0.10 Hz # MAXIMUM SLIP FREQUENCY
25ANG1X := 10 degrees # MAXIMUM ANGLE 1
TCLOSDX := 83 ms # BREAKER CLOSE TIME (milliseconds)
Figure 4: R2 Settings
16 • SUMMER 2022
Figure 8 shows the voltage comparison 
(VDIF and VENX) logic for R1. The voltage 
difference logic includes the GENV+ input 
and that this must be true for at least three 
cycles before VENX asserts and enables the 
angle comparison calculation. Therefore, 
25AX1, 25AX2, and 25C cannot assert if 
VENX is not true. As previously noted, R2 
does not have this logic, so this functionality 
was lost.
SYNC CHECK SUPERVISION
RELAY COLUMN
Figure 5: COMTRADE Record 1
Figure 6: COMTRADE Record 2
Figure 7: COMTRADE Record 3
NETAWorld • 17SYNC CHECK SUPERVISION
RELAY COLUMN
Generator
52X
13.8 kV
PTRS
PTRX
A to B
R1
R2
25
a
c b
E25X Synchronism Check Enable
Y Select: Y, N
25VLOX Voltage Window - Low Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00104.00
25VHIX Voltage Window - High Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00127.00
25VDIFX Maximum Voltage Difference (%)
Range = 1.0 to 15.0, OFFS. 1
25RCFX Voltage Ratio Correction Factor
Range = 0.500 to 2.0001.000
GENV+ Generator Voltage High Required
Select: Y, NN
25SLO Minimum Slip Fequency (Hz)
Range = -1.00 to 0.990.00
25SHI Maximum Slip Frequency (Hz)
Range = -0.99 to 1.000.10
25ANG 1X Maximum Angle 1 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8010
25ANG2X Maximum Angle 2 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8030
CANGLE Target Close Angle (degrees)
Range = -15 to 15-3
SYNCPX Synchronism Check Phase (VABX, VBCX, VCAX or deg lag VABX)
Select: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, VABX, VBCX, VCAXVBCX
TCLOSDX Breaker Close Time for Angle Compensation (milliseconds)
Range = 1 to 1000, OFF83
Synchronism Check Elements
Phase Angle Limit: 0 90 (Degree)10
Upper Voltage Limit: 60 140 (V)127
Lower Voltage Limit: 40 120 (V)104
Sync Check Delay: 1 8160 (Cycles)1
Delta Voltage: 1.0 50.0 (V)5.8
Delta Frequency: 0.001 0.500 (Hz)0.100
+
–
Setting
25VHIX
filter|VS|
|VSf|
|Vpxc|
|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
Setting
25VDIFX
Relay
Word
Bits
59VPX
59VSX
GENVHI
GENVLO
VDIFX
25VCDB
VENX 1
Settings
25VLOX
BSYNCHX
GENV+ = Y
25VDIFX•0.80
GENV+ = Y
Vpxc = 25RCFX•VP (where 25RCFX is the setting and VP is determined by SYNCPX setting).
