Electro Test LLC was founded in 2018 when Brad Helminen decided there were enough opportunities and an open market for NETA testing in Oahu and the surrounding Hawaiian Islands. Younger brother Jared decided he would also try his hand at running a business, and he and his family followed Brad to the North Shore of Oahu to start the new …
NETA Activities Update
NAMO COMMITTEE — U.S. ARMY PRIME POWER SCHOOL GRADUATION August 25, 2022 Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri Dave Kreger, member of the NETA NAMO Committee, attended the Prime Power School graduation in August. While there, Dave handed out certificates to the graduates and facilitated discussions regarding the NETA NAMO Program. NETA BOARD AND MEMBER MEETINGS September 15–16, 2022 Louisville, Kentucky NETA’s …
Advancements in the Industry – Operational Technology Cyber Threats Are on the Rise
Critical infrastructure security is in the national spotlight.[1] According to the 2022 State of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity Report, organizations throughout the world’s OT security initiatives are making inadequate progress toward comprehensive protection of ICS and SCADA systems in the relatively new world of connected OT.[2] The Biden administration recently issued a national security memorandum that sets baseline cybersecurity goals …
CAP Spotlight – Group CBS: People, Technology, and Uptime
NETA’s Corporate Alliance Partners (CAPs) are a group of industry-leading companies that have joined forces with NETA to work together toward a common aim: improving quality, safety, and electrical system reliability. Here, our continuing CAP Spotlight series talks to President Ashley Ledbetter about the thought leadership and subject-matter expertise of Group CBS. NW: What are the biggest challenges facing your …
Microgrids in Practice
The majority of the U.S. electric grid was built in the early 20th century. It was initially designed for the one-way transfer of electricity from large fossil-fuel power plants directly to consumers. The grid of that era delivered power from rural areas, where power was generated, to cities, where much of it was consumed. Much has changed in the energy …
Photovoltaic Power Systems and Ground-Fault Protection on the Service Entrance Disconnect
There are no one-size-fits-all solutions to the ground fault-protected main circuit breaker issue. Diligent attention to the requirements in the NEC — NFPA 70 and the equipment in the existing installation is required. The 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC – NFPA 70) in Section 230.95 Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment requires ground-fault protection of equipment for solidly grounded wye services of …
Using the Three Rs to Reduce the Environmental Impact of SF6 Gas
The ability of SF₆ to recombine after arcing events — combined with the fact that it is chemically inert, non-toxic in its pure state, non-flammable, and very-high density — makes it an excellent di-electric gas, and sulfur hexafluoride has been used as an insulating medium in the electrical industry since the 1950s. SF6 GAS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SF₆ is a man-made …
Ground Enhancements: An Answer to Difficult Grounding Situations
As part of the electrification of a facility, it is commonly thought that merely connecting the system to a driven ground rod means that the building is grounded. It’s not that simple. By pure luck, such an approach may indeed work. But the considerable value of the building, the efficiency of operation, the wealth of information and knowledge that is …
Off-Line Partial Discharge Cable Testing
NETA Certified Technicians must continually adjust to advancing technology and diagnostic testing techniques. Over the years, cable testing has advanced to where multiple testing methods can be selected. After careful consideration of system requirements, a site owner may choose off-line partial discharge (PD) testing as one of their cable testing methods. This quiz looks at some details on partial discharge …
Programs, Policies, Manuals, Procedures, and Training
Several regulatory agencies direct which documents are required when performing a company’s tasks. In some cases, federal and state requirements must be adhered to for the same task or hazard. For example, in the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and state environmental agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) regulate potential environmental …