WECA Low Volt Apprenticeship Instructors John Arias and Randy Rivera and Apprentice Curriculum Developer Joshua Simpson made some more progress on our Low Volt Apprenticeship Data Room Lab upgrade! Lately they've installed and subsequently painted fire-rated plywood on one wall, placed a lab entrance step and door frame, worked on installing a raised floor, and wired and powered up the lab space receptacles. 

We are thrilled to be getting closer to completion, and can't wait to see the finished product! Fantastic work, everyone!

Share in Their Graduation Event with Video, Pictures, and Memories of the Celebration
 

On June 22nd, 2024, WECA held a celebratory event to honor the first-ever graduating class from our WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program.

Please join us in reliving some great moments as we celebrated the WECA Utah Class of 2024!

Congratulations to the WECA Utah Class of 2024!

We were thrilled to celebrate their hard work and accomplishments at their graduation event on Saturday, June 22nd in Salt Lake City.

Don Black, WECA CEO, shares how meaningful it was to see our first-ever graduating Utah class celebrated by their families and employers, such as WECA Member Contractors Hunt Electric and Helix Electric, in addition to Rena Maza, the Apprenticeship Navigator for the Utah Department of Workforce Services, and Scott Romney, the Commissioner of Apprenticeship Programs for Utah.

Don also highlighted how gratified we are by the continued support and generosity of our Member Contractors and graduate gift donors (Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Platt Electric Supply, and Build26), which helped to make the event even more memorable.

Talon Pobuda, Apprenticeship Manager and Lead Instructor for the WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program, says that the graduation "Was a fun and lighthearted event to reward the graduates' hard work. It was awesome to hear several of the graduates speak about their appreciation of WECA's program and methods. WECA's goal is not just to make journeypersons--it is to make the best electricians and future leaders in Utah. This group of graduates are fine examples of exactly that, and I am grateful and proud to have helped them get where they are now. The presence of Member Contractors underscored their support and reflected the strong community within WECA. Special guests like Scott Romney and Rena Maza highlighted the state's endorsements of our efforts. Generous donations from Industry Partners like DeWalt, Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Platt Electric Supply, and Build26 provided valuable tools and swag and enhanced the experience for our graduates."

Congratulations, graduates! We are immensely proud of you, our first graduating class, and look forward to all that you will accomplish in the future as contributors and leaders to the electrical industry in Utah!

WECA thanks our sponsors and graduate gift donors for making the first-ever WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship graduation extra special for our graduates!

Your Employees Can Expand Their Knowledge of NFPA 70E Requirements, Develop Selected "Competent Person" Skills, and More, in This Self-Paced Online Course




 

Do you have employees who could become more valuable to your business by updating their health and safety leadership skills?

Encourage them to enroll in WECA's "Health and Safety Leadership" course, in partnership with WECA educational partner ClickSafety, to gain 16 hours of California Electrician or VDV/FLS Technician Continuing Education for successful completion.

In this course, students focus on development of selected “competent person” skills, as well as expanded knowledge of NFPA 70E requirements. The term "competent person" is used in many OSHA standards and documents, and is defined as "one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them." This course provides students with competent person training in the areas of excavations and fall prevention.

The course also covers:

• Demonstrating leadership basic skills
• Motivating others through effective communication
• Creating a positive safety culture
• Conducting safety meetings
• Understanding liabilities related to supervisory responsibilities
• Identifying potential hazards
• Mitigating potential hazards
• Investigating accidents
• Investigating accidents
• Heat illness prevention

And more!

Total class hours available: 16

Standard tuition fee: $359

Learn more about and enroll your employees in Health and Safety Leadership here.

 

WECA's 2024 Commencement Ceremonies for our Northern and Southern California graduating Apprenticeship and Electrician Trainee Certificate Program Classes of 2024 will be held on the above dates! 

WECA California Member Contractors--please watch your inboxes for sponsorship and ticketing details--coming next week! We look forward to celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our graduates with you!

 

WECA was thrilled to recently host summer skilled trades interns (who are high school students) from Member Contractor Royal Electric Company at our California headquarters in Rancho Cordova!

Apprenticeship instructors John Arias and Bob Boling gave a presentation before conducting a tour of the facility and guiding interns during hands-on demonstrations.

Thank you, Royal Electric Company, for letting us inspire your interns to continue pursuing careers in the electrical industry! We had a wonderful time, and hope to see them again very soon -- as WECA electrical apprentices!

Stay tuned for a special publication featuring the first-ever WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship graduating class! We celebrated their graduation last weekend, and have pictures and video coming your way soon. In the meantime, meet our valedictorian and salutatorian!


 

WECA is proud to present the inaugural Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program Class of 2024 – including its Valedictorian, Austin Weaver, an employee of WECA Member Contractor Helix Electric.

Austin reports that his WECA education was “a nice blend of being challenging, engaging, and interesting. Between the presentations of need-to-know information and the labs, I felt my confidence grow in what I could expect in the field and in myself. The two-week class format was something I really enjoyed because I felt that I could focus on my learning without the exhausting demands of a full workweek.”

Additionally, Austin says that his apprenticeship with WECA has prepared him for his career by exposing him to the resources needed to be a successful electrician and teaching him how to navigate those resources.

“Much of the knowledge I’ve learned has contributed to a broader intuition that will surely help me in the many critical thinking situations I will be faced with in the future. My education will also help me connect with the upcoming generation of electricians that go through the program and enable me to help them with questions they have by using on-the-job situations as teaching points. Frankly, it will also help me be a better mentor and provide an effective bridge between school and work,” says Austin.

As a complement to his WECA education, Austin’s on-the-job training with employer Helix Electric made him adaptable and laid the groundwork for his work processes. Austin’s on-the-job training also allowed him to learn from his successes and failures, as well as those of others.

Austin credits his success at WECA to WECA’s curriculum, his determined and focused spirit, and his support system.