Setting
VDIFX
25VDIFX = OFF
59VPX
59VSX
BSYNCHX
SELOGIC
Setting
3.0
CYC
0
Generator
52X
13.8 kV
PTRS
PTRX
A to B
R1
R2
25
a
c b
E25X Synchronism Check Enable
Y Select: Y, N
25VLOX Voltage Window - Low Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00104.00
25VHIX Voltage Window - High Threshold (volts)
Range = 0.00 to 300.00127.00
25VDIFX Maximum Voltage Difference (%)
Range = 1.0 to 15.0, OFFS. 1
25RCFX Voltage Ratio Correction Factor
Range = 0.500 to 2.0001.000
GENV+ Generator Voltage High Required
Select: Y, NN
25SLO Minimum Slip Fequency (Hz)
Range = -1.00 to 0.990.00
25SHI Maximum Slip Frequency (Hz)
Range = -0.99 to 1.000.10
25ANG 1X Maximum Angle 1 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8010
25ANG2X Maximum Angle 2 (degrees)
Range = 0 to 8030
CANGLE Target Close Angle (degrees)
Range = -15 to 15-3
SYNCPX Synchronism Check Phase (VABX, VBCX, VCAX or deg lag VABX)
Select: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, VABX, VBCX, VCAXVBCX
TCLOSDX Breaker Close Time for Angle Compensation (milliseconds)
Range = 1 to 1000, OFF83
Synchronism Check Elements
Phase Angle Limit: 0 90 (Degree)10
Upper Voltage Limit: 60 140 (V)127
Lower Voltage Limit: 40 120 (V)104
Sync Check Delay: 1 8160 (Cycles)1
Delta Voltage: 1.0 50.0 (V)5.8
Delta Frequency: 0.001 0.500 (Hz)0.100
+
–
Setting
25VHIX
filter|VS|
|VSf|
|Vpxc|
|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–
+
–|(1-VPXc∕VSf)|•100%
Setting
25VDIFX
Relay
Word
Bits
59VPX
59VSX
GENVHI
GENVLO
VDIFX
25VCDB
VENX 1
Settings
25VLOX
BSYNCHX
GENV+ = Y
25VDIFX•0.80
GENV+ = Y
Vpxc = 25RCFX•VP (where 25RCFX is the settingand VP is determined by SYNCPX setting).
Setting
VDIFX
25VDIFX = OFF
59VPX
59VSX
BSYNCHX
SELOGIC
Setting
3.0
CYC
0
Figure 8a: R1 Logic
Figure 8b: R1 Logic
18 • SUMMER 2022
Slip Frequency
We can estimate the slip frequency by measuring 
the time (period) between zero crossings.
System frequency = 1/0.016667 = 59.999 Hz 
(Figure 9)
Generator frequency = 1/ 0.016648 = 60.067 
Hz (Figure 10)
Therefore, the slip frequency is 60.067 – 
59.999 = 0.068 Hz.
SUMMARY
Using two different relays to supervise 
sync check means that some of the overall 
functionality is lost since they do not 
completely duplicate each other. For example, 
SYNC CHECK SUPERVISION
INDUSTRY TOPICS
the GENV+ setting originally blocked closing 
since the voltages are matched, so this function 
had to be disabled. Matching settings results 
in much more consistent performance between 
the two relays. 
Steve Turner is in charge of system protection 
for the Fossil Generation Department 
at Arizona Public Service Company in 
Phoenix. Steve worked as a consultant for 
two years, and held positions at Beckwith 
Electric Company, GEC Alstom, SEL, and 
Duke Energy, where he developed the first 
patent for double-ended fault location on overhead high-voltage 
transmission lines and was in charge of maintenance standards 
in the transmission department for protective relaying. Steve has 
BSEE and MSEE degrees from Virginia Tech University. Steve is 
an IEEE Senior Member and a member of the IEEE PSRC, and 
has presented at numerous conferences.
Figure 9: System Frequency
Figure 10: Generator Frequency
Absolute con�dence. Every time.
Toll Free 1+ (855)767-4446
8100 West Little York | Houston, Texas 77040
Email: Alan Postiglione | apost@absolutetesting.com | www.absolutetesting.com
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industries also look to us for high demand services such as start-up commissioning, maintenance testing, 
shut-down and turnarounds, and breaker shop repair. Get started today.
20 • SUMMER 2022 IMPROVING SAFETY IN THE FIELD
BY MATT EAKINS, Advanced Electrical Services, Ltd.
Becoming a great company doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it is about 
small, incremental steps as we progress down the road of becoming 
better and better at what we do and how we do it. 
This is the most critical as it relates to our safety 
processes and safety culture. It is important to 
note that the first step in making a situation 
safer is to engineer the hazard out of it; the last 
step is to use PPE. 
