Take full responsibility for safe working on high-voltage equipment (typically 11kV–400kV).
Ensure compliance with the site’s Electrical Safety Rules, including permit-to-work systems.
Maintain operational discipline and ensure that safety precautions are correctly implemented.
HV SAPs are typically authorised to issue:
Permits to Work (PTW)
Permits to Test
Sanction for Test
Limitations of Access
Isolation & Earthing documents
They ensure documents are correctly coordinated, logged, and closed out.
Perform or supervise:
HV switching operations
Isolation of circuits
Application/verification of earths
Functional checks and safety confirmations
This ensures equipment is made dead, secure, and safe for work.
Operate HV systems according to network requirements.
Coordinate outages, energisation, and load management.
Communicate with control rooms (DNO, National Grid, system operators).
Assess network faults and initiate safe restoration.
Investigate trips, protection operations, and abnormal conditions.
Provide technical advice to engineers, supervisors, and contractors.
Liaise with project teams, contractors, and planners.
Ensure work aligns with safety rules, engineering standards, and permits.
Manage interfaces across multiple work fronts.
Maintain personal competence via assessments and authorisation boards.
Support training of APs (Authorised Persons) and CPs (Competent Persons).
Prepare for audits and ensure compliance with standards such as:
UK DNO/TSO safety rules
Distribution Safety Rules (DSR)
Electrical Safety Management Systems (ESMS)
Record switching logs, isolation details, defects, and operational changes.
Produce incident or fault reports when required.
Maintain up-to-date network diagrams and safety paperwork.