“Some of the factors that contributed to my success at WECA, in my career, and in becoming valedictorian of my class include the profoundly well-thought-out curriculum that WECA offers, my willingness to learn from the many electricians I’ve been able to work with, and my determination to aspire to and accomplish lofty academic goals,” says Austin. “My success is due to the support of others. I’ve been blessed to work around people who actively help me to become better. I intend to pay that forward.”

Austin encourages current and future apprentices to “be humble – if you’re struggling with something in school or at work, look at it as an opportunity to grow instead of a stab at your pride. Struggles expose us for who we currently are so we can tend to weaknesses and become all the better. Another bit of advice is to really take your class time at WECA seriously. If you learn as much as you possibly can in the classroom and couple that with your hands-on abilities from the field, you will be an effective and confident electrician who will be trusted.”

Furthermore, Austin credits his mentors, instructor, and family for helping propel his success.

“I would like to give a shout-out to Jon Hunt for inviting me to apply at Helix and join the electrical trade. I will forever be indebted to him,” says Austin. “I’d like to thank Ryan Harwood, Joaquin Gomez, and Derek Ferguson for mentoring me throughout my career so far. I’d like to thank Talon Pobuda (WECA Utah Apprenticeship Manager and Lead Instructor) for his excellent teaching and keen interest in our success as skilled workers. And I’d like to thank my parents, siblings, and extended family for their love and support as I’ve progressed along my career path.”

After graduating from WECA, Austin plans to further his electrical industry education, finesse his performance and leadership skills, and “become an invaluable asset to Helix Electric and continue to provide my best work for them.”

Congratulations on your graduation, Austin! Your humility, drive, and grit have paid off – and will continue to take you far. The Utah electrical industry is lucky to have you!

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If there’s one thing that WECA Utah Class of 2024 Salutatorian and Hunt Electric Commercial Electrical Apprentice Landon Doty could change about his apprenticeship experience, it would have been to start in the WECA program through Day 1.

“Having gone to other schools first, I can confidently say that I would love to have started from the beginning with WECA,” says Landon. “We discussed some of the curriculum that my class didn’t get to cover elsewhere, and some of the material that we did get to cover at WECA…I can only imagine how much better it would be to have gone through WECA sooner.”

“WECA is fun. Having many more labs than previous schools was a treat. WECA also gave me access to many concepts, products, and scenarios that I had never seen until it was required of me. I can now more confidently approach numerous uncommon tasks. I have spent many hours being moved around with tasks and learning new ways of approaching tasks. Learning to install is important, but having the chance to learn how to learn has been greatly beneficial,” continues Landon.

Outside of the classroom, Landon is tremendously thankful for his on-the-job apprenticeship experience with employer and WECA Utah founding Member Contractor Hunt Electric.

“I am lucky enough to have the opportunity through Hunt to work on a one-of-a-kind project. I look forward to being able to see such an incredible project through,” says Landon. “It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime project that I am blessed to be a part of. I look forward to learning more and improving further. As wonderful as it is to finish school, I still can’t help but feel that I have so much more to learn.”

Landon also attributes his success to being focused and detail oriented.

“I have always been more of a meticulous person,” says Landon. “I like to understand the ‘why’ just as much as the ‘how’. This has helped me be able to prioritize tasks, and information needed for a task. Being able to differentiate is great for using time and energy efficiently.”

And last, but not least, Landon credits his mom and dad with contributing to his success.

“Their continuous support has been nothing short of a miracle and a blessing,” says Landon. 

Content Courtesy of: California Department of Industrial Relations


 

This standard applies to most indoor workplaces and requires safety measures to go into effect when the indoor temperature reaches 87°F to prevent the risk of heat illness to workers  

Sacramento—The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved on June 20 an indoor heat standard to protect indoor workers from heat illness. The new regulation will require?indoor workplaces to be cooled below 87 degrees Fahrenheit if feasible when employees are present, and below 82 degrees if feasible in places where workers wear protective clothing that restricts heat removal or work in high radiant heat areas. 

Local and state correctional facilities as well as emergency operations directly involved in the protection of life or property are exempted from the proposed regulation for indoor heat. Cal/OSHA is in the process of developing an industry-specific regulation for local and state correctional facilities to protect their workers from indoor heat hazards. In the interim, for these exempted employers, Cal/OSHA will continue investigating potential indoor heat violations under existing regulations such as the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (Title 8, Section 3203) and Water Supply (Title 8, Section 3363). 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:?On June 20, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 3396, “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment.” The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has 30 working days to review and approve or deny the proposal. The Standards Board requested that the regulation take effect immediately after OAL approval. 

WHY IT MATTERS:?Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment regulation applies to most indoor workplaces, such as restaurants, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. For indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 87 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take steps to protect workers from heat illness. Some of the requirements include providing water, rest, cool-down areas, methods for cooling down the work areas under certain conditions, and training.  

Employers may be covered under both the indoor and outdoor regulations if they have both indoor and outdoor workplaces. See the Comparison Chart of Indoor and Outdoor Heat Illness Prevention Standards. 

The?Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, a seven-member body appointed by the Governor, is the standards-setting agency within the Cal/OSHA program. The Standards Board's objective is to adopt reasonable and enforceable standards that are at least as effective as federal standards. The Standards Board also has the responsibility to grant or deny applications for variances from adopted standards and respond to petitions for new or revised standards. 

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers and workers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call?Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch?at 800-963-9424. 

There are more resources for employers and workers on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web page and the 99calor.org informational website, as well as a Heat Illness Prevention online tool. The advisory includes a toll free number for workers who have questions about heat illness prevention in indoor and outdoor places of employment can speak with a Cal/OSHA representative, 1-833-579-0927, and information on how to file confidential complaints with Cal/OSHA district offices about workplace safety and health hazards.  

Content Courtesy of: Construction Dive


 

Benefits of using the tech on building projects include a competitive safety culture, risk mitigation and flagging contracts for delay provisions.

By: Matthew Thibault

SAN DIEGO — Across the country, construction firms are using artificial intelligence to improve their safety cultures, monitor their legal documents for questions and issues and manage project risk.

