Correction: In the NETA News article “Piquette & Howard Electric Service Achieves QEMC Qualification,” published in the Fall 2025 issue of NETA World, Sigma C Power Services LLC was incorrectly referred to as Sigma C Power Solutions. The opening sentence in the article should appear as follows: As we began investigating NICET courses and other options, Jim Cialdea at Sigma C Power Services LLC (a partner company to P&H) asked if we would be willing to be part of a pilot program for a new NETA initiative called the QEMC/QEMW (Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Company/Worker). All versions of this article have been corrected, and NETA apologizes for the error.
Piquette & Howard Electric Service, LLC, was one of the first companies to participate in NETA’s new QEMC and QEMW qualification program developed to respond to NFPA 70B–2023 requirements that make proper electrical equipment maintenance mandatory and enforceable. P&H services all of New England from locations in Plaistow, New Hampshire, and Raynham, Massachusetts.
We caught up with Jim Cole, Department Manager Engineering Field Services, who is a recently certified Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Worker (QEMW) and a NETA Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Company (QEMC) representative.
“Initially, we wanted to develop electrical maintenance programs for our existing customer base and begin offering those services,” Cole explains. “The changes to NFPA 70B were about to be implemented nationally, and we quickly realized that the new requirements for a safe electrical workplace were going to result in an immensely growing market — and it was going to happen fast!
“We knew we needed to come up to speed quickly, so we began seeking formal training or certification to ensure we were first, were doing things safely, and were providing our customers with the level of service they expect from P&H. First, we looked to NETA and what it would entail to be a NETA Accredited Company, but we did not meet the qualifying criteria, specifically the percentage of our jobs that were required to be electrical testing. As we began investigating NICET courses and other options, Jim Cialdea at Sigma C Power Services LLC (a partner company to P&H) asked if we would be willing to be part of a pilot program for a new NETA initiative called the QEMC/QEMW (Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Company/Worker).
“Of course, we said, ‘YES!’ Since then, we have grown exponentially. We can assemble electrical preventive maintenance (EPM) programs for our customers, contract with Sigma C to do our testing and reporting, and support Sigma C with labor in the field (cleaning, running test equipment, etc) while still keeping the job staffed with all NETA Accredited Technicians or QEMW-qualifed personnel (a requirement for many of our customers’ insurance carriers).
“We are now looking to expand our QEMW applicants to around 30, which will equate to an astounding 10% of our employees! We could not be happier with our new relationship with NETA’s offerings of training, networking, and resources. The benefits are immeasurable.”
Hiring a QEMC-certified service provider guarantees compliance with the NFPA 70B requirements for the service provider and its technicians. Service providers interested in qualifying their electrical maintenance technicians can contact NETA to begin the application process.
Correction: Jim Cole is the Engineering Field Services Department Manager at P&H Electric. An earlier article incorrectly identified him as the company’s owner.
Piquette & Howard Electric Service, LLC
222 Plaistow Rd.
Plaistow, New Hampshire 03865-2820
www.phelectricalcontractor.com
603.382.3182
Correction: In the article “Piquette & Howard Electric Service Achieves QEMC Qualification,” published in the Fall 2025 issue of NETA World, Sigma C Power Services LLC was incorrectly referred to as Sigma C Power Solutions. The opening sentence in the article should appear as follows: As we began investigating NICET courses and other options, Jim Cialdea at Sigma C Power Services LLC (a partner company to P&H) asked if we would be willing to be part of a pilot program for a new NETA initiative called the QEMC/QEMW (Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Company/Worker). All versions of this article have been corrected, and NETA apologizes for the error.