Improved safety and better performance is what EITI is all about.  Since 1991, the Electrical Industry Training Institute (EITI) has trained thousands of electrical utility industry personnel throughout the world. From apprenticeship to journeryperson powerline technicians … and from worker safety training to utility arborist training, EITI programs meet or exceed international standards and regulatory requirements.

We provide training both at our Pacific Northwest facility and customized training delivered directly at the client’s facility. With a reputation for helping our clients achieve some of the highest safety and performance records in the industry, EITI also provides additional assessment and consulting services.

OUR INSTRUCTORS

Our highly-qualified instructors are drawn from an experienced pool of individuals, many of whom are recognized as leaders in training for their area of expertise. We invest in continual instructor development to ensure our classes are effective and enjoyable, and to ensure we can provide instructors to meet the growing demand for our training.

EXPERIENCE

EITI provides many utility training services along the Pacific Coast of North America.  They have also expanded their services to meet the needs of a variety of other electrical utility operations spanning the globe.  The following list of experience represents some of their highlighted experience, but not all.  For more detailed information, contact EITI.

CANADA:  

BC HYDRO: EITI's largest Canadian training partner is BC Hydro, a Canadian Crown Corporation and one of North America’s largest hydroelectric/thermal generating company, producing up to 54,000 gigawatt hours.  EITI provides regular and continuous customized training services to BC Hydro employees. 

OTHER UTILITY COMPANIES:  EITI also serves a variety of other utilites companies and contractors across Canada.

UNITED STATES:

ALASKA (ANCHORAGE) — CHUGACH ELECTRIC :  Substation and Generation departments – several sessions teaching Substation operations, switching, metalclad safety and other various safety subjects related to substation operations.  Subject groups included Power line Technicians, engineers and plant operations staff.
 
ALASKA (ANCHORAGE) — MUNICIPAL LIGHT AND POWER: Powerhouse and substation operations departments – two sessions teaching substation operations, switching and various other safety subjects related to substation operations.  Subject groups included Power line technicians and plant operations staff.
 
ALASKA (KENAI AND HOMER) — HOMER ELECTRIC: Substation engineers and Power line technicians – two sessions - substation switching and safety subjects related to substation operations.
 
CALIFORNIA (SANTA CLARA) — SILICON VALLEY POWER:  Electricians – switching and various substation safety subjects.  Developed and presented program to assist client to familiarize their staff with new 230 kV technology.
 
MAUI ELECTRIC COMPANY, TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION: Custom tailored Hot Stick Course. This training, including instructor training, has become part of the foundation of MECo’s Hot Stick Transmission and Distribution Program. "We give EITI Instructors high praise for their knowledge, professionalism, and flexibility."
 
HAWAII: Live line training on 12 KV distribution system for approximately 12/15 Lineman and Grounds workers. The training was for two weeks and involved classroom, testing and maintenance of live line tools and practical hands on work experience under the direction of two certified instructors on their energized system. The employer was extremely pleased with the outcome.
 
TEXAS (HOUSTON) — DUPONT FLORO PRODUCTS: Substation Safety and Operations Training for Electrical Maintenance Personnel. Theoretical and practical training included: Safe switching practices for high voltage equipment; Worker protection grounding and bonding; Safe operation of metalclad switchgear: Identifying electrical hazards; and Minimum approach distances to energized electrical equipment and other applicable OSHA regulations. This training was attended by electricians and managers reponsible for plant maintenance and operation.
 

INTERNATIONAL:

JAMAICAN ELECTRICAL UTILITY (2001): EITI conducted 2 months of training, covering work methods and live line procedures for their 60 KV transmission system. Approximately 20 tradespersons were trained in two groups. Training was provided in the classroom, in the field on a de-energized system, and in the field on the energized system. EITI also instructed on methods of equipment testing, as well as assisting the company in setting up an equipment testing lab. The client later attested "The training was an excellent experience. Our new training skills help improve safety and save costs [since we no longer have to de-energize the system for maintenance]."
 
MALAYSIA ELECTRICAL UTILITY, PART 1 (PARTNERED WITH BC HYDRO): Training 18 various types of Malaysian Craftsmen at Canadian Training Facility for approximately 6 months. Training covered all aspects of the industry. In addition to this technical training, BC Hydro provided hands-on work experience at various locations within their Utility so that the trainees could practice their skills beside experienced BC Hydro employees. The program was supported by BC Hydro’s unionized workers and was heralded as a "tremendous success."
 
MALAYSIA ELECTRICAL UTILITY, PART 2 (2008): EITI provided Live Line training, a Live Line rigging course, and bucket truck training. Live Line work was new to the Malaysian utility and played an intricate part in the opening of the new DUKE expressway. 
 
MALAYSIA ELECTRICAL UTILITY, KUALA LUMPUR, (2009/Present): EITI is currently engaged in a 275 KV live line training project. This project was developed in partnership with several Malaysian industry partners, which include the national Malaysian utility and the ministry of highways.  EITI has provided a number of services for the project, including the development of customer specific work methods, as well as providing hands-on instruction in the proper procedures to perform maintenance on an energized system.  EITI was selected for the project on the basis of the expertise that they could provide in the particular area of work required.
 
MALAYSIA, TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD: This National Utility had to use aerial man lifts for the first time to perform live line work on 275 KV Mono Pole Structures. EITI spent long hours working with local line workers, instructing them on the intricate task of performing various live line work methods, first in a de-energized, and then an energized field environment. The training was made necessary as a result of a new toll highway, which required re-routing the transmission lines. As such, maintenance procedures had to be performed from the platform of the new highway.
 
MALAYSIA UTILITY LINE CONTRACTOR (on behalf of TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD:), PART 3: EITI consulted on the design of the mono pole transmission lines, as it relates to the ability to perform live line work procedures on the structures when completed. Project challenges included limited access to right of ways, limits of approach and the inability to use cranes and bucket trucks. The information provided impacted the distance spacing of conductor spans, the angles of cross arm placement, and required the development of special tools. The recommendations made by EITI were instrumental in the client receiving the work from the host utility.
 
MALAYSIA, TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD, PART 4: Engineer and technical personnel provided 3 days of training to Malaysian Utility Hydro Generating staff. Training included the development, refurbishment, installation, maintenance and operation of Hydro turbines. Topics covered included: critical first decisions for power system lifecycle costs, hydropower plant design, system considerations, operation, maintenance, and evaluation.

YEMEN, NEXEN PETROLEUM (2009): Two week substation training and worker assessments at three separate locations. The customer stated: “The courses … were extremely good. .. it was very interesting and full of relevant details and information. Most importantly, the course mainly related to all aspects of the isolation, testing, grounding, de-isolation and re-energization of high voltage metal clad switch gear. By so doing, the electrical foremen and all the technicians who attended the courses could directly relate all of the course information to the metal clad switch gear here at the Terminal. The instructor was very proactive in his approach and was able to engage the participation of all the various foremen and technicians.”