Speakers and panelists from firms including Balfour Beatty, Rosendin and Joseph J. Albanese spoke to attendees at the ENR FutureTech conference in San Diego from June 3-5 about the benefits they’ve reaped from AI. 

AI dominated contractors’ predictions as one of the breakout technologies of the last year, and since then has changed how business gets done across the globe. However, contractors have also urged caution, as the technology remains in a Wild West-like state At the conference, speakers said many aspects of the tech’s impact on construction still remain unclear. That’s especially true when it comes to AI and the labor crunch. 

Read the rest of the article here.

California Member Contractors: Remember to Save the Date to Celebrate Your Employees at Their 2024 WECA Northern California and Southern California Graduation Ceremonies


 

WECA's 2024 Commencement Ceremonies for our Northern and Southern California graduating Apprenticeship and Electrician Trainee Certificate Program Classes of 2024 will be held on the above dates! 

WECA California Member Contractors--please watch your inboxes for sponsorship and ticketing details to come! We look forward to celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our graduates with you!

 

WECA recently attended the 2024 State Workforce Summit in Flagstaff, Arizona. We joined over 200 workforce and economic development professionals as they celebrated their victories in the field and worked through opportunities presented to continue to improve workforce and economic development in Arizona.

WECA was also delighted to be joined by Solei Donahue, a first-year Commercial Electrical apprentice with WECA Arizona founding Member Contractor Corbins. Solei, who is a Native American woman from the Gila River Indian community located in the Arizona town of Sacaton, recently joined the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program through WECA and Corbins' partnership with Grand Canyon University's pre-apprenticeship program, which is funded by local workforce funds allowing young men and women to gain a solid footing in the electrical trade. Below is an excerpt of the inspiring speech she gave during the first day of the event.

"Skoug-sialik...or in English, good morning. I joined Corbins through a fifteen-week internship program at Grand Canyon University. For me, this opportunity came spontaneously while we were meeting with a counselor for my brother. Joy, the woman who opened so many doors for me, was just making small talk when she asked what my plans were after graduating high school. Like most kids freshly out of high school, I had no idea. I just told her I'll try different internships and see what I really like. She then went on to tell me about the Center of Workforce's internship, and told me how I could become an apprentice electrician by the end of the year.

I decided it would be good to have experience on my resume, and it would be useful for the future. But I knew once the second semester had started, that this was something I was interested in doing for the rest of my life.

Not only did the internship encourage me to pursue the career of an electrician, it gave me the confidence to keep pushing myself to stand for all the women in the workforce, including young women in my community out there who think joining a trade is scary.

Not only has this internship provided me with a successful career path, it has also aided me as a young girl in becoming a mature adult who is succeeding at life, in general. This program has given me all of the tools and will continue to help me on my journey to becoming a future successful journeywoman.

Ma'sapo...thank you again for this amazing opportunity!"

The 2024 State Workforce Summit for Arizona was amazing, and we look forward to the opportunities and learning that next year's event will bring! As Heath Anderson, WECA Arizona's Outreach and Workforce Development Specialist, opines, apprenticeship has moved back to center stage in workforce development as many look for quality upskilling methods for developing talent. WECA looks forward to continuing to educate the workforce and economic development communities in Arizona and beyond on the amazing benefits of WECA's electrical apprenticeship programs.

Utilize the U.S. Department of Labor's Interactive, Web-Based, Self-Directed Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Trainings for Your Employees

WECA currently provides anti-harassment training to every WECA apprentice as part of their apprenticeship. However, it is also required for you, the employer, to ensure that all parties working with apprentices have participated in anti-harassment training.

Per Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations, 29 CFR 30.3(b)(4), this training must be provided to all individuals including: apprentices, apprentice supervisors, forepersons, journey workers, instructors, and other employees regularly working alongside apprentices, including management and administrative personnel.

If you have not already educated your workers in anti-harassment training, we strongly encourage you, our members, to utilize and make available to all employees the U.S. Department of Labor's interactive, web-based, self-directed EEO training.

It's easy -- just have your employees read and utilize the resources linked below:

Promoting an Anti-Harassment Environment

Unlawful Harassment in Apprenticeship

WECA's EEO Pledge

Prevent Harassment | Apprenticeship.gov

These resources are always available to you on WECA's website under "Member Forms and Resources" in the "Approved to Train" section, and on your member dashboard after login.

Behind the scenes of the continued buildout of the updated Low Voltage Apprenticeship data room at WECA's California HQ: Low Voltage instructors John Arias and Randy Rivera hard at work putting up the room's walls -- including Plexiglass for a see-through wall feature! For this phase, John and Randy installed drywall for the solid walls, and Plexiglass for the see-through walls. The Plexiglass feature will enable other apprentices and passers-by to observe the work of apprentices actively in the lab.

If you missed our initial installment of the WECA data room chronicles, the new data rooms being built at WECA's California HQ in Sacramento plus our Training Center in San Diego will allow our Low Voltage apprentices to expand upon their telecommunications and fiber optic installation and maintenance skills in a lab environment. These skills are increasingly important in today's world as companies continue to store massive amounts of data in secured spaces.

Read: Arizona law allows contractors to lock in favorable hearing decision before ROC can modify/reject it

Content Courtesy of Electric Times

Alan M. Petrillo

Electric Times

An Arizona law that went into effect in September 2022 gives new protections to licensed contractors and other business and professional licensees in state agency licensing decisions.

Jamie Hanson, a partner at the construction and business litigation law firm of Lang Thal King & Hanson, said the amended A.R.S. squiggle 41-1092.08 gives a contractor 10 days to accept an administrative law judge's provision decision before the Registrar of Contractors (ROC) has a chance to modify it or reject it. If the administrative law judge's written decision is favorable, the contractor can accept it, making the decision final, which means the ROC cannot change it.

Hanson pointed out that the 10-day window applies "in any appealable agency action or contested case involving a licensing decision." The new provision applies to state agencies and their licensees in general, as well as the ROC and licensed contractors.

