Author: ElectricLeague

January 2020 News & Notes

Posted on by ElectricLeague

Yes, we are ringing in a New Year at the Electric League, and we have good news for our members and readers!

The Executive Board took some positive action at our last meeting that we think will help our organization and all who participate in advancing our professional, complex, and every-growing industry.

First of all, we plan to enhance our website.  This will expand the opportunities to learn more about the League, our sponsors, our corporate members, and to gain information that we think will make the website more user-friendly.

Second, we have recently received a large sponsorship from BGE and other interested parties.  This sponsorship should help us deepen our efforts to promote and educate journey persons so they will become part of a skilled workforce as the next decade unfolds.

Third, we have decided that those sponsors and corporate members who donate those type of monies to ensure the League remains financially stable should be recognized in a special category.  From our website, we will provide a link to sponsor and corporation websites for the purpose of connecting them to each other and the industry.  It will be easy to see the contributions that they make to our industry.

Fourth, we have also made arrangements to make it possible for active dues-paying corporate members to be allowed to receive a ten percent (10%) discount for up to ten (10) of their employees when they enroll in special courses given by:  Harford County’s Apprenticeship Program, the Independent Electrical Contractors Association (Laurel, MD), M.S. Electrical Training by Marty Schumacher, Lee Jolley’s special seminars, and our own Lunch and Learn classes.

By clicking on the drop-down menu, you can go back and review past successful “Lunch and Learn” courses; such programs as:  Solar and the Micro Grid; Past and Future Electric Vehicles; Projected 2020 NEC changes that occur for AFCI, Ground-fault (GFCI) and new disconnecting means that will be required on single-family dwellings (intended to provide protection for first responders).

In the future, we are also planning to have Lunch and learn programs on innovative concepts such as stored energy systems (batteries without electrodes) as well as a new power system called POE (Power Over the Ethernet).

Additionally, we plan to feature a new section called “Codes, Standards, and Regulations.”  For example, at their November 2019 meeting, the MD Uniform Examination Committee (the group that prepares the electrical examination for the State License) gave notice to all licensing boards that the 2017 NEC questions still will be used for examinations until January 1, 2021.  Starting January 1, 2021, all examination questions will be based on the 2020 NEC.  This will allow all qualified applicants one year to become familiar with the new 2020 code and will make certain that all licensees after January 1, 2021 will have been examined on the latest, up-to-date electrical code for the State of Maryland.  By checking this area on our website periodically, we can encourage people to stay informed.

Note – Keep an eye out during the upcoming legislative session for any unforeseen electrical law changes.  We have been informed by all legislative agencies that they will not be proposing any new changes to the electrical law for this upcoming session.  However, as everyone is aware, anyone can propose a legislative bill, so we must be alert if it happens.

At some electrical contractors and inspectors meetings, people have been inquiring as to why we do not offer code change classes and educational seminars as we have done in the past. We want everyone to realize that we do not want to be in competition with professional presenters and their scheduled code change seminars.  We are content to provide up-to-date legislative news, promote a code of ethics, and try as best we can to educate and supply future skilled workers for our industry.

Check out future News and Notes for more information of interest.

Gil Thompson
Vice President, Electric League of Maryland

A Letter From Pete Elmo, ELM President

Posted on by ElectricLeague

The Board Members of the Electric League of Maryland want to thank the many individuals who contributed time, talent, and resources to make the 29th Bull Roast a huge success.  Many people worked behind the scenes to coordinate the tickets, door prizes, raffles, and advertising.  Your help is deeply appreciated.

We were glad to connect with so many electrical industry groups and friends, old and new.  Many of the door prizes were donated by such supply houses as:  Capital TriState, Dominion, Graybar, Rexel, Maurice, Branch, HCEA, IAEI, and C.P.S. and friends such as Dennis Felts, Leonard Bathgate, Scott Bowers, and Ward Boland.

It is gratifying to know we can count on people like you to support this important fundraiser and to join us in celebrating the electrical industry.  And, as a reminder, we are sponsoring an excellent “Lunch and Learn” on December 5; join us if your schedule allows (details below).

An upcoming “Lunch and Learn” class on the 2020 NEC Changes is scheduled for Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 10:45 a.m. – 2:00pm at BGE Energy Sales and Service Building in Woodlawn, MD.

Instructor Mr. Lee Jolley, Chief of Electrical Inspections for Baltimore County (one of Maryland’s code experts) will present a preview of a few major changes to the 2020 NEC.  He will concentrate on the effects of the installation and placement rules for GFCIs, AFCIs, and the new concept that will be required for disconnecting means to provide safety of installers, users, and first responders.

