Electricity and Control November 2025

Plant maintenance, test + measurement

stresses before they undermine reliability.

From dissolved gases to furans to forensics, laboratory diagnostics provide the clarity utilities need to act with confidence to maintain asset health.

From testing to decision-making Laboratory results are most valuable when