Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited with the saying, “the only constant in life is change.” And that could not be more true in the electrical construction industry. This year sees a new edition of the National Electrical Code, and the Style Manual no longer requires italics for the name or “code” to be capitalized when it stands alone. You’ll see our code writers use the 2026 edition and the new style guidelines in these pages. It’s going to take some getting used to.
Besides the NEC, the economy is something else that is always changing. To prepare for the 2026 Construction Outlook, Jeff Gavin listened to economic outlooks and gathered data from leading construction associations. He likens the economy to a hall of mirrors: a maze filled with obstacles, distortions and confusing reflections. Jeff talked to experts from ConstructConnect, Dodge Construction Network and many others, and also spoke directly to Chris Kuehl, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR’s economist, to give you the data you need to make clear decisions in 2026. Read what these experts are predicting for the year in “Stepping Into an Economic Hall of Mirrors,” starting on page 18.
NECA also has a change in leadership. Mark Walter began his tenure as president of NECA this month. Get to know Mark and his plans for the future on page 40 in “A Leader Rooted in Trust,” and be sure to check out his first President’s Desk column, “Introducing Myself,” on page 6.
Change is a key ingredient in innovation, and, without innovation, tools, software and accessories would never make your jobs easier. Can you imagine using a drill from the 1930s today? We couldn’t image writing this column and then typesetting it by hand instead of sending it to the printer digitally. Senior editor Holly Sauer wrote about the innovative changes offered by the 25 winners of the 2025 Showstopper Awards. Manufacturers are constantly improving their products to help users work better and safer. Plus, you’ll hear from some of the judges about why they thought these products were standouts. Check it out on page 66.
Another change you’ll see in ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR each month is a column avid readers of SAFETY LEADER may recognize. We’ll be spreading the love, i.e., the content, across all 12 months, instead of just every quarter. This month, Katie Kuehner-Hebert talks to safety leader Josh Tonn in From the Field on page 50.
While ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR changes with the times, our mission of providing you with important, expert information you can use in your business each month never will.