Technology also plays a huge role, but at 
the end of the day, it is often an individual’s 
decisions and actions that lead to an incident. 
Unfortunately, humans will make mistakes 
regardless of how many processes, procedures, 
and rules companies implement. These 
mistakes can lead to damaged equipment and 
injury to the individual or someone else. So, 
what can we do?
One tool we use is to put a giant red or yellow 
flag figuratively and literally in front of people’s 
faces. Human performance improvement 
(HPI) methods are a way of alerting someone 
regardless of whether they are an inexperienced 
junior technician or a senior technician who 
may have become complacent to the fact that a 
step must be taken before moving forward with 
a task. HPIs help with common hazards from 
slips, trips, and falls all the way to catastrophic 
incidents such as leaving ground chains applied 
during energization or working on a live 
current transformer (CT) circuit. 
The goal of this discussion is to share some best 
practices from the field and provide the reader 
with the opportunity to think critically about 
using HPIs within their organization as a way 
to continually improve safety and efficiency.
BARRIERS
The first example is a high-voltage substation 
where the team is following required safe work 
methods by, among other steps, installing 
barriers (Figure 1 and Figure 2) in places where 
live CTs and in-service protections are energized. 
This physical barrier allows technicians to easily 
flag the location where the work is to take 
place by covering nearby modules, racks, etc. 
This greatly reduces the chance of technicians 
mistakenly working on modules that are outside 
the work zone or isolations. It also minimizes 
the likelihood of opening live CT secondaries, 
IMPROVING 
SAFETY 
 FIELD
IN THE FIELD
I N 
T H E
NETAWorld • 21IMPROVING SAFETY IN THE FIELD
which can cause serious injury or death as well as 
major damage to equipment and systems. 
All CT circuits in the uncovered modules are 
verified for zero current prior to work starting. 
In addition to assuring personnel safety, it 
reduces the chance of tripping any in-service 
equipment as these modules are covered up 
(Figure 3), and improves efficiency as the work 
locations are obvious and clearly marked. The 
absence of voltage and current can be verified 
based on isolations including guarantee of 
isolation (GOI), clearance, and lockout, and 
live terminals can be flagged or taped off. This 
must remain consistent throughout the work.
When work must be performed on flagged 
racks, these methods remind technicians that 
terminals must be checked for voltage and 
current since this has not previously been 
verified. Unfortunately, there have been too 
many incidents where a technician or electrician 
is exposed to an arc flash or electric shock from 
working in the wrong location after a lunch 
IN THE FIELD
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/MATEJMO
Figure 1: Front of Protection and Control 
Racks in a High-Voltage Substation
Figure 2: Rear of Protection and Control 
Racks in a High-Voltage Substation
22 • SUMMER 2022
break, shift change, or days off. HPI steps like 
this are critical to continuous improvement 
within a safety system, and we must make it a 
priority to reduce or eliminate this hazard. 
VEHICLE HAZARDS
One of the biggest causes of workplace injuries is 
slips, trips, and falls, which can occur more often 
when exiting vehicles during inclement weather. 
At the same time, crashes and collisions while 
driving, regardless of the industry, continue 
to be a leading cause of injuries. To address 
these issues, we have implemented an HPI for 
360-degree vehicle walk-arounds (Figure 4) 
to be completed when entering and exiting a 
vehicle. The goal is simple but critical: Reduce 
slips when entering and exiting, make sure the 
vehicle is safe to drive, and ensure no one will be 
hurt when the vehicle moves. 
Yellow steering-wheel covers (Figure 4) with a 
message remind our drivers to always use three 
points of contact when entering or exiting the 
vehicles. To ensure safety for those around our 
vehicles, drivers are reminded to do a complete 
360-degree walk-around before operating the 
vehicle. Additional precautions could include 
placing a cover on the passenger-side mirror 
as a reminder to walk around the vehicle. To 
supplement the walk-around process, our 
team uses a safety app to complete an online 
checklist that documents and submits their 
findings for future review and audits. 