If the contractor does not accept the administrative law judge's decision, the ROC can still do what it has always been able to do: accept the decision, modify it, or even reject it, Hanson added. However, under the 2022 amendments, if the ROC intends to modify or reject the provisional decision, that is, by imposing a penalty or punishment, the ROC must first have a conference with the contractor.

If the ROC seeks to deviate from the administrative law judge's recommendation, the ROC runs the risk of an adverse attorney-fee award. Under amendments to A.R.S. squiggle 12-348(A)(2), that statute now provides, "A licensee that prevails in an appeal of an agency's final decision following a conference pursuant to section 41-1092.08 subsection I is entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred during all stages of the proceeding." Thus, a state agency that wants to change the administrative law judge's recommended decision must weigh that potential liability for its own attorney fees and those of the license holder.

Hanson said the new law is good news for contractors, because it gives them more control over the hearing process that affects their license.

Many contractors deal with homeowner complaints about workmanship, he pointed out, and an adverse decision can lead to suspension of the contractor's license. Under the amended A.R.S. squiggle 41-1092.08, a decision to suspend a contractor's license after a homeowner's workmanship complaint is a "licensing decision" that falls under the protection of the 2022 law.

If a contractor successfully defends its license at the administrative hearing, the administrative law judge's decision will recommend that the complaint be dismissed, with no discipline against the contractor's license. Thanks to the 2022 law, the contractor has the right to accept that favorable decision, without the risk of the ROC overturning it. Hanson added, "That was a real risk before the law was passed; if it disagreed with the administrative law judge's decision, the ROC would sometimes convert a dismissal into a suspension."

If the administrative law judge's decision recommends only a "slap on the wrist" decision (a one-day suspension, for example), the ROC cannot increase that discipline unless the ROC meets with the contractor in advance, Hanson said."If the ROC persists in increasing the discipline, then the ROC could be liable for attorney fees if that decision is ultimately overturned in Superior Court," he noted.

Apart from this development in the law being generally more favorable to contractors, it also helps contractors in any negotiations with homeowners during the complaint process, Hanson said.

"The new law is a healthy reminder that the homeowner is not in total control of the complaint process, and there are protections in place to preserve the contractor's right to hold a license," he said. "However, it is always wise for a contractor to talk with an attorney to strategize about what a case requires and how it is to be approached," Hanson added. 

 

Create or Update Your Workplace Violence Prevention Plan; Content Courtesy of WECA Industry Partner Cook Brown, LLP


 

Content courtesy of: WECA Industry Partner Cook Brown, LLP

Virtually all California employers must have a workplace violence prevention plan in place by July 1, 2024. 

The Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

Cal/OSHA's model plan offers a starting point for creating a compliant plan. In addition to a model workplace violence prevention plan, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has also published a general fact sheet to help employer’s create and implement a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) that meets the requirements imposed by Labor Code section 6401.9. 

Read the rest of the article here.

Content Courtesy of CA DIR


 

As previously announced in our Public Works Modernization Project Case for Change, the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Public Works team is preparing for the release of its modernized Public Works website services this summer.

This initiative is a major step forward in integrating our services into a comprehensive, user-friendly platform that will replace the following systems/website services: 

• Project Registration (PWC-100) 
• Public Works Contractor Registration (PWCR) 
• Certified Payroll Reporting (eCPR) 

Updates to prevailing wage determination search are scheduled for later in the year.

Key Impacts

The new platform will significantly enhance the functionality and user experience for both contractors and awarding bodies: 

Awarding Bodies will benefit from: 

• A simplified registration process for public works projects. 
• The ability to update existing registered projects. 
• A centralized dashboard to view all their public works projects. 
• Inviting their entire team to join their awarding body account. 

Contractors will be able to: 

• Add subcontractors to their public works projects. 
• View all their public works projects in a centralized dashboard. 
• Submit and edit eCPRs directly from their project dashboard. 
• Save employees and duplicate previous eCPR submissions to minimize redundant data entry. 
• Submit a single eCPR record for multiple weeks of non-performance. 
• Invite their entire team to join their contractor account.

Key Changes

This summer, the new platform will go-live with the legacy platforms (PWC-100, PWCR,

eCPR) retiring.

Awarding body users will need to: 

• Create a new user account (logins from the current applications will not work). 
• Find their awarding body via a search. 
• Request to link their user account with their awarding body. 
• Approve requests from contractors to be added to projects for eCPR submissions. 

Contractor users will need to: 

• Create a new user account (logins from the current applications will not work). 
• Create a new account for their contractor, inputting their PWCR number to ensure their registration status is maintained. 
• Request to join projects to submit eCPRs (if not already added by awarding body). 
• Prime contractors can also request to add subcontractors to projects. 

Register for Training 

To ensure you are well-prepared to utilize the new system, DIR Public Works is hosting upcoming training webinars: 

We will provide an in-depth walkthrough of the new platform’s features and

functionalities. Attendance is highly recommended to ensure smooth adaption to the modernized system. To sign up, please follow the links below. 

Register for Awarding Bodies on Tuesday, June 18th from 1 - 3 PM here

Register for Contractors on Thursday, June 20th from 10 AM - noon here

We are dedicated to supporting you through this transition with comprehensive training and resources. Stay tuned for further updates, including additional training materials and support documents. 

To assist with the transition and ongoing usage of the new platform, Public Works will release a new Support Center web page that will include: 

• How-to user guides. 
• Recorded webinars and walkthroughs. 
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support as we advance towards a more

streamlined and efficient future with the DIR Public Works Modernization Project. 

With six WECA training facilities across three states as of 2024, it's pretty rare that we get all of the WECA full-time employees together in one room -- but we got pretty close on a team-building day in Sacramento on May 30th!

It was fantastic to see everyone, share stories and ideas, and give our geographically-disparate team the chance to get some quality face time together!

Content Courtesy of California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)


 

Content Courtesy of CPUC

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Solar-Utilities Reporting, Guidance, and Education (SURGE) initiative is hosting two (2) workshops to help contractors navigate the SURGE Compliance Portal on June 18th and June 25th during the lunch hour (12:00-1:00 pm) via Microsoft Teams.

