PowerTest2020 – Editor’s report
By Alan Ross, Editor in Chief
If you aren't familiar with NETA, and you are responsible for electric power reliability, and the heart of reliability - transformers, then you should get familiar with them.
In their own words: "The InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) is an organization that serves the electrical testing industry by accrediting third-party electrical testing firms, certifying electrical testing technicians, producing American National Standards, hosting PowerTest - Electrical Maintenance and Safety Conference, and publishing the NETA World technical journal."
I just returned from speaking at their PowerTest Conference held in Chicago last week and three things stand out:
1. This organization is deeply committed to bringing the best of technology, education, training and collaboration to the electrical testing world - our world where transformers play an important role. When I think of testing for transformers, I immediately think of those labs around the world which do the chemical testing and fluid analysis. I also think of NETA and these professionals who do electrical testing. They are different sides of the same coin.
2. I attended a workshop put on by Megger. While they are certainly driving NETA members to use their testing methodologies and equipment, I was delighted to see that they addressed the best practices and the reason why you test, how you test and how you determine the results from these tests. High voltage to medium voltage! And oh yes, transformers were critical to any system they discussed.
3. This is a hungry organization. They are committed to growth, not complacency. And they are committed to excellence, a particular passion of mine. They are committed to bettering the testing industry and safety within their industry. Safety was a topic of every presentation I attended.
I cannot recommend NETA more highly as one of those organizations committed to Electric Power Reliability. We look forward to creating an alliance with NETA and EPRA; both leading change in the marketplace.