HPI AND NETA
Where can HPIs be used in the NETA service 
world? 
•	 Remove ground chains prior to 
energization.
•	 Record “as left” and “as found” settings of 
relays and breakers during a maintenance 
turnaround.
•	 Remove and re-terminate leads, i.e., 
remove transformer leads for testing.
•	 Erect red flags or physical barriers in front 
of equipment that may still be energized 
during maintenance.
OTHER HAZARDS
What other hazards or injuries can HPIs 
address? A great starting point would be to look 
at what could have stopped an incident or near 
IMPROVING SAFETY IN THE FIELD
IN THE FIELD
Figure 3: Before and After a Protection & Control Relay Upgrade Project
Figure 4: Steering-Wheel Cover
miss from occurringand implement an HPI so 
it does not happen again. Additionally, it may 
make sense for your organization to start with 
the most common workplace incidences:
•	 Slips, trips, and falls
•	 Muscle strains
•	 Repetitive strains
•	 Crashes and collisions
•	 Cuts and lacerations
•	 Inhaling toxic fumes
•	 Exposure to loud noise
•	 Walking into objects
In fiscal year 2020 (October 1, 2019, through 
September 30, 2020), these 10 OSHA standards 
were cited most frequently: 
 1. Fall Protection, Construction 29 CFR 
1926.501, www.osha.gov/fall-protection.
 2. Hazard Communication Standard, 
General Industry 29 CFR 1910.1200, 
www.osha.gov/hazcom. 
IN THE FIELD
 3. Respiratory Protection, General 
Industry 29 CFR 1910.134, 
www.osha.gov/respiratory-protection.
 4. Scaffolding, General Requirements, 
Construction 29 CFR 1926.451, 
www.osha.gov/scaffolding.
 5. Ladders, Construction 29 CFR 
1926.1053, www.osha.gov/fall-protection. 
 6. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/
Tagout), General Industry 29 CFR 
1910.147, www.osha.gov/control-
hazardous-energy. 
 7. Powered Industrial Trucks, General 
Industry 29 CFR 1910.178, www.osha.
gov/powered-industrial-trucks. 
 8. Fall Protection, Training Requirements 29 
CFR 1926.503, www.osha.gov/fall-
protection.
 9. Eye and Face Protection 29 CFR 
1926.102, www.osha.gov/eye-face-protection.
 10. Machinery and Machine Guarding, 
General Requirements 29 CFR 1910.212, 
www.osha.gov/machine-guarding.
Editor’s Note: Watch for OSHA’s 2021 report 
soon after April 1, 2022.
CONCLUSION
Human performance improvements can be a 
great auditing tool. It can be difficult during 
a site safety audit to know, for example, 
whether the crew knew whether equipment 
was energized or not energized. However, if 
an energized area should have been covered 
and it was not, you have a red flag that more 
training is required. In the case of an HPI like 
the steering wheel cover, it is either on or off. 
Whether the HPI is a traditional barrier or a 
visual reminder, the intent is to force a critical 
step in the sequence of events. The goal of this 
forced step is to break the chain of events that 
might have led to an incident. In addition 
to creating a safer company, HPIs can also 
contribute to making it more profitable. 
REFERENCES
[1] Work Safety Blog. “10 of the Most 
Common Workplace Accidents and 
Injuries,” Accessed at 10 of the Most 
Common Workplace Accidents and Injuries | 
Work Safety Blog (blog4safety.com).
[2] OSHA. “Top 10 Most Frequently Cited 
OSHA Standards Violated in FY2020.” 
Available at www.osha.gov/data/commonstats.
Matt Eakins is the Technical Services 
Manager at Advanced Electrical Services 
Ltd. He has 12-plus years of experience 
testing and commissioning in the industrial 
and utility sectors of Western Canada. 
