About Thomson Bridge provides essential electrical skills and safety leadership for workforces who build, commission, operate and maintain assets across Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Rail Networks, together with the Oil & Gas and Mining Industries.
Founded in 2013, today we operate on a global scale, by working with our Electrical, Safety and Education practitioners located across the world. 

Energy transformation is occurring globally, and major themes driving business decisions include utility grid modernisation, system hardening, renewable generation expansion and integration, electrification, communications and outsourcing.
Thomson Bridge powered by RelyOn Nutec are electrical engineering, safety and education practitioners. We work across renewable and thermal generation, transmission, distribution, and rail networks, and service the high voltage skills and compliance needs for the oil and gas, mining and utility industries.

Our goal is to support you to develop and maintain a competent workforce; operate with safe and consistent work practices; and meet regulatory compliance and audit readiness. Our Electrical Engineers and Subject Matter Experts are advising on industry best practices, risk analysis, safe operating procedures. We provide comprehensive advice for managing High Voltage and Low Voltage plant. We consult with governments, electrical and safety authorities and regulators to ensure practical workplace safety environments, supported by training and skills development; easy to use learning solutions, and electrical work procedures, calculations. With a presence across 22 countries, Thomson Bridge is powered by RelyOn Nutec who bring a globally connected network, together with national & local relationships to ensure:

• Technical Leadership - decades of High Voltage Industry Experience provided by Senior Authorised Persons, Power Systems, High Voltage and engineering professionals
• Contextualisation - aligning products to local country/jurisdictional context including relevant electrical and safety regulations, operating procedures, permit to work systems
• Engineering and Design Support - from our engineers, instructional designers, technical writers and digital practitioners*
• Innovation – incorporating leading, technology-based learning solutions that solve real world training and operational challenges

Training & Courses We provide training services for skills, safety and compliance in our rapidly evolving energy landscape. Our global training team includes energy practitioners, engineers, L&D professionals and digital platform and content innovators. We offer instructor-led and blended training, and a wide range of eLearning titles which is complemented by flexible delivery via our training facilities, digital infrastructure, tools and content for online experiences. Read more about Training and Courses

Electrical and Engineering ConsultingWe provide direct access to Subject Matter Experts with extensive knowledge of the Electricity Supply Industry, energy networks both transmission and distribution, renewable technologies, rail networks, data centres and large-scale electrical infrastructure projects.

For industrial scale electrical environments, our team advises on industry best practices, risk analysis, safe operating procedures, and provides comprehensive advice for managing High Voltage and Low Voltage plant.

Our power quality support and assessment is available to validate design and provide support in developing effective power quality solutions.

Our chartered electrical engineers can support your project from the design phase, through to the submission of technical criteria including generator performance standards, to the formal demonstration of compliance as required for renewable generation.

The team are available to support plant commissioning, staged compliance, or to assist your assets complete detailed fault analysis during the operational phase and enable prompt correction and return to service.

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High & Low Voltage Electrical Safety Rules We develop Electrical Safety Rules and High Voltage and Low Voltage Operating Procedures to ensure employees and contractors working on or near electrical apparatus can operate safely and effectively.

Our HV professionals and electrical engineers have extensive experience across renewable and thermal generation, transmission, distribution and rail networks, HV operations, control rooms and the powergrid interface.

We design and prepare Electrical Safe Access Rules and Procedures for high and low voltage plants across networks, power stations, utilities, mines and HV customers.

Our experts also provide an audit service to test compliance against regulations. Procedures are prepared to be consistent with:

• Government Regulations and Codes of Practice
• Network Utility Connection Guidelines for High Voltage Connections and Embedded Generators
• Company operational procedures, including Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) procedures
• Company installed equipment and manufacturers manuals
• Industry best practice

Read more about High & Low Voltage Electrical Safety Rules

Technical Documentation Incorporating procedures and instructions for operational teams to ensure workers operate safely, efficiently and your business is compliant.

We develop customised documentation for compliance with Electricity Regulations, transmission and distribution network obligations, contract obligations and maintenance plans. 

Our capabilities extend to providing detailed technical documentation for frontline operational teams. We provide consultation and technical writing services under the supervision of Engineers and Subject Matter Experts for

• Procedures – for operational and maintenance activities such as Electrical Safety Rules.
• Switching Instructions – for energisation, routine switching, faults and ad-hoc switching.
• Policies – to guide decisions and achieve consistent, rational outcomes.
• Practice Guidelines – Industry publications developed in consultation with clients, peak industry bodies and regulators.
• Emergency Plans - for organisational and site-based activities such as Emergency Response and Bush Fire Management.
• Processes – process maps, diagrams and posters that enable processes to be publicised and shared.
• Forms – produce contextualised forms or templates for a variety of technical uses, including permits, authorisations, logbooks and safe work method statements (SWMS).
• Work and Maintenance instructions – detailed instructions for performing tasks with reference to procedures, technical manuals and company knowledge.

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Arc Flash Calculations and Reports Thomson Bridge prepares arc flash calculations, reports and recommendations for generation and infrastructure assets such as turbines, collector groups and balance of plant.

Our aim is to provide practical and actionable advice that maximises a safe operating environment and work practices. Arc flash calculations are prepared for the primary power components and primary switching locations. Our engineers utilise the ETAP Arc Flash Analysis software to perform the assessment of arc flash hazards and incident analysis. 

We work with our clients to consider critical factors including system power distribution configuration, plant operating modes, protective equipment selection and settings, working distances, PPE, work practices and training.