Please see the attached event flyer for additional details.  

Per AB 2143 and PUC 769.2, contractors must submit copies of their certified payroll records to CPUC via the SURGE Compliance Portal. The July 1st deadline is approaching quickly for contractors to submit copies of their January 1st through May 31st certified payroll records.

This workshop is designed for contractors who need technical assistance navigating the SURGE Compliance Portal. The workshop will go in depth on each of the steps required by SURGE including Contractor Registration, Project Registration, and Certified Payroll Submission. This workshop will provide valuable information on the SURGE payroll records submission process, a necessary step for solar contractors in complying with AB 2143/PUC 769.2.

Click Here to Register for the June 18th Workshop  

Click Here to Register for the June 25th Workshop 

Please note that you only need to attend one workshop session, as both will cover the same information.

Please visit the website at www.cpucsurge.org for more information and resources for contractors.  

If you need any additional information for this workshop, please feel free to send us an email at outreach@cpucsurge.org.  

WECA's 2024 Commencement Ceremonies for our Northern and Southern California graduating Apprenticeship and Electrician Trainee Program Classes of 2024 will be held on the above dates! Watch your inboxes for more details as these events draw closer. We look forward to celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our graduates with you!

WECA Member Contractors--watch your inboxes for more sponsorship details to come!

Please join WECA in congratulating Royal Electric, Rex Moore Group, and North State Electrical Contractors for making the Sacramento Business Journal's annual Top Private Companies in Sacramento area list!

 

While attending a technical college, Bob Boling held his instructors there in such esteem that he knew he wanted to become an electrical instructor himself someday.

Two decades later, Bob is now WECA’s newest Electrical Apprenticeship instructor! Bob comes to WECA with seventeen years of experience as a journeyperson electrician, having worked in the residential electrical, commercial electrical, light industrial, solar, and general maintenance sectors and for two years as an instructor at another educational institution.

As an instructor, Bob enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with students, while also continually “striving to improve my own knowledge.”

“I am a naturally hard worker and I always strive to do my best and improve,” says Bob. “I intend to do that by using the resources available to me. In this case, I am looking forward to gaining as much knowledge as I can from the other instructors, as that is probably one of the best resources I have available to me.”

Bob’s philosophy is that while most learning takes place in the classroom, lab, and on the jobsite, students should also be open to learning whenever the opportunity arises.

“I would advise WECA Apprentices to learn as much as they can in the classroom and in the field and encourage them to learn why they are doing what they are doing. There may not always be time on the job to get deep into why things are done in a specific way, but Apprentices can always do additional research or talk to other electricians or instructors to gain that knowledge,” says Bob.

Bob also has a rich personal life outside of teaching. He has been married to his wife, Johanna, for 21 years, and together they have a 20-year-old son, Ari. They also share two dogs: Rocky (a two-year-old Mini American Bulldog mix) and Bandit (an older mutt). When not spending time with his family or dogs, Bob enjoys working on the house and playing music—specifically the bass guitar, drums, and learning piano.

We’re excited to welcome you to the WECA family, Bob! Your dedication to teamwork and leveling up your knowledge is inspirational and will continue to reinforce the rock-solid bond the WECA instructional team already shares. 

Introducing the Next Self-Paced Online Option for Our GetWired Electrician Trainee Program Series:

GetWired 301: Self-Paced Electrical Work for Commercial Construction from the Ground Up, Part 1

Electrician Trainees Can Take It on Their Own Time, at Their Own Pace!?


 

WECA is excited to announce another way your employees enrolled in WECA's Electrician Trainee Certificate Program can take GetWired 301, the ninth class in WECA's Path to an Electrician Trainee Program Certificate!

We've long offered GetWired 301 as an instructor-led online course. And we still do!

But for students who would prefer to take this course at their own pace, on their own time, we're now offering a fully self-paced online option, just like we've been offering for earlier courses in the GetWired series! Students who might prefer this format include:

• Students with job, childcare, or other obligations preventing them from taking the instructor-led scheduled courses in the evenings
• Students who would benefit from being able to review the material at a slower pace, such as students for whom English is a second language
• Students who just prefer to work on the coursework at times and places when it works best for them

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WECA's new GetWired 301 Self-Paced Option is an entirely online, self-paced alternative version of our GetWired 301 course, which takes students through construction of a commercial building from underground work through construction and finish work. Students will use genuine construction plans (digital blueprints on a mobile tablet) and related documents to learn how to coordinate documents, work with other trades, and identify ways to save money through careful planning.

Course topics include:

• How to read construction plans (blueprints)
• Coordinating construction documents:
• Identifying and planning for electrical work on construction plan sheet types
• Underground utilities locator and coordinating with local utility companies
• Parallel conductors, sizing secondary conductors and conduits and sizing grounding electrode conductors
• Working clearances, services and meter types
• Exterior Lighting
• Scheduling Labor and materials

A 2020 NEC book, a set of digital blueprints and a digital student resource booklet are required for this course. The digital blueprints and the student resource booklet, pre-loaded on a complimentary mobile tablet, are included in the cost of the tuition. 

• Total class hours available: 40.5
• Standard Tuition Fee: $399

Know an Electrician Trainee this would work for?

Encourage them to enroll in GetWired 301 Self-Paced Online today!

Think they'd prefer being able to interact with an instructor and learn along with other students?

Encourage them to enroll in an upcoming instance of the original GetWired 301 here!

Lightworks CEO and Owner Troy Dunnington

For Lightworks founders Troy Dunnington and Todd Walling, lighting, construction, and design are a shared passion.

Troy and Todd initially met in 1999 while both working for a design center in San Diego. Troy—then the owner of Lightz On—worked as an electrical subcontractor for the company, while Todd worked as the company’s Lighting Specialist. While collaborating on projects together, Troy and Todd experienced firsthand the “fragmented nature” of subcontractor services in the market—most notably how multiple subcontractors handled electrical, low voltage, lighting control, landscaping, telecommunications, security, and motorized window treatments during a project, separately, without communicating with each other.