Matt is a NETA Level 3 Technician and 
an ASET CET who studied electronics 
engineering at the RCC Institute of Technology (Concord, 
Ontario) as well as electrical techniques at Loyalist College 
(Bellville, Ontario). Matt began his career with AES in 2009; 
he is now responsible for managing medium- to large-scale 
electrical commissioning and maintenance projects for AES’s 
many clients across Western Canada.
IN THE FIELD
 
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NETAWorld • 27PERFORMING PERSONNEL AUDITS
SAFETY CORNER
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BY PAUL CHAMBERLAIN, American Electrical Testing Co. LLC
They are called many things — observations, audits, assessments — 
but they are all intended to accomplish the same task: Evaluate the 
people in the field performing the task at hand. Generally, you observe 
an employee doing a task, then audit or assess whether performance of 
the task meets expectation. 
These inspections can be performed by any level 
within a company and should be performed on all 
levels. Some companies hire a third-party entity 
to ensure the inspections remain completely 
impartial. However, in most cases, companies 
choose to have a manager or a member of the 
supervisory team conduct the inspection of their 
field personnel. If this is the case, it is a wise idea 
to set up some standards, such as frequency, for 
the inspection and have a verification done by a 
third party or safety manager. 
While the main intent of these inspections 
is to ascertain several things, not everyone is 
aware of the potential benefits to the company. 
A check sheet should be used to facilitate the 
observation and to help gain the most out of 
it. Let’s review the aspects of a proper field 
observation and the benefits any company, 
employee, and manager could gain from it.
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT
First, let’s review some important items that 
should be verified when a manager is observing 
a crew performing work in the field. OSHA 
requires lockout/tagout procedures to be 
verified annually. Under 29 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1910.147, OSHA specifically states 
PERFORMING 
PERSONNEL 
AUDITS
28 • SUMMER 2022 PERFORMING PERSONNEL AUDITS
SAFETY CORNER
when this verification is required, although the 
requirements may be slightly different across 
each of the industries OSHA regulates. Within 
OSHA, each industry-specific regulation has its 
own separate section indicating the control of 
hazardous energy. Let’s consider two specific areas 
that pertain directly to electrical testing: 1910.147 
regulates commercial installations, and 1910.269 
specifically regulates utility installations.
1910.147
Under 1910.147, you are required to ensure 
that procedures are being correctly followed by 
the employee performing the lockout/tagout. 
Specifically it states:
1910.147(c)(6) Periodic Inspection
1910.147(c)(6)(i) The employer shall conduct a 
periodic inspection of the energy control procedure 
at least annually to ensure that the procedure 
and the requirements of this standard are being 
followed.
1910.147(c)(6)(i)(A) The periodic inspection shall 
be performed by an authorized employee other than 
the ones(s)utilizing the energy control procedure 
being inspected.
1910.147(c)(6)(i)(B) The periodic inspection 
shall be conducted to correct any deviations or 
inadequacies identified.
1910.147(c)(6)(i)(C) Where lockout is used for 
energy control, the periodic inspection shall include 
a review, between the inspector and each authorized 
employee, of that employee’s responsibilities under 
the energy control procedure being inspected.
1910.147(c)(6)(i)(D) Where tagout is used 
for energy control, the periodic inspection shall 
include a review, between the inspector and 
each authorized and affected employee, of that 
employee’s responsibilities under the energy control 
procedure being inspected, and the elements set 
forth in paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of this section.
1910.147(c)(6)(ii) The employer shall certify 
that the periodic inspections have been performed. 
The certification shall identify the machine or 
equipment on which the energy control procedure 
was being utilized, the date of the inspection, the 
employees included in the inspection, and the 
person performing the inspection.
1910.269
We can further see that the 1910.269 standard 
does not differ greatly from 1910.147 in its 
requirements:
1910.269(a)(2)(ii)(D) The proper use of the 
special precautionary techniques, personal protective 
equipment, insulating and shielding materials, 
and insulated tools for working on or near exposed 
energized parts of electric equipment. Note: For 
the purposes of this section, a person must have 
this training in order to be considered a qualified 
person.