Lunch:  10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Class:   11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Cost:    $50 for League Members; $60 for Non-Members

Attendees will receive 2.5 hours of continuing education.  Continuing Education Certificates will be provided for each attendee.  Registrants must attend the full session to receive a certificate for continuing education.

Again, thank you for your support of the Electric League of Maryland.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday,

pete-elmo
Peter Elmo
President, Electric League of Maryland

A Letter From Gil Thompson, ELM Vice President

Posted on by ElectricLeague

Contrary to what some people have been saying, the Electric League of MD is not dead, and we have every intention of being one of the active forces for the electrical industry in the years ahead…so, the League wants to thank those generous sponsors and supporters of the League who gave door prizes and financial assistance so that it will help ensure the stability and necessary growth of our organization.

We received over 200 door prizes, the raffle gifts, and $3,300 in financial aid, all in addition to the ticket sales for the Bull Roast.  In addition to the raffle items (all donated, at no expense to us), we received financial sponsorships to help offset the cost of the appetizers, shrimp, bar, desserts, special centerpieces and part of the band cost.  These financial sponsorships were provided by:  Bob Roby of Miles Electric, Jim Gillin of JM Gillin, George Lang of Power Factor LLC, Brandt Rider of Fulton Bank, Amanda Sockriter of Capital Electric, and Wayne Matheu of Enterprise Electric.

We have also received generous donations of funds to offset the printing cost from Ewing Associates (Diane Ewing), as well as a wonderful new concept for education of future electricians from Dennis Felts of HCECA and Marty Schumacher of MS Electrical Training.

Wonderful door prizes came from Rexel, Graybar, O.T. Hall, Capital Electric, Dominion, Maurice, P.C.S., Leonard Bathgate, Main Street Electric, The Sasser’s, and Kroeger Electric.

These acts of generosity allow the League to conduct educational and training programs, foster goodwill with the public and our members, encourages a code of ethics, and be the coordinated body to help with legislation and promote industry objectives.  The list is long, and forgive us if we have missed a name or firm.

After the Board of Director’s Meeting in December, look on our website for new innovative ideas about corporate and sponsoring membership dues.

Gratefully,

Gil Thompson

ELM Vice President

President’s Message

Posted on by ElectricLeague

The school year has ended, and all the new journeypersons are now first year electricians.  This is a wonderful achievement for each and everyone who helped them over the past four years.  Be proud you have done it and now you will be helping others.  You can teach what you learned to your brother or sister or friends, inspire them to learn as you have.

The new 2020 Code is currently being written and you are still struggling with the 2017 Code.  Remember every three years they change the rules!!  This is why we must get our CEUs.  That means, you never know everything; as your mother told you, keep learning.

The trade you have chosen is moving very fast, but the pipe and wire must be installed properly not half fastened.  Computers and robots can’t work without you!!  You are a strange breed; the American electrician is a very ingenious person.  You must know every other trades’ work so you can move their job out of your way, then neatly replace it.

The work we do is easy and challenging.  You can work hard or work smart.  Once you do something wrong, learn not to do that again!!  Remember, we buy wire by the foot, others sell it by the pound!  Be careful when spending your money or your boss’ money.  Order material smart.  Keep control over it as it is your money.  A loss of material is coming out of your pocket either directly or by not getting a raise because your boss lost money due to your action.

The Electric League of Maryland is here to help you learn.  We are working with groups now teaching code and giving CEUs.  We have negotiated a discount on their classes.  We will have a list of participating groups with pass codes to get a discount for being a member of the League.

Keep plugging safety.  Remember to watch for our Lunch & Learn classes and annual Bull Roast.

Keep learning!

Peter Elmo

President, Electric League of Maryland

March 2019 News & Notes

Posted on by ElectricLeague

Did you know?

That up to the mid 1920’s there were more electrical vehicles in use than gas powered ones?  They were used as town delivery trucks, provided the means around town for transport and for taking short road trips.  The electric cars and trucks gave most town people the freedom to not be restricted by tracks or permanent pieces of public transportation such as streetcars and overhead trolley lines.

…..And then came the movement of many people to the suburbs, and this new lifestyle made electrical vehicles lose most of its appeal.  Electrical Vehicles did not have the range or the speed of the gasoline powered vehicles and you were, at that time, restricted to lengthy charging times for batteries.

Now, it seems that the electrical vehicle industry is making a strong comeback, which will challenge all of us now and into the future.  Electrical vehicles (EVs) will provide less pollution (cleaner air); they have increased in speed and acceleration, increased in their range (no longer are you restricted to just a short trip), the batteries have been improved with shorter charging times, and they provide an answer to helping the electric grid by some of them being able to put power back into the grid system.  To be sure, the cost is coming down drastically, and there are special rates for charging at off peak demand times and rebates to make them more attractive.

