Advanced PLDS Series

Course 1: Advanced PLDS Certification – Surveying for Line Design onsite

Who Should Attend: Appropriate for all personnel working in (or for) distribution electric utilities

Pre-requisite: Math Fundamentals for Line Design – or equivalent training or experience. PLDS Levels 1-4.

Surveying for Line Design is the first of 3 courses in the Advanced PLDS Certification I series. It is intended to provide a foundation in surveying concepts for prospective students of the PLDS certification course (Levels 1 – 4).  Topics will include horizontal measurements and ranging, vertical measurements and grading, mapping and GIS, surveying and GPS equipment, aerial imagery and ground features, legal descriptions and ROW, precision and accuracy. Course outline provided (also required: calculator, protractor and engineer’s scale from PLDS Level 1).

Pre-requisite: Attendees need a basic understanding of distribution power systems & line design

Hours: 7     CEUs: 7.0 (PDHs: 7)

Course 2: Advanced PLDS Certification – Conductor Mechanics for Line Design onsite

​This 1-day course is the 2nd in the 3-course Advanced PLDS certification I series. The course aims to instruct line designers and engineering support personnel on the process of evaluating the mechanical characteristics of overhead electric utility lines in order to formulate design guidelines and provide consolidated sag and tension data critical for safe and effective line design.

​Students should be prepared to perform basic and algebraic math operations, as well as, having a working knowledge of line design and electric utility operations. The course is intended as a follow up to the PLDS certification or as a stand-alone course for engineering staff tasked with providing designers with information needed to create designs consistent with the PLDS method. Course outline provided.

• Principals of Conductor Mechanics
• The PLDS Process (how conductor sag and tension data and construction practices affect the design and outcome)
• Design Tension (calculations and decisions that rely on design tension, scale and precision, tensioning methods, uncontrollable variables)
• Worst Case Sag, min/max (calculations and decisions that rely on worst case sag, scale and precision, tensioning methods, uncontrollable variables)
• Data Tables (creation, formatting, publishing)
• Rules of Thumb for Larger Conductors (traditional and antiquated rules, organization specifics, formulation of modern rules)
• Joint Use Management Procedures (contractual requirements, NESC responsibilities, permitting processes)

Pre-requisite: Attendees need a basic understanding of distribution power systems & line design. UTS PLDS (Levels 1-4) certification completion required.

Hours: 7    CEUs: 7.0 (PDHs: 7)

Course 3: Advanced PLDS Certification – Structure Mechanics for Line Design onsite

This 1-day course is the final course in the Advanced PLDS Certification I series. The course aims to instruct line designers and engineering support personnel on the process of evaluating the structural characteristics of overhead electric utility lines in order to formulate design guidelines and provide consolidated pole, crossarm and pole top component data and tables.

Students should be prepared to perform basic and algebraic math operations, as well as, having a working knowledge of line design and electric utility operations. The course is intended as a follow up to the PLDS certification or as a stand-alone course for engineering staff tasked with providing designers with information needed to create designs consistent with the PLDS method. Course outline provided.

• Principals of Structure Mechanics
• The PLDS Process (how poles, equipment, soil conditions and construction practices affect the design and outcome)
• Critical Buckling Axial Ratings (PCR) (how pole class, construction grade, structure orientation type and unbraced column are accounted for in the PCR equation)
• Ultimate Resisting Moment Ratings (URM) (how wood species, pole class and pole setting depth are accounted for in the URM equation)
• Pole Wind Moment (MP) (how NESC Loading, equipment, pole size/class and setting depth affect wind loading on the pole)
• Pole Framing and Adders (determining standards for pole attachments and calculations based on spacing)
• Evaluating NESC strength of pole top components

Pre-requisite: Attendees need a basic understanding of distribution power systems & line design. UTS PLDS (Levels 1-4) certification completion required.

Hours: 7    CEUs: 7.0 (PDHs: 7)

Materials Required: Students need to bring a copy of the current NESC and “kit” items provided in Level 1 to class (not included in course materials). Which is: calculator, protractor and engineer’s scale from PLDS Level 1

Disclaimer: Cost of this class is $1500.00 and is non-refundable. Deadline for Registration is October 7, 2025 After course completion, students will receive 2.1 CEUs.