1910.269(a)(2)(iii) The employer shall 
determine, through regular supervision and 
through inspections conducted on at least an 
annual basis, that each employee is complying 
with the safety-related work practices required by 
this section.
After reviewing these regulatory excerpts, it 
can be seen that every company is required 
to inspect and certify that employees are 
properly performing lockout/tagout whether 
they are working for a utility or a commercial 
entity. Incorporating this certification as part 
of a field observation or assessment kills 
two birds with one stone. Other regulatory 
mandated observations are dependent 
upon the task and industry. Please check 
www.osha.gov to guide you in determining 
which regulations apply. 
VEHICLE SAFETY
Another benefit gained by performing field 
observations of employees is that the employer 
can ensure they are following other pertinent 
company policies. For example, observing 
vehicle use might verify whether employees 
wear seatbelts while driving company vehicles, 
only use hands-free devices, do not talk on 
a cell phone while driving or performing a 
complex task, and minimize the need for 
backing. 
Additionally, if your company does a lot of 
driving or uses federally regulated vehicles, it 
may be necessary to observe employees as they 
operate the vehicle. This can be conducted as 
a ride-along observation where the supervisor 
rides in the vehicle with the employee, or as a 
follow-along observation where the supervisor 
follows the employee while in a separate 
vehicle. It is usually wise to create separate 
forms just for these types of observations, since 
the rules of the road are extensive and can vary 
depending upon the state they operate in and 
the type of vehicle they are driving. Another 
example would be the operation of a fork truck.
FLAGGING AND TAGGING
A company could also include a check sheet 
for documenting the proper use of protective 
and cautionary flagging and tagging. In 
some instances, a client may have a different 
procedure for this, so it is good company policy 
to ensure that employees not only follow your 
company’s policy, but also the client’s company 
policy if applicable. The default course of action 
in this type of scenario is to play it safe and 
follow the stronger policy. The observer would 
need to know what the client’s requirements are 
prior to going to the site.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT
One benefit to conducting field observations 
and audits is to ensure that employees use the 
correct personal protective equipment (PPE). 
Hard hats, safety glasses. The inspector should 
check to see that employees are wearing hard hats 
whenever something could fall or strike their 
head or when they could make incidental contact 
with high-voltage equipment. The inspector 
should examine the hard hat for cracks, wear, 
discoloration, or torn cradles and straps. Safety 
glasses are necessary whenever there is potential 
for a liquid or solid to fly through the air and 
SAFETY CORNER
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30 • SUMMER 2022 PERFORMING PERSONNEL AUDITS
SAFETY CORNER
enter the eye. The inspector should ensure that 
the glasses are ANSI Z87-approved, which is 
indicated on the lens or the brow. 
Clothing, footwear, gloves. Verifying correct 
PPE clothing can also be an item on the check 
sheet, as can ensuring employees are wearing 
the proper footwear, such as ASTM F2413.05-
approved electrical hazard safety-toed footwear, 
which may or may not have height and laces 
requirements. Ensuring that the clothing 
they are wearing is cotton or calorie-rated 
for fire and arc protection could be an item. 
Additionally, verify that electrical protection 
such as voltage-rated gloves are inspected before 
each use, the correct level of protection is worn, 
and the test date is within the required date 
range. If a manager is planning to inspect these 
more-disposable PPE items, it is always a good 
idea to bring extra hard hats and safety glasses 
out into the field in case an employee needs a 
new set.
Heat-related illness. In companies where 
there is extensive physical labor or employees 
work in very hot areas, the observer could 
supply drinking water or other suitable fluids. 
This will not only boost morale, but will also 
improve productivity. Just the act of a manager 
supplying the drink and talking with employees 
can provide the adequate cool-off time needed 
to prevent a potential heat-related illness, and 
preventing that heat-related illness can prevent 
a potential OSHA-recordable injury.