Opportunistically, you are receiving a special flyer about the Electric League’s Lunch and Learn scheduled for Thursday, March 28 from 11:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m. at the BGE Energy Sales and Service Building in Woodlawn (see attachment).

China is becoming our chief competitor in the electric vehicle market and has made many innovative changes that make US car manufacturers take notice.  We have begun to manufacture special hybrid vehicles (small city EV’s).  We are researching new type batteries for swift charging and developing “smarter” charging equipment.  Fortunately, Mr. Schumacher will discuss this in more detail on March 28.

Another incentive for owning and operating electrical vehicles is receiving rebates, as indicated by recent decisions by the Public Service Commission of Maryland.

Residential Program:  BGE is authorized to provide rebates to 1,000 residential customers for smart chargers, up to $300 per customer.  The utilities are authorized to provide EV-only time of use rates using the EV charger as a sub-meter to the overall household use.

Commercial Program:  BGE is authorized to provide approximately 700 rebates for smart charging equipment to multi-unit dwellings (MUD).  The Commission is looking into special rates for workplace, fleet, and other applications.  The Commission approved a proposal to provide limited duration bill credits to offset demand charges associated with EV charging.

Public Charging:  The Commission approved BGE construction, ownership and operation of 500 public charging stations.

Don’t Forget – There is a Maryland Law that requires all public charging stations to be designated with proper signs and have a green colored outline so that the space is designed for its purpose (similar to a requirement for handicapped parking spaces).

NOTE:  At a special Board of Director’s Meeting, it was decided that all corporate members of the League will be given a 10% discount for all of the company employees who attend the March 28 seminar.  This is certainly a bargain!  Don’t miss it!

Gil Thompson, News & Notes Liaison

Legislative Updates

Posted on by ElectricLeague

At the May 2017 meeting of MUELEC, the ad hoc group working on revisions to the State Electrical Master’s Examination, reported that the work is well advanced and will be completed by the November 2017 meeting.

After its review and approval by the Uniform Exam Committee, the new examination will be printed for distribution to the Electrical Administrative Boards who are testing for the Master Electrical License.  NOTE – all examinations for Master Electricians will be given on questions that are based on the 2017 National Electrical Code beginning January 1, 2018.

The company (PSI) giving examinations for the State Electrical Board has once again raised the issue that they feel that some exam questions are too difficult.  On their own, they have eliminated some questions and tried to change the values on others.

After a lengthy discussion by all electrical administrative boards present, a motion was made and unanimously passed that the Maryland Master Electrical Exam questions must be given as constructed by the MUELEC organization.  They must be used as originally formulated and formatted:  50 one-point questions; 10 – two-point questions, and 6 five-point questions.

The director of DLLR was dually notified of this action and has promised that PSI will stop their present procedure and follow MUELEC’s direction.  MUELEC will not allow the test to be dumbed down and before the new 2017 test is distributed, all Electrical Testing Boards will be required to follow MUELEC questions and instructions.

Also at this meeting, the state-wide journeyperson licensing procedures were again discussed in detail.  A resolution was made to hold any legislative action until a properly written bill could be distributed to all electrical boards, trade representatives, and any other affected parties.  Some work is being done to try to get an official bill writer, make the necessary changes, and have a written copy so that a legislative bill can be introduced that will try to find solutions to the various problems raised.

The State DLLR also clarified that a statement has been added to the form that the State sends for their master license renewal.  It will require a signed statement that the necessary ten hours of continuing education has been accomplished prior to the renewal of any two-year Master Electrician’s License.

No authorized papers will be required at the time of renewal; however, DLLR may randomly audit the signed affidavits and if complaints or problems arise, then written verification must be submitted or the license will be suspended until the necessary papers can be produced.  We understand that the audit will be done on a 20 percent basis.

Fire Protection News

Posted on by ElectricLeague

For years, we have always been informed that elevators should not be used in case of fire.

However, in recent years, high rise buildings have been increasing in height – some as high as 450 to 1,000 feet.  There is new talk about allowing protected and safe shafts and stairwells (2-hour, fire-proof construction) and special fire-proof construction for equipment that will now allow elevators to be used in a high-rise fire.

Consideration is given, however, for the length of travel on the steps and sometimes limited access (there are firefighters coming up the steps while occupants – some with handicaps – are trying to go down).  Concern has been expressed about people propping open the doors of the affected area so that smoke penetrates the ventilated stairwell which makes visibility limited.

There are new proposals such as horizontal safety areas (again, constructed with 2-hour fire-resistant materials) that must have emergency lights and proper ventilation being required at different levels in the building.  To be sure, some people may not be able to traverse 40 and 50 stories at a time without resting.