Troy and Todd decided to address these pain points by founding a company that offered a more cohesive approach—Lightworks. Troy began implementing his passion for audio-video and lighting control into his projects, while Todd contributed expertise in lighting specification and design software, to offer unified systems to their clientele. Altogether, Lightworks stands out from its competitors by offering seven different disciplines—electrical, lighting design, lighting control, audio visual, security, surveillance, shades, drapes, and smart power—under one roof.

“We offer expertise in smart power electrical, lighting design, lighting fixtures, lighting control, shades, audio-visual, and security, and pride ourselves on being a comprehensive design-build firm,” says Lightworks. “We have established partnerships with prominent Southern California builders, architects, and designers, positioning ourselves as trusted design and consultation allies. We have also fostered numerous alliances with top technology partners, and garnered accolades such as induction into the Lutron Hall of Fame, Savant Ambassadorship, HTA certification, and the Lutron Black Diamond dealership.”

Lightworks is projected to achieve more success and demand in Southern California over the coming years, as the need for smart power, home automation, and more increases.

“With the adoption of smart power, battery storage, and linking power to your smart home, this will revolutionize homeowners’ ability to give visibility into their energy usage, while also giving them the ability to determine what course of energy can be used throughout the day—like pulling from the grid, pulling from batteries, or recharging from the sun or the generator in the event of power outages,” says Lightworks.

Additionally, Lightworks says that “Our thirst as humans to be connected means that technology becomes a bigger part of everyone’s lives both at home and at work. With more people working from home and more electric vehicles, there is more demand for electrical and technology being packed into houses.”

Thank you, Lightworks, for being a WECA Member Contractor and training your employees with us! We’re thrilled to be helping you develop a qualified, educated workforce to deliver the increased demand for smart power, battery storage, smart homes, and more in Southern California. 

 

 

WECA Arizona Outreach and Workforce Development Specialist Heath Anderson Featured in Electric Times Article on 'Attracting Women to the Trades,' along with mention of WECA Industry Partner ToolWatch

Content Courtesy of Electric Times

Alan M. Petrillo, Electric Times

Heath Anderson, Outreach and Workforce Development Specialist for the Western Electrical Contractors Association (WECA), has a finely tuned antenna aimed at getting more young people into the electrical trades, and recently had an opportunity to address the Phoenix chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) on the subject of increasing the number of women getting into the construction trades.

Anderson said the invitation to speak to NAWIC was the result of a chance encounter with Samantha Miller, Construction Operations and EHS Platform Account Executive for ToolWatch. He said that ToolWatch also shares WECA's passion for encouraging more women to join the electrical trade, and to that end, Miller invited Anderson to be a guest speaker at some ToolWatch events, including an episode of ToolWatch’s Women in Innovation podcast last December, and at the NAWIC Phoenix chapter meeting this March.

“The audience were great hosts and provided great discussion,” Anderson said of the NAWIC Phoenix chapter meeting. “The members appreciated the efforts that have gone into the marketing materials aimed at helping women see the benefits of a career as an electrician.”

Anderson added that this year is the 95th anniversary of his organization.

“I told the group that WECA has a federally approved apprenticeship program, and that it maintains ambassador status at federal Department of Labor under its apprenticeship program division,” he said. “I mentioned to the group that WECA has dedicated open houses during the national Women in Construction Week, and that as an organization, we have quarterly female apprentice roundups where Arizona, Utah and California women apprentices can come together to discuss issues important in being successful in the construction industry.”

Anderson said that WECA’s outreach is designed to allow women to have a great opportunity in the electrical trade. “We have worked closely with the Fresh Start Foundation for Women, which focuses on women in general in the trades; have a federal Department of Labor grant to assist women in non-traditional occupations; and work with the nonprofit group, Arouet, that’s dedicated to helping women who have been incarcerated to get the tools they need for success in the construction field.”

He pointed out that “Many of our electrical contractor members are very second chance friendly; they have a good many folks who have had major issues in their lives, and gave them a chance to succeed in their companies. Those were good things for the NAWIC chapter to hear, and gave them ideas where they can also be helping the cause.”

Anderson said WECA also recently had good interaction in beginning to work with Girls Can Build, stated Tiffany Sharp of Sharp Construction, whose group provides knowledge and mentoring for young women considering work in the electrical field. He noted that Sharp will begin a new mentoring process in August.

“A very important thing we talked about at the NAWIC meeting is that it is of upmost importance that women are shown that where they will go to work is where there are people like themselves,” Anderson said. “Women in construction should be very visible so they can serve as role models.”

One of the barriers in the construction industry is the relationship with film, television and the media, Anderson said.

“I challenged the NAWIC Phoenix chapter to be a voice to tell the broadcasting world that there are no positive role models of construction workers in broadcasts, women or men, living a good life,” he said.

“They should be showcasing the quality of life by the people who build, and give young women and parents a lesson on how women can be successful in the construction industry as a whole.”

Develop Your Non-Electrician Construction Employees in Electrical Fundamentals


 

Our contractors asked, and WECA delivered.

Essential training for non-electrician construction professionals:

The WECA Project Engineer to Project Manager

(PE to PM) Program
 

Providing training in electrical concepts, code, and best practices for non-electrician construction professionals, WECA's PE to PM Program was designed and developed in close consultation with our contractors. It's designed to give construction professionals--including Project Engineers who have a background in construction but little or no electrician-specific training--the electrical fundamentals and crucial concepts they need to talk the talk and walk the walk on your projects. 

The PE to PM Training Path is made up of five online courses which should be taken in the following order:

1. Practical Electrical Theory is an online, self-paced introduction to electrical theory, laws, and circuits. Course topics include:

• Atomic Theory
• Ohm’s Law
• Series Circuits
• Parallel Circuits

Learn more and enroll here.

2. Subject Indexing and Code is an online, self-paced course in which students will learn how to effectively navigate and answer code-related questions in the National Electrical Code (NEC 2017) book and complete the calculations needed for electrical installations. Course topics include:

• NEC Subject Indexing
• Conductor Sizing and Protection
• Raceway, Box Fill, and Conduit Fill Calculations
• Service Sizing, Clearances, and Terminations
• Wiring Methods, Special Equipment and Occupancies
• Grounding and Bonding
• Motors
• General Equipment, Lighting and Panelboards

Learn more and enroll here.