ENVIRONMENT
Inspection of the general work environment 
can also benefit the company and the manager. 
Even though a lead technician or foreman 
may be conducting this inspection daily, they 
can still miss things or get used to seeing 
something that needs correction. Having 
someone different as well as new to the site can 
provide a new set of eyes, which may make it 
easier to identify potential problems or issues 
that could contribute to lost production or an 
injury. In some cases, the manager can arrange 
to meet with the client during the audit, thus 
presenting that all-important face for the client 
to remember.
During the observation, the observer should 
make it a point to ask questions:
• Is there anything the company could do 
to make the job easier, safer, or better? 
The answers to this question can range 
from thought-provoking to ludicrous. 
But occasionally, a brilliant idea that can 
revolutionize a task can be evoked by 
simply asking that question. Remember, 
employees don’t know how much you 
care until you show them you care. If they 
give a good answer, act on it, and a reward 
should accompany any good idea that is a 
benefit to the company. 
• Is all the equipment you need for the job 
present and working properly, and is it 
the right equipment for the task? Newer 
employees may be hesitant to speak up 
if something doesn’t work rightand just 
struggle along using what they’ve got. This 
can obviously slow down task performance 
and potentially contribute to injury or 
equipment damage.
THE OBSERVER’S ROLE
The observer should be familiar with the 
procedure they are observing. In some cases, 
they may be considered experts in the task. If 
this is the case, the inspector could provide 
direction and add to the employee’s knowledge 
of the task by observing and critiquing. Being 
knowledgeable in the procedure can also help 
the inspector identify when a procedure is 
being performed incorrectly. We all develop 
bad habits, and in many cases, we are unaware 
of them. If the observer is knowledgeable of 
the proper procedure and notices an employee 
performing it in a different or incorrect 
manner, the manager can correct the task 
before the error causes an incident.
An added benefit to having an upper-level 
manager perform these observations is simply 
face time. All too often, field employees don’t 
associate a face with a name. All they know 
is the name and that when the phone rings, 
the manager will likely have another request 
or change in scope. Sending the manager 
SAFETY CORNER
out into the field increases the camaraderie 
in the project, which in turn can potentially 
make it more productive. If the manager is 
just some faceless voice that calls to change 
things, it becomes easier for employees 
to become complacent in responding to 
requests. If you show up on site and form a 
bond with employees, it goes a long way to 
improve your relationship with them. And 
with the stress placed upon a manager these 
days when managing a client, getting outside 
of the cubicle or office can go a long way to 
improving morale. The best way a manager can 
ensure getting out there happens is to schedule 
it, and the best way a company can ensure it 
gets done is to mandate it and reward those 
who meet or exceed the requirement.
CONCLUSION
There are many advantages to performing field 
observations, audits, or inspections. They boost 
morale and prevent injuries and ensure that the 
correct equipment is available, is being used 
correctly, and can be used to satisfy regulatory 
requirements. It helps to select observers 
knowledgeable in the scope of work, schedule 
adequate time to get them out in the field, and 
give praise when it is due. Utilize a check sheet 
to make the observer’s job easier to perform. 
Properly performed field inspections can go a 
long way to improving your company’s safety 
culture. 
Paul Chamberlain has been the Safety 
Manager for American Electrical Testing 
Co. LLC since 2009. He has been in the 
safety field since 1998, working for various 
companies and in various industries. Paul 
received a BS from the Massachusetts 
Maritime Academy. 
32 • SUMMER 2022 TECH QUIZ
TECH QUIZ
SAFETY
BY VIRGINIA BALITSKI, Magna IV Engineering
Safety is an important consideration for any workplace and for NETA Certified 
Technicians. ANSI/NETA MTS-2019 recognizes that an overwhelming majority of 
the tests and inspections carried out by NETA Certified Technicians are potentially 
hazardous. It is essential that workers are aware of the hazards involved with the 
tasks they perform. 
