Electrical equipment used to control, protect, and isolate power systems on job sites. Subcontractors working near switchgear must follow strict lockout/tagout procedures. Installation and maintenance work often requires certified electricians and site-specific safety permits.
Switchgear
Related Terms
LPT (Large Power Transformer)
IndustryA high-voltage transformer exceeding 100 MVA used in electrical substations and large industrial facilities. Subcontractors are often mobilised for LPT installation, maintenance, or emergency replacement work. These units require specialised rigging, permitting, and certified electrical crews due to their size and criticality.
Pjm (pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland) Interconnection Queue
IndustryA waiting list managed by PJM for new power generation and transmission projects seeking grid connection approval. Subcontractors use it to track upcoming infrastructure builds and time their bids accordingly. Long queue backlogs signal sustained field work demand in the PJM service territory.
Sitework
IndustryPreparatory ground-level work completed before main construction begins, including grading, excavation, and utility rough-ins. Subcontractors are often scoped for sitework as a standalone package. Delays in sitework directly impact downstream trade access and schedule.
Battery Storage
IndustrySystems that store electrical energy on-site for use during peak demand or grid outages. Subcontractors increasingly deploy these on remote job sites to reduce generator fuel costs. They also support electrified equipment fleets and temporary power setups.
Unconsolidated Formation
IndustryLoose, weakly bonded subsurface material — such as sand, gravel, or soft clay — that hasn't hardened into solid rock. These formations create unstable borehole conditions, increasing risk of collapse and equipment loss. Subcontractors drilling or excavating in these zones often face additional scope, specialised equipment requirements, and potential cost disputes.
Private Activity Bonds
IndustryTax-exempt bonds issued by governments to finance private infrastructure projects like pipelines or terminals. Subcontractors may work on bond-funded projects, which often carry strict procurement and reporting requirements. Understanding this can affect how you bid and invoice on qualifying jobs.
Latest Industry News
Steel, Copper, Lumber Price Spikes Squeeze Construction Margins
Construction input prices rose 8.9% year over year in August, with steel, copper wire and switchgear posting double-digit gains, Construction Dive reports, citing Associated Builders and Contractors data.
11 days agoIndustrySchneider Electric Canada Wins Electrical and Automation Package for Ontario Line South
Schneider Electric Canada has been selected by Ontario Transit Group to supply switchgear, energy management systems, and tunnel ventilation automation for the Ontario Line South project in Toronto, targeting a 2030 completion.
3 months agoIndustryFour Pickering Reactors Go Offline as $26.8B Refurbishment Sequence Begins
Four units at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station are coming offline ahead of a decade-long, $26.8 billion refurbishment, with fuel channel, boiler and intake work set to begin in January, according to a Canadian Press report via Daily Commercial News.
11 hours agoIndustryNew York Approves $3.3B Long Island Transmission Line
New York regulators approved the 90-mile Propel NY Energy transmission line, a $3.26 billion project connecting Long Island to the state grid, with construction phasing in through 2030.
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