Our Arc Flash services are delivered by an experienced team of electrical, power system and protection engineers. Our clients own and manage portfolios of generation and infrastructure assets across Australia.  

Thomson Bridge was also the lead author of the Electrical Arc Flash Hazard Management Guideline which was published by the Australian Energy Council.

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Asset Management Plans & Maintenance Procedures Our Subject Matter Experts and engineers have extensive experience in developing management plans and maintenance procedures.

These documents outline the minimum HV asset maintenance (preventive and predictive) required for Balance of Plant. 

The plans ensure compliance with AEMO and energy regulators and reduce the risk of asset failure, thus generation potential.

Our Team members have held key and senior roles across network service providers and asset owners and bring a wealth of experience to consulting assignments.

Example maintenance procedures include:

• Oil samples
• Insulation and insulation resistance testing (Meggar)
• Conductors and contact resistance testing (Ductor)
• Thermography
• Substation batteries
• Visual inspections
• Circuit breaker maintenance
• Transformer maintenance

We prepare and instruct site teams to work to agreed maintenance work instructions.

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Switching Instructions Our Switching Instruction consulting services are performed by our skilled HV practitioners who are knowledgeable, flexible and committed to the safety of everyone who works with HV equipment and electrical networks. They understand how to assess hazards, determine and evaluate risks and implement safety protections to operate safely, for themselves, their work party and the network.

Our team develop libraries of switching instructions for routine switching, faults and ad-hoc switching as required. Read more about Switching Instructions

Engineering & Systems Audits, Investigations Auditing services for compliance with regulatory or internal processes, systems audits for continuous improvement and engineering audits to evaluate maintenance and work procedures. Our people are qualified auditors with recognised qualifications and industry Subject Matter Experts.  Our reports provide a gap analysis and identify areas for improvement and recommendations.

Audit assignments can include:

• Regulatory Compliance
• Internal Processes Compliance
• High Voltage Operations Audit
• Electrical Safety Rules reviews
• Safety Management

Investigations Thomson Bridge provides an independent investigation service using experts familiar with the Electricity Supply Industry, networks, plant procedures and regulations.

Investigation of incidents and near misses is a key part of most company safety management systems. Incident investigations provide warnings that operations may not be achieving the safety objectives assumed.

Our investigations go beyond immediate and basic technical causes and seek to examine management systems, root causes and safety failures. Our objective is to deliver effective analysis and recommendations to our clients.

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Power Quality Our engineers have varied backgrounds and extensive experience across the Electricity Supply Industry, industrial applications, and rail networks.

We can provide consultancy advice for existing power quality management or undertake power quality assessment to inform corrections or development of effective power quality solutions.

Our assessment team can provide operational support for the review of installed Power Quality Meter (PQM) data, to detailed root cause analysis (RCA) and reporting. We can co-ordinate and deploy temporary PQM to assist detailed analysis.

With the rapid deployment of renewable and novel technologies we have developed skills to support your asset from the design phase through to operation.

Our engineers can provide advice on the National Electricity Market (NEM) and grid connection applications, or the National Electricity Rules (NER) and compliance assessments.

We can assist the development of Generator Performance Standards (GPS), and the validation of models (GPS R1) for project submission. Provide commissioning support and detailed assessments of plant reliability runs.

Our chartered engineers can advise on or draft compliance plans and support R2 compliance assessment. Assessment includes data capture, modelling on PSSE and similar platforms, and the submission of detailed reports.

Our senior engineers are available to support management representations to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

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Cable Studies Our electrical engineers support cable studies and advise on the selection of Low Voltage and High Voltage cables.

We assess cable sizing and shock protection using ETAP and similar packages. Our studies provide ampacity, voltage drop, and can provide short circuit current (SCC) assessments.

Our engineers can advise on specific applications such as cable selection for solar arrays in accordance with IEC and regulatory requirements. This can be directly linked to protection co-ordination or the selection and arrangement of over current protection in accordance with the IEC requirements.

Comprehensive studies and reports can be provided to assist in:

• Assessment of voltage drop, power loss, cable heating, cable ageing/life expectations.
• Validation of cable reticulation designs, and the segregation of power and telecom/signal cabling.

Our team can provide assessment of cable joint, termination, or underground overhead transition (UGOH) failure in support of root cause analysis.

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Protection Studies Our engineers provide consultation on selecting appropriate power system protection. We assess and provide Protection Co-ordination Studies and provide guidance on the maintenance of relays and data sets.

We help in assessing system faults and demonstrating GPS compliance during actual fault scenarios. Our senior engineers are available to provide detailed assessments and make representation to Network Service Providers and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

With our access to ETAP, PSCAD, and PSSE, SKM power tool assessments, we can advise on adjustments to protection settings or modification to protection to reduce Arc Flash incident energy hazards, adjust protection to accommodate plant modifications, and assess First and Second line protection co-ordination.

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Learning Management & RTO Services By partnering with Thomson Bridge, Employers can concentrate on their core business while using our services to meet training, regulatory and compliance requirements for their staff and contractors.

For selected Electricity Supply Industry trades, we can assist in the management of skills and qualification recognition for experienced workers, as well as new workers, via apprenticeship programs.

We have developed a highly effective learning management system that enables scheduling of training, recording of attendance and certification tracking.

Use our eLogBook application on mobile devices to track training and task completions.

Read more about Learning Management & RTO Services