Does the near-term future of nonresidential construction look bright or dim? It depends on who you ask. According to a report from the Associated General...
After the devastation in multiple states caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the resulting weeks and months that utility linemen worked tirelessly to restore...
According to a survey released by the National Safety Council (NSC), Itasca, Ill., 90% of employers are concerned not only about legal and illicit substance...
As the energy industry changes, employment opportunities grow. California has announced a series of grants to help build a workforce for carbon-neutral energy technology. The...
The owner of a California wind farm wants to broaden its measures to mitigate possible injury or death of endangered condors flying into its equipment—by also funding the captive breeding...
The digital transformation was on full display at CES 2021, held Jan. 11–14 in Las Vegas. It turns out the pandemic, now more than a year old, has become a...
The “Cost and Other Implications of Electrification Policies on Residential Construction” report, commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Washington, D.C., and written by Home Innovation Research Labs...
As the landscape for electricity rapidly evolves, infrastructure is racing to keep up. Officials in Kentucky are moving ahead with a plan to upgrade transmission lines in the state. Kentucky...
Providing ITM and System Replacements for Existing Systems By Wayne D. Moore As you develop your inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM) book of business, you will sign contracts to perform...
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers for occupational injuries and illnesses from ice-, sleet- and snow-related...
Mule, horse, bicycle, scooter, car—and soon, autonomous vehicle. With each mode of transportation has come dramatic changes, and the introduction of self-driving vehicles is no exception. This time, however, it’s...
Educator. Botanist. Comforter. Electrical line contractors often assume any combination of these roles when property owners question necessary tree pruning or removal. The adage “power is king” gets complicated when...
As the United States moves to decarbonize its electricity supplies, transmission planners face a conundrum. The most productive and reliable wind, solar and hydro generating resources are often far from...
Now that the pandemic is slowly subsiding and construction activity is stepping up, the construction industry is back to a familiar refrain: labor shortages. According to the 2020 Marcum JOLTS...
Welcome to Safety Leader. The need for effective safety information in the electrical trade has grown exponentially in recent years. To keep you up to date, the Electrical Contractor magazine team brings you this new...
I like to think of training as updating your KSAs—knowledge, skills and abilities. I learned about KSAs many years ago from the NJATC’s apprenticeship programs. When the Fiber Optics Association was started 25 years ago, we...
First Place Plugging in color Have you ever tried to plug in something at a temporary power distribution center job site and forgot what cord goes to each power tool or other equipment? Depending on the length of the...
The difficulty electrical contractors face every time they attempt to find and attract talented new people dates back further than the oldest tool in their warehouse. It’s always been that way, in good times or bad. Since the...
Even though the 2020 National Electrical Code was just issued in September 2019 and many states will not adopt the new Code until this year, electrical contractors should be aware of the major changes that will affect most...
During a “PQ Primer” seminar I recently presented, we discussed how photovoltaic inverters synthesize the fundamental power frequency when there is no voltage reference from the grid. For years, time was told by counting the...
The winter of 1975 was pivotal for the electrical industry. Two major fires within a month reminded the industry of how fires in combustible cable insulation can have catastrophic results. Neither of the fires occurred in an...
A seat at the table isn’t assured when integrated design is more idea than practice. Certainly, an electrical contractor’s presence can help to facilitate project goals early in a project design. Partnering with the facility...
Wheeler Electric Inc., Idaho Falls, Idaho, recently completed electrical work on two new buildings at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) also in Idaho Falls. The Cybercore Integration Center is a research, education and...
For the first few years of my career as an estimator, I always prepared my bids for general contractors. Then a new (to me) kind of project came my way called multiple prime. I was completely unprepared for it. Because of my...