Is High Voltage Operation Responsibility Mandatory?

Yes; high voltage operation responsibility is legally mandatory for every private business or public facility with a 1 kV-and-above transformer. These facilities must enter into an operation responsibility contract with an electrical engineer authorised by the Chamber of Electrical Engineers (EMO). The obligation arises from the risk to life and property that high voltage carries. This article explains the legal basis of the obligation, whom it covers and its exceptions. For related context, see What Is High Voltage Operation Responsibility? Why Is It Necessary and What Does It Cover?.

What is the legal basis of the obligation? High voltage operation responsibility is regulated primarily by the Electrical High Current Installations Regulation and the related legislation, together with EMO's regulation on operation responsibility for electrical high voltage facilities. These rules define the qualifications, duties and obligations of the authorised person who will operate high voltage installations. Operation responsibility is therefore not arbitrary but a requirement bound to legislation. For related context, see What Is an RMU? What Does It Do, How Does It Work and What Parts Does It Include?.

Why does the 1 kV threshold matter? In the legislation, voltage levels above 1 kV are accepted as high voltage. This threshold sets the boundary of the operation responsibility obligation: facilities operating at 1 kV and above with their own transformer fall within the scope. For facilities at low voltage level, without a transformer and taking low voltage directly from distribution, high voltage operation responsibility is not required. For related context, see What Is Metal-Clad Switchgear? What Does It Do, How Does It Work and What Features Does It Have?.

Which facilities fall within the scope? Factories with their own transformer substation, production facilities in organised industrial zones, shopping centres, hospitals, hotels, large residential complexes and similar structures fall within operation responsibility scope when they have a 1 kV-and-above transformer. What is decisive is not the type of business but whether it uses energy at high voltage level with its own transformer. For related context, see What Is an OLTC? What Does It Do, How Does It Work and For What Purpose Is It Used?.

What are the consequences of not having an operation manager? Failure to comply with the obligation first creates a serious safety risk; when high voltage facilities are operated without authorised oversight, the likelihood of an accident increases. In addition, in an accident or inspection, the facility owner may face legal and administrative obligations. Operation responsibility is the basic legal and technical safeguard that manages this risk.

Who can be an operation manager? Operation responsibility can only be undertaken by electrical or electrical-electronics engineers who hold the relevant authorisation certificate (YGTIS) and a current EMO registration. The certificate shows that the engineer is authorised to inspect and operate high voltage installations. Fulfilling the obligation therefore also includes choosing the correct and certified engineer.

Are there exceptions? High voltage operation responsibility applies to facilities that have their own transformer and operate above 1 kV. Facilities without a transformer, taking only low voltage from the distribution network, are outside this particular obligation. However, other obligations such as power factor correction, grounding and periodic inspection may still arise at these facilities; each facility's situation is assessed according to its own electrical infrastructure.

Operation responsibility should not be confused with periodic inspection. Operation responsibility is a contractual relationship that ensures the facility is operated continuously under the oversight of an authorised engineer. Periodic inspection, on the other hand, is the measurement and reporting of systems such as grounding and panels at defined intervals. These are different obligations; both may be separately required for a facility.

At Pow-Sys, we assess whether your facility falls within operation responsibility scope according to your electrical infrastructure, and offer a certified service that meets the obligation correctly. The aim is to keep the facility compliant in terms of both legal requirements and safety. The process is shaped according to the facility's real needs.

If you want to clarify whether operation responsibility is required for your facility in Bursa and the surrounding region, sharing your transformer status and facility type is enough. We carry out the scope assessment together. You can find the cost side of the subject in our article on high voltage operation responsibility cost, and the manager's duties in our article on transformer operation manager duties.