What is high-voltage operational responsibility, and who is legally required to assign it? Legal obligations, periodic maintenance, and licensing requirements in MV/HV facilities. HV operational services in Kocaeli.
High-Voltage Operational Responsibility: Legal Obligations and Periodic Maintenance Guide
Every industrial facility equipped with medium-voltage (MV) and high-voltage (HV) infrastructure is legally required to appoint an authorized electrical engineer as the designated Person in Charge of Operations (High-Voltage Operational Manager). This mandate is frequently overlooked, creating significant legal, administrative, and safety risks.
What Is Operational Responsibility?
Electrical operational responsibility refers to the duty assumed by an authorized professional who is legally accountable for operating the MV/HV facility safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with regulations.
The Person in Charge of Operations:
Oversees periodic maintenance and inspections of the facility
Coordinates immediate response during faults and accidents
Acts as the official technical liaison during regulatory inspections
Maintains and signs official maintenance logs
Ensures electrical safety training for site personnel
Who Is Required to Appoint a Person in Charge of Operations?
Facilities meeting any of the following criteria must appoint a designated operational manager:
Industrial facilities with a transformer capacity of 1,000 kVA or above
All sites with a medium-voltage connection (above 1 kV)
Factories and industrial premises housing an dedicated transformer substation
Power generation and distribution facilities equipped with HV switchgear
Legal Basis
Legal frameworks governing high-voltage operational responsibility include:
Regulation on Electrical High-Current Installations (EKAT) — Articles 4, 5, and related sections
Regulation on Electrical Internal Installations
Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 — Employer Obligations
Turkish Penal Code — Liability regarding industrial accidents resulting from negligence
TEDAŞ / Regional Electricity Distribution Company Technical Specifications
Important Note: The EKAT Regulation and related technical standards are updated periodically by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Always consult the Official Gazette and the ministry’s website for current versions.
Qualifications for the Person in Charge of Operations
According to the EKAT Regulation, the Person in Charge of Operations must hold one of the following credentials:
Electrical Engineer (Registered member of the Chamber of Electrical Engineers – EMO)
Electrical Technical Teacher
Senior Electrical Technician
Qualifications may vary depending on the voltage class of the facility. Additionally, the engineer must accept the assignment in writing, and formal notification must be submitted to the local utility provider.
Outsourced Operational Responsibility Services
Rather than maintaining full-time in-house engineering personnel, many industrial enterprises opt to outsource operational responsibility services to authorized engineering firms.
Key advantages of outsourcing:
Predictable service costs instead of fixed overhead and payroll liabilities
Access to specialized engineers with up-to-date regulatory expertise
Guaranteed execution of periodic maintenance and official reporting
Comprehensive engineering representation during official site audits
24/7 emergency intervention capability
AYÇE Industrial delivers accredited, outsourced high-voltage operational management services to MV/HV facilities across Kocaeli and surrounding industrial hubs.
Periodic Maintenance Mandates
Standard maintenance schedules for MV/HV installations:
Monthly Inspections:
Visual check of the transformer room
Verification of MV switchgear indicators and signal lamps
Visual inspection of grounding system connections
Ventilation system functionality check
Quarterly (3-Month) Inspections:
Functional testing of MV protective relays
Mechanical operation tests for circuit breakers
Transformer thermal imaging and cooling system inspection
Visual check of cable terminations and splices
Annual Inspections:
Insulation resistance measurements
Transformer oil sampling and analysis (mineral oil-filled transformers)
MV circuit breaker maintenance and oil replacement
Grounding system impedance measurements
Relay protection setting verification and secondary injection testing
Preparation of comprehensive maintenance reports
Triennial (3-Year) Inspections:
Comprehensive MV cable diagnostic testing (VLF)
Complete overhaul and servicing of transformers
Full maintenance of MV switchgear assemblies
Formal periodic inspection report issuance
Legal Liability in the Event of an Industrial Accident
If an occupational accident occurs in a facility where no operational manager has been designated or where periodic maintenance logs are missing:
The Employer: Faces severe administrative fines and legal claims under Law No. 6331.
The Operational Engineer: Faces criminal liability under the Turkish Penal Code for injury or loss of life caused by negligence.
The Facility: May face immediate suspension of operations.
Consequently, operational responsibility assignments and routine maintenance records must be kept up-to-date without exception.
Regulatory Site Audits
MV/HV facilities are subject to periodic inspections by:
Ministry of Labour and Social Security labor inspectors
Technical audit teams from TEDAŞ and regional utility companies
Municipal fire departments and licensing authorities
Insurance company risk assessment engineers
Identified non-compliances during audits can lead to administrative sanctions, including immediate electrical disconnection.
⚠️ Legal Notice and Disclaimer
The technical details, statutory references, and engineering standards cited in this article are provided solely for general informational purposes. Applicable regulations, technical specifications, and standards in Turkey are subject to updates. You are required to verify current provisions directly through official resources, including the Official Gazette, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, TEDAŞ, and relevant electricity distribution utilities.
Statutory requirements for high-voltage operational responsibility vary based on voltage levels, installed transformer capacity, and the specific regional distribution grid. Nothing contained herein constitutes formal legal advice.
AYÇE Endüstriyel Makina İnşaat Elektrik Taahhüt San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti. disclaims all liability for any direct, indirect, financial, or legal damages arising from the application of the information presented above. Always engage an authorized electrical engineer or legal counsel to handle your site-specific compliance requirements.