May 2024 / Issue #26
Our newsletter is intended to keep city officials, electricians, and consumers throughout Texas informed of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act and TDLR’s efforts to enforce the associated requirements.
Please feel free to PASS IT ON!
To subscribe to email news and updates about the Electrician program, or to review your email subscription settings, visit the TLDR Email Updates page.
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The Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to adopt the revised National Electrical Code (NEC) as the electrical code for the state of Texas. In 2023, TDLR will adopt the 2023 NEC as the electrical code for the state of Texas and establish it as the "minimum standard" for all electrical work in Texas covered by the Act.
Chapter 1305.201 of the Act provides municipalities the authority to make local amendments to the 2023 NEC; however, any proposal to amend these standards should be done in accordance with NEC 90.4 which stipulates "the authority having jurisdiction may waive specific requirements in this Code or permit alternative methods where it is assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety."
Any non-exempt electrical work started on or after September 1, 2023, must be installed in accordance with the 2023 NEC. To clarify: the “start” of electrical work is the day the electrician begins installing electrical materials or equipment within the residential or commercial building structure. Inside the corporate limits of a municipality, must abide by city permitting requirements and adhere to any local code amendments.
Also, as of October 1, 2023, all examinations for state electrical licenses are based on the 2023 NEC. The state electrical exams are available through PSI, which contracts with TDLR to develop, maintain, and administer the state electrician licensing examinations. It is very important for license candidates to review the Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB), which contains detailed information regarding the examinations and is vital to understanding the process.
Questions? Contact TDLR.
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 The Electrical Safety and Licensing Advisory Board met on March 28. The video of the meeting is available on TDLR's YouTube page. You can find agendas, staff reports, and meeting minutes on the advisory board's web page.
For electrical safety information and fun activities for the little ones you can go to http://www.sparky.org/.
Electrical safety education for a child is important…teach them early!
Arc The Electric Safety Armadillo has created some special TDLR coloring sheets with specific safety messages related to some of the topics covered in this edition of the Arc Flash. We'd love to see the finished versions!
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Please remember that all non-exempt electrical work must be performed by licensed electricians working through licensed electrical contractors – even if the work is outside of city limits. See Administrative Rule 73.70(a).
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 Arc the Texas Electric Safety Armadillo reminds us that everyone who isn't an armadillo should always take precautions and “call 8-1-1 before you dig.”
Remember that power lines are underground as well.
To help protect against personal injury, including loss of life, costly property damage, expensive repairs and legal and civil penalties, TDLR encourages our licensees to follow guidance provided by the Railroad Commission of Texas through their Pipeline Damage Prevention Program.
Help protect against personal injury, including loss of life, costly property damage, expensive repairs and legal and civil penalties, by contacting Texas 8-1-1 as an excavator.
Be safe out there, y'all!
We are still hearing concerns from members of the Texas electrical industry that some electrical contractors as well as some electricians may not be abiding by state requirements. All electricians must remember:
- To display their contractor number and company name on both sides of all vehicles used in conducting electrical work, the TECL number as well as “TDLR” contact information on all invoices and proposals;
- To “perform or offer to perform electrical work” you must hold the appropriate TECL license; and
- That all electrical equipment must be "listed" per Article 110.3(B) of the NEC unless the local authority having jurisdiction has amendments that would supersede these requirements.
- An expired license is the same as being unlicensed. You cannot offer to preform or preform with an expired license.
- A TECL is not valid if there is no Master Electrician attached to the license and cannot offer to preform or preform until a valid Master Electrician is attached to the TECL.
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Program staff spent a lot of time on the road in 2023 and so far in 2024, doing outreach and participating in regulatory activities:
- April 19-20, 2023 – Texas Electrical Exam Committee exam review
- May 9, 2023 – Larry Reichle interview with Austin 7 news on pool/GFCI safety
- July 19, 2023 – TIVA meeting at Dallas IEC headquarters
- August 21-23, 2023 – NERA annual meeting in Anchorage, Alaska
- November 2023 - NEC Code Making Panel 17 task group meeting
- December 2023 – NEC Code Making Panel 17 task group meeting
- January 16-18, 2024 – Manager Development Program
- January 23-26, 2024 – Charleston, SC – NFPA/NEC 1st Draft meeting/voting on Public Inputs for the 2026 NEC edition
- February 13, 2024 – NERA (National Electrical Reciprocity Alliance) annual teleconference meeting hosted by Montana. In person meeting in Montana in August, 2024.
- February 27-29, 2024 – Texas Electrical Exam Committee met to review, update, and develop new examination content.
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If you have any questions, concerns, comments, or observations about the TDLR Electricians Program, please contact us – we want to hear from you.
Please feel free to take this information and PASS IT ON!
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