According to the May 2020 edition of Electrical Currents, a monthly newsletter from the office of the Chief Electrical Inspector Stephen Thornton produced by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, there may be a delay on the effective date of the 2020 NEC and 2020 WAC 296-46B due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Although rule revisions are said to be on schedule (and are set to be adopted as described), due to the effects of the coronavirus on Washington businesses and consumers, the department is considering a delay in the effective date of the revised rules and 2020 NEC. Watch for more details on the Electrical Laws and Rules webpage and in the June edition of the newsletter.

On the legislative front, Senate Bill 6409 recently passed the legislature and was signed by the Governor. This piece of legislation exempts manufacturers’ authorized engineers or factory-trained service technicians from electrical contractor licensing and worker certification requirements while working within the confines of industrial equipment. This bill will become effective on June 11, 2020.