QUESTIONS
1. What United States regulatory agency 
exists regarding workplace safety?
a. Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA)
b. National Fire Protection Association 
(NFPA)
c. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
d. Centers for Disease Control and 
Protection (CDC)
2. What is the standard for electrical safety in 
the workplace in the US?
a. NFPA 70
b. NFPA 101A
c. NFPA 70E
d. NFPA 5000
3. According to ANSI/NETA MTS-2019, 
5.1 Safety and Precautions, what shall be 
conducted prior to the commencement of 
work?
a. Test report 
b. Safety briefing 
c. Power system study
d. Detailed safety program 
4. According to OSHA, what is one of the 
root causes of workplace injuries, illnesses, 
and incidents?
a. Untrained workers
b. Inadequate personal protective 
equipment
c. Failure to identify or recognize hazards 
d. Age of the equipment
5. Which electrical hazards should be 
considered and identified prior to starting 
work?
a. Electrical shock 
b. Arc flash 
c. Arc blast 
d. All of the above
6. What must be introduced to eliminate the 
electrical hazards associated with any work 
task?
a. Safe work procedures 
b. Electrically safe working condition 
c. Personal protective equipment
d. Barriers and safeguarding devices 
No. 137
See answers on page 121.
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34 • SUMMER 2022 SAFETY TESTING OF EV CHARGERS
BY JEFF JOWETT, Megger
Electric vehicles are prominently heralded as the trend of the future, a 
vital part of many planned economies’ efforts to combat global warming, 
widespread pollution, and the squandering of resources. But there has also 
been negative publicity over safety issues like car fires.
The key to enjoying the best of both worlds — 
excellent performance under complete safety 
— is to practice diligent maintenance. Do not 
take performance for granted. It’s easy to ride 
the crest of a popular trend and overlook the 
details, but don’t. Become familiar with the 
possible safety hazards and industry-standard 
recommendations for preventing them.
The electric vehicle charger forms a dynamic 
link between the nearly infinite power of the 
electrical grid and the volatile potential of the 
car battery, possibly with the added potential 
hazard of a tank of gasoline only inches away 
in the case of hybrids. Be sure to maintain 
the safety of this vital link with regular and 
thorough maintenance of the charger. 
EV CHARGER TESTING
Electric vehicle charger testers are available 
and dedicated to assuring the function and 
safety of the unique configuration of an 
electric vehicle charger. An electric vehicle 
charger tester should perform seven tests: 
SAFETY TESTING OF 
EV CHARGERS
TECH TIPS
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NETAWorld • 35SAFETY TESTING OF EV CHARGERS
four for safety, plus two operational tests and 
a check for nuisance tripping. 
It is a good idea to head off any potential 
dangers by testing the charger upon acquisition 
so it isn’t merely assumed to be fully functional 
because it is new. 
Make sure the new charger meets manufacturing 
specifications. Do the same after any repair, and 
incorporate charger testing into any preventive/
predictive maintenance program. It is important 
to perform the tests in a specific sequence, 
assuring safety first. Always remember, however, 
that the charger is an electrical connection 
between the vehicle and an electrical facility, 
such as a building service. That service must also 
be grounded, tested, and maintained.
Protective Earth
The first test verifies protective earth. The EV 
charger tester takes the place of the vehicle for 
the performance of the tests. The charger is 
plugged into the on-site power source, just as it 
would be if it were charging a vehicle. 
The power grid, if not correctly utilized, 
can be a potential source of electrocution, 
fire, equipment damage, and other hazards. 
Therefore, the vehicle charger must maintain a 
protective ground, and this is not to be taken for 
granted. Ground connection can be lost while 
performing its designated function, as fault 
currents can open bonds even while being safely 
cleared. The next person using the faulted item 
— in this case, the vehicle charger — will be at 
unwitting risk should another hazard arise. 
The charger tester will ensure that a proper 
ground is in place and functional. The tester 
applies a charging code to the charger to put it 
into a charging state.