These are new, innovative ideas in building construction which will allow elevators and their shafts to become fire escapes.  These must have ventilation, emergency lights, special protection for the traveling cables and special protection will be required at the call button stations to ensure the integrity of the system.  This new idea will allow some designated elevators to be used for escape by handicapped, disabled, and special needs people. Also with the Testing and Tagging system which involves attaching a label to the appliance or cable that shows when it was last tested and when it needs to be retested. Testing and tagging help protect both people and equipment in the workplace by minimising the risk of an electrical hazard, such as an electric shock or fire.

As you can see, electricians will have to understand the work required within the building and work with building and fire authorities (who has very good information to help people to prevent fire accident in the future) to guarantee that all equipment meets minimum fire safety requirements.  This involves identifying the various systems (maybe something different than red), special planning for voice control so that people can be properly directed, and special safety requirements for the emergency generators of these systems for the integrity of lights and motors. Questions have even been raised about the integrity of grounding and bonding of these special pieces of equipment and systems.  For instance, unless you have all threaded connections one must make sure that a wire-type equipment grounding/bonding conductor is used because some systems using just slip joints or pressure are not reliable.

As you can see, many, many changes are occurring in the electrical industry.  We must be prepared by being skilled and educated enough to protect those around us and to bring a high level of integrity to our vocation.

A Challenge to the Electric Industry

Posted on by ElectricLeague
  • Have you noticed that some high schools may not be delivering consistently qualified candidates to the exciting and rewarding electrical industry? Is there apathy toward vocational training and the electrical trade? Sometimes it feels this way when reading job vacancy postings and talking with others in the field.
  • To meet deadlines and to staff some job sites, do you have to borrow qualified workers from other electrical contractors (if possible) or use labor pools (who sometimes send unqualified help) just to get the job done?
  • Have you found that qualified, skilled, journeypersons have been decreasing in numbers recently and over the past few years?
  • Is it because of retirements or are some journeypersons just reluctant to take over the responsibility of supervising electrical installations? Sometimes they just seem to want someone else to do it!
  • Does it concern you that you must spend valuable effort, expense, and unnecessary time trying to institute innovative ways to improve your hiring process?
  • If no other jobs are available, do young people of today want to enter a situation of just hands-on only without training their minds to advance or benefit others?
  • Do people want the monetary benefits of a position or classification without the work and commitment necessary to achieve advancement or certification in a trade or vocation?
  • Are we in a real labor shortage now and will there be a catastrophic one in the near future?

If this is the challenge, then as an industry, we had better find a solution and try to fix it as soon as possible.  Maybe all of us should become ambassadors for our industry.

We all can recruit and convince future workers that the electrical trade is never boring.  It is a great way to earn a decent living and there will always be a demand for a skilled tradesperson.

In order to recruit for anything, you must know the subject or product you are trying to sell.  To convince someone to join us, you must love the subject or the product itself and be able to highlight all of the perks and economic benefits.

First of all, the subject or product to which we wish to attract others is really easy to define.  Without electricity, where would all of us be in the timeline of our culture and society? 

Rushing or moving water, hydro-dams, coal, natural gas, oil, special wood, wind, solar, and other alternate power sources can be converted into useable, electrical power.  Generation stations, transmission facilities, transformation to usable voltages, motors, appliances (view Seal Beach page to know more about it detail about each appliances), industrial machinery, signs, lights, receptacles, computers, etc., are all kinds of inventions designed to protect and advance lives in a safe, comfortable, easy and convenient style. Again, where would the world be without electricity? 

We have to convince young, middle-aged, and older persons that the electrical industry is a concept where hands may produce the work or product seen, but it is the mind that produces the advanced equipment that helps everyone lead that more productive life.  Surely, a creative mind can come up with ideas to improve existing conditions or foster new ways of doing any task.  Aren’t we only bound by our imaginations as to what can be electrically invented to make life better, faster, and more economical?

People who can join the electrical trade must know that an educated individual is a person who can really listen and really see what makes things operate and work.  Reasonable costs for schools and apprenticeship training programs are at their fingertips – all they have to do is enroll so that they learn and advance in the trade.

They then must put this knowledge and training into practice so they can produce a product that will earn them a better than average salary and thus a better than average living standard.  The electrical industry itself has evolved so that incentives such as a decent healthcare plan, reasonable paid sick and vacation times, and advancement for work produced are usually part of any hiring package.  Applicants should know that workers who are drug-free, honest, dependable, and hardworking will achieve well- paying jobs.

To be sure, electrical contractors and firms must also learn that workers must be trained in all aspects of the trade rather than just putting them in one specialized area.  Electrical workers must be well-versed and willing to know all aspects of the industry.

YES – we must all recruit and convince future workers that the electrical trade is filled with opportunity for advancement, job security, and excellent salaries for those who take the electrical trade seriously.