Electrical Hazard Risk Assessment on EV Supply Equipment and Chargers

Bibek Karki, IPS PowerServeFeatures, Fall 2026 Features

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a large part of the traffic infrastructure due to the industrial revolution in electrical technology and the paradigm shift in the motor vehicle industry. To support this rapid growth in EVs, the charging infrastructure would need to be designed and implemented at scale. This phenomenon has caused an explosive growth in the design, development, and construction …

Demystifying On-Line Partial Discharge Monitoring

Bobby Ellison, IPEC USAFall 2026 Features, Features

Reliability and safety are words that come up frequently when discussing modern power networks, and for good reason. Electrical systems today are carrying higher loads, operating with tighter margins, and supporting facilities such as data centers and industrial plants, where downtime is not an option. As a result, operators are placing greater emphasis on technologies that provide early warning of …

The Evolution of Standards to Support Advancing Grid Technologies

Howard W. Penrose, MotorDoc LLCFall 2026 Features, Features

The electric power industry is undergoing the largest transition since widespread energization began more than a century ago. Inverter-based resources, data centers, and rapidly changing load profiles are exposing operating conditions that were never envisioned when many IEEE standards for machinery were originally developed. As a result, IEEE and other standards organizations are revising existing standards while developing new guidance …

Rethinking Job Briefings in the Electrical Power Industry

Seth Vincent, TRC CompaniesFeatures, Summer 2026 Features

Every day, thousands of electrical workers across the country begin their day with a job briefing. In theory, these briefings represent a critical safety checkpoint, a moment for crews to pause, assess hazards, and plan their work before beginning hazardous tasks. In practice, many job briefings have become something far less valuable: a paperwork exercise. The evolution of job briefings …

Passing the NETA Exam: Train Don’t Cram

Mose Ramieh, CBS Field ServicesFeatures, Summer 2026 Features

I sat down for my NETA Level 4 exam and immediately realized I was in trouble. The first question, I didn’t know the answer. The second, totally clueless. After working through nearly twenty questions, I finally found one I could confidently answer. That is not a great feeling when you are supposed to be operating at the highest level in …

The New Business Model and the Old Delivery Playbook

Morteza Talebi, PhD, PowerXFeatures, Summer 2026 Features

The energy sector has entered an era defined by speed, scale, and continuous delivery. Data centers, renewables, and grid modernization programs demand faster project cycles and higher utilization of field resources. In response, business models have shifted toward volume-driven delivery, aggressive schedules, and increasingly distributed responsibility.  However, many project management practices—particularly those governing field execution—remain rooted in legacy delivery models …

ANSI/NETA Standards in Data Center Acceptance Testing

Robert Hill, Vector PowerFeatures, Spring 2026 Features

The rapid expansion of AI-driven data center construction has introduced new challenges to an already demanding electrical testing and commissioning industry. Data centers are being built at an unprecedented speed and scale, driven by the growth of artificial intelligence workloads, cloud computing, and global demand for uninterrupted digital services.  Accelerated schedules, dense electrical infrastructure, and heightened performance expectations now place …

Improving Connections: Transformer Factory Acceptance and Field Commissioning Tests

John J. Foschia, Doble EngineeringFeatures, Spring 2026 Features

It is often observed that discontinuities exist between factory acceptance and field commissioning tests of power transformers. Ideally, the two test sessions are well-coordinated, allowing measurements captured at the transformer manufacturer to be easily replicated once the transformer is prepared for service.  No two transformers are identical, and if segments of a transformer’s history are unavailable, those responsible cannot make …

Upgrading a Line Relay Without an Outage

Bibek Karki, IPS PowerServeFeatures, Spring 2026 Features

With electromechanical and solid-state protective relays now obsolete and nearing the end of life, upgrading to microprocessor counterparts is paramount for the reliability of power systems. Microprocessor relays provide advanced communication, monitoring, and automation capabilities along with all basic protection and control platforms.  Raising awareness among customers about the importance of a relay upgrade is vital in the overall contribution …

Detecting Insulation Degradation Using DFR: A Case Study

Yash Godhwani and Chanakya Patel, MeggerFeatures, Spring 2026 Features

Medium- and high-voltage cables are among the most vital electrical assets in modern power systems, delivering electricity to millions of households year-round. Yet, when it comes to diagnostic testing during commissioning or maintenance, many cables remain untouched with modern diagnostic tools.[1]   Dielectric frequency response (DFR), a well-known diagnostic technique in the transformer and oil-filled cable industries, measures dielectric losses …