NETA Corporate Alliance Partners (CAPs) are industry-leading companies that have joined forces with NETA to work together toward a common aim: improving quality, safety, and electrical system reliability.
In this continuing series highlighting NETA’s CAPs, the 2026 NETA World Corporate Alliance Corner will feature articles authored by leaders of NETA’s CAPs. Each article will provide a “View from the Bridge,” a perspective on what the CAP company sees as the important changes and key implications taking place in their industry segment of the electrical power industry.
A Global Leader
A leader in electrical testing and measurement globally for 132 years, Megger is a trusted partner in safeguarding critical energy and water infrastructure. Committed to safety, reliability, and actionable insights, Megger empowers industries to operate with confidence and efficiency through its testing, monitoring, and data-driven solutions that ensure the seamless flow of energy and water, helping communities and businesses thrive worldwide.
Here, we visit with Sha Farhang, PE,a Senior Applications Engineer in Megger’s Technical Support Group ( TSG).
NW: What are the important changes you are seeing in your industry segment?
Farhang: One of the most important changes in the power industry maintenance segment is the shift from timebased maintenance to conditionbased and predictive maintenance. Asset owners are under increasing pressure to improve the reliability and resilience of the grid, which requires earlier detection of problems and better use of available data rather than relying solely on fixed maintenance intervals.
At the same time, adoption of online monitoring technologies is growing, including IoT sensors and advanced data analytics. These technologies provide continuous visibility into asset condition, allowing utilities and service providers to identify emerging issues earlier, reduce unplanned outages, and make more informed maintenance decisions.
Another key change is the increasing demand for software integration. Customers now expect monitoring systems, maintenance platforms, and reporting tools to work together, enabling faster decisionmaking, better coordination of field work, and more efficient execution of maintenance activities.
NW: What factors are driving these changes?
Farhang: The power industry is changing due to several strong external pressures. Electrification in everyday life, the rapid growth of data centers, and increasingly severe weather events are all driving the need for higher reliability and resilience. At the same time, utilities are expected to deliver more stable power while managing aging infrastructure and growing demand.
In parallel, advanced technologies are becoming more mature, accessible, and cost-effective. Solutions such as online monitoring, IoT sensors, analytics software, and cloud-based platforms are now practical tools for improving grid performance. These technologies are no longer experimental—they are becoming standard options to address operational challenges.
The combination of rising outage costs and decreasing technology costs is a key driver of change. As the grid expands and becomes more complex, the impact of unplanned outages is increasing, while the cost of deploying advanced monitoring and data-driven solutions continues to decline. Together, these trends are creating a strong push toward modernization and may lead to a super-cycle of investment and innovation in the power industry.
NW: How is your organization responding to the changes?
Farhang: We operate in the field of developing and manufacturing electrical testing and monitoring solutions for the power industry, and our response has been to expand beyond traditional testing into more integrated, data-driven approaches. While off-line and conventional testing methods remain a core part of our business, we are increasingly focusing on continuous monitoring solutions that provide real-time visibility into asset condition. This includes combining technologies such as DGA, partial discharge, and grid monitoring into unified platforms that support condition-based maintenance and improve overall system reliability.
Megger has also made significant investments in digital capabilities. This includes advanced analytics, cloud integration, and user-friendly software designed to transform raw data into actionable insights. Today’s customers expect more than just measurement—they need clear diagnostics, early warnings, and decision support tools.
Megger has strengthened its capabilities through investments and acquisitions in DGA monitoring (Weidmann Labs), partial discharge (Power Diagnostix—PDIX in Germany), and software and cloud solutions (Intelligent Process Solutions—IPS), along with further expansion in grid monitoring technologies such as MGA and Sentrisense.
In addition to development and production, we are also advancing our service and support capabilities by leveraging new technologies. Supporting monitoring solutions requires a different approach than traditional testing, so we are continuously strengthening our technical support organization. This includes expanding training, remote support, site support, and service-based offerings. In a rapidly evolving grid environment, success depends on helping customers improve reliability while reducing operational complexity and cost.
NW: How will these changes impact the overall electrical power industry?
Farhang: These changes are to improve system reliability and resilience while enabling more cost-effective and scalable operations. The increased use of IoT devices, sensors, and online monitoring—combined with traditional testing and OEM data—will generate large volumes of data. This will require advanced data storage and analytics systems, but it will also provide much better visibility into asset conditions and system performance.
As a result, decision-making will become more data-driven and proactive. Utilities will move toward smarter planning and risk-based maintenance strategies, with better insight into asset health and potential failures. This increased visibility may also influence related areas such as insurance, where improved understanding of risk could impact assessment and pricing models.
From a standards and regulatory perspective, the industry is likely to shift from static thresholds and pass/fail criteria toward more dynamic, data-driven approaches. At the same time, the growing reliance on digital systems will make cybersecurity and reliable communication infrastructure critical priorities for the power industry.
NW: How do these changes affect the electrical testing industry?
Farhang: The electrical testing industry has already begun adapting to these changes, evolving from pure measurement toward diagnostics and decision support. For example, ANSI/NETA MTS guidelines promote risk-based maintenance by considering both asset criticality and condition to suggest maintenance intervals. I believe the key shift is toward new digital tools, integrated data, and more real-time assessment.
Testing data is increasingly integrated with monitoring systems, analytics platforms, and OEM information to provide a more complete view of asset health. This requires testing solutions to be more connected and capable of operating within digital ecosystems such as cloud platforms.
Testing professionals will need to understand traditional methods as well as modern digital technologies. Documentation is becoming more digital, with real-time data validation and assessment playing an important role during maintenance activities. This ensures data accuracy, improves decision-making in the field, and may require service companies to adapt their business models accordingly.