3. Electrical Wiring Methods and Installations is an online, self-paced introduction to the most used wiring methods with emphasis on proper installation and correctly applying electrical code. Course topics include:

• Installation basics
• National electrical code
• Workmanship standards
• Identification of methods

Learn more and enroll here.

4. Job Costs and Estimating Basics is an online hybrid (a scheduled instructor-led introduction and otherwise self-paced) course which introduces estimating job costs, material and labor for electrical installations. Course topics include:

• Material estimations
• Labor estimations
• Voltage drop as applied to installation
• Total job cost analysis

Learn more and enroll here.

5. Commercial Electrical Blueprint Reading is an online, scheduled, instructor-led course (with a self-paced online option launching very soon!) in which students learn how to coordinate cut sheets, submittals, the NEC and more with digital blueprints to plan electrical installation for commercial construction from the ground up. 

Learn more and enroll here.
 

FAQs

Q: Is this for Project Engineers only?

A: Nope! Any construction industry professional (for instance, General Contractors, Construction Managers, Solar Installers, etc.) who requires a grounding in electrical concepts, the National Electric Code, and best practices on the electrical job site can benefit from this program. 

Q: Is the PE to PM Program appropriate for Electrician Trainees?

A: No--Electrican Trainees should take the WECA Path to the Electrician Trainee Program Certificate, including the whole GetWired! series, in order to make sure they are getting the thorough electrical education and amount of education hours needed to qualify for the State of CA electrician certification exam.

Q: Does the WECA discount structure for Member Contractors and their employees apply to the PE to PM program?

A: Yes, discounts on these classes are available to WECA Member Contractors and their employees as a WECA membership benefit. Members: Please log in to your secured member dashboard to access and download the PE to PM discount rate sheet, or call our office for more information. Member employees: Please speak to your contractor about accessing a discount.

Q: How long does it take to complete the program?

A: The program is modularized and was designed to accommodate individual choice in the intensity and speed of completion. Motivated students might complete it in as little as 6 months. A student who would like to integrate the concepts more slowly, or who is combining this program with other on-the-job training, might prefer to enroll in only one course per quarter, taking approximately 18 months to complete the program.

Q: Will the timing of the classes interfere with job duties?

A: The program has been designed for busy working professionals and should not interfere with full-time job duties. All of the courses are fully online. Three of the courses are entirely self-paced. One of the courses has one instructor-led class, which is held online in the evening, and then the remainder are self-paced. The final course is scheduled, online, instructor-led, but classes occur on weeknight evenings and one Saturday.

Q: I'm a construction professional who has had some electrical training already. Can I skip a class? 

A: WECA recommends the full program, taken in the order outlined above. However, if you've had previous electrical training (for instance, by taking some WECA GetWired! classes), we recommend you review the course outlines closely, and then enroll in whatever is most appropriate for you. Call WECA and talk to one of our client services specialists if you're not sure what to take.

Q: Does WECA provide a certificate of completion at the end of this program?

A: Yes, a student who successfully completes all five courses in the PE to PM Program Path with be granted a certificate of completion from WECA. (Credit towards the certificate for alternative courses previously taken at WECA will be considered on a case-by-case basis.)

Q: How much does this cost?

A: Individual courses in the path range from $99 - $389 each, and WECA member discounts apply to each of them. Total program tuition costs are under $1,000, even without member discounts applied. One of the two required textbooks may be rented for additional savings. (See the WECA booklist on each course's web catalog page for details. Some textbooks can be rented.) 

Enroll your employees (and be sure to utilize WECA's member training discounts) today!

 

California and Utah Commercial Electrical Apprentices in the Labs

Fifth year, second semester Commercial Electrical Apprentices in the lab with instructor Jimmie Slemp at WECA's California headquarters in Rancho Cordova









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Fifth year, second semester Commercial Electrical apprentices in instructor Lakeal Morris' lab at WECA's California headquarters in Rancho Cordova









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Fourth year, second semester Commercial Electrical apprentices in the lab with instructor Talon Pobuda at WECA's Utah headquarters in Woods Cross, UT.









 

 

Member Contractors: The next round of instructor-led GetWired 101 classes, the first in the path to the WECA Electrician Trainee Program Certificate, start up in July.

Have trainees who want to get started sooner?

GetWired 101 Self-Paced is an entirely online, self-paced version of our instructor-led GetWired 101 course which introduces fundamental electrical laws and theory and explains how the National Electrical Code (NEC governs the installations of electrical wiring and equipment. Core competencies include:

• Refresher on basic math skills applied to electrical calculations
• General information on electrical installations
• Introduction to hand and power tools used in the field
• Electrical symbols and receptacle outlets
• Atomic structure
• Electrical quantities and Ohm's Law
• Static electricity and magnetism
• Resistors
• Conductors
• Voltage drop and neutral sizing for services
• Wiring methods
• Switch control of lighting circuits, receptacle installation, bonding, and induction heating

Total class hours available: 40
Standard tuition fee: $319

Encourage them to enroll in GetWired 101 Self-Paced here!

Access 2022 Energy Code Checklist Videos for Permit Technicians, Courtesy of California Energy Commission

Content Courtesy of: California Energy Commission

Energy Code Ace has checklists designed specifically for Permit Technicians that summarize California’s Energy Code requirements for common residential alterations. These videos are designed to increase knowledge intake and evaluation of low-rise single-family residential permit applications for compliance with the 2022 Energy Code. The videos were developed by Energy Code Ace with funding by the California utility customers and administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E®), and Southern California Edison Company (SCE) under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. The videos links will open in the Energy Code Ace YouTube webpage. Watch this short two-video playlist and learn how to use these no-cost resources to guide intake of your projects.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) coordinates with utility partners and stakeholder organizations to offer opportunities aimed at enhancing the skills and awareness of persons working with the Energy Code and other CEC efficiency programs. Training and links to the Energy Code and compliance software are available at the CEC's Online Resource Center webpage and at utility training centers throughout the state.

 

The beginning of April was a whirlwind for WECA's outreach and workforce development teams!

First, WECA visited Twelve Bridges High School in Lincoln with WECA Board Member and Member Contractor Ian Vander Linden and his company, KS Telecom.

Top: Ian Vander Linden talks to two attendees.

Bottom: WECA's setup at Twelve Bridges' event.



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Then, WECA had a busy day at Sheldon High School in Elk Grove, joined by WECA Lead Instructor and Lab Manager Jimmie Slemp, Workforce Development Specialist Jeanette Santos, and WECA Member Contractors Royal Electric Company and Capitol Valley Electric. There, Jimmie and Jeanette assisted Workforce Development Manager Diane Trotter in educating attendees about WECA's Apprenticeship programs and how to start their Apprenticeship journeys.



Jeanette and Jimmie are all smiles for the camera!



Jimmie talks with an interested attendee.



Jeanette encourages an attendee as he plays a game to win some WECA swag.



We were excited to have WECA Member Contractor Royal Electric Company at the event with us!



It was also great to see Capitol Valley Electric at the event, too!



Jimmie using our portable outreach electrical lab wall to explain concepts to interested attendees.

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And then, on Saturday, April 13, WECA attended North State Building Industry Foundation's Skilled Trades Job Fair in Sacramento. Commercial Electrical instructors Lakeal Morris and James Hall were also on hand to provide great demonstrations for attendees interested in pursuing careers in the electrical industry.



Lakeal shares a moment with an attendee.



Lakeal and Diane in their elements as they converse with attendees.



James shares some career insights.



James gives an electrical demonstration.

At WECA, we pride ourselves on the fact that many of our instructors have professional backgrounds in myriad facets of the electrical industry. That includes Erwin Marquez, our new Apprenticeship instructor at WECA’s San Diego training facility.

Before joining the WECA team, Erwin—a native of the Philippines—received a B.S. degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering and worked in the electric vehicle, renewable energy, power supply, and semiconductor industries.

His new role at WECA, however, has proven to be exceptionally rewarding. 

“It’s rewarding because you’re helping your students every step of the way and teaching them how to be successful in their careers. My goal is to serve as a role model for students by demonstrating passion, perseverance, and a commitment to lifelong learning in their own career pursuits. I want to lead by example and show students what it means to be successful in their chosen field,” says Erwin.

For Erwin, leading by example means weaving sage advice into his teaching and committing to leveling up at his job and in his understanding of the electrical industry.

“Discover your passion by exposing yourself to a variety of subjects and career paths. Find what you love and enjoy doing, because once you have landed that career, you will feel like you’re never working for the rest of your life,” says Erwin. “And remember these three words—integrity, intelligence, and energy. If you don’t have the first, the other two will bring you down.”

Additionally, Erwin says “I want to always improve at my job and enjoy learning new things, gaining new skills, and becoming more proficient in tasks that I already know. My favorite thing about the electrical industry is the problem-solving and investigating how things like an electrical circuit failed. I enjoy root cause analysis, because it’s like finding a needle in a haystack.”

Outside of work, Erwin enjoys playing sports (especially table tennis!), watching movies, and walking outdoors—particularly with his family.

“I’m blessed with two beautiful angels and a wonderful wife,” says Erwin. “They are my inspiration and motivation in life.”

Thank you for joining the WECA team, Erwin! We’re excited to see how your fascinating background, wisdom, and passion for and knowledge of multiple aspects of the electrical industry help propel the continued success of WECA’s Low Voltage Apprenticeship program in San Diego!

 

Content Courtesy of U.S. Department of Labor


 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor today announced its Wage and Hour Division will offer contracting agencies, contractors, unions, workers and other stakeholders opportunities in May or August to attend an online seminar on meeting federal requirements for paying prevailing wages on federally funded construction and service contracts.

Part of the continuing effort by the division to increase awareness and improve compliance, the day-long seminars will offer sessions on the labor standards protections in the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act, including how the department sets and administers prevailing wages and other topics. Participants can choose from several sessions to get the information they need. 

“Prevailing wage laws empower workers by ensuring that federally funded construction and service jobs are good jobs with fair wages and benefits,” said Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman. “The Biden-Harris administration’s historic investments in our nation’s infrastructure means a significant increase in the number of federal and federally funded projects, and the Wage and Hour Division is committed to ensuring stakeholders understand the labor standards protections critical to these investments.”

Seminars will be held online on May 15 and Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT. The seminars are free to attend but registration is required. Additional information and links to the online seminars will be sent to registered participants. Sign up to receive event updates. 

Learn more about the requirements for federal contractors.

Hosted by Procore and The B1M as Part of Their Get Construction Talking Initiative


 

What: Turning Conversation into Action: Mental Health in Construction Webinar

When: May 21 at 9 A.M. Pacific Time

Where: Virtual

Content Courtesy of Procore

Among men in the US, UK and Australia, construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any sector. As awareness of the mental health crisis has increased, so have expectations for employers to take action.

That's why Procore and The B1M have joined forces to launch Get Construction Talking, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and reducing the stigma around mental health in construction. Register for the webinar to support this critical initiative and you'll hear perspectives from leaders like:

• Fred Mills, Founder, The B1M
• Alison Mirams, Former CEO, Roberts Co.
• Brian Murray, CEO, Ryan Companies

Hear how executives and construction leaders from around the world are taking action and what you can learn from their experience.

Register now

Can't attend live? Register anyway--we'll send a recording of the webinar straight to your inbox.

Let Them Know the 2024 WECEF Scholarship Round for Electrician Trainees is Now Open!




 

If you have employees on the path to a WECA Electrician Trainee Program Certificate, they can follow the link below, review the eligibility requirements, and apply for this scholarship which can result in money for books, tools, and tuition fees, plus sponsored enrollment in upcoming courses. The application deadline is June 15, 2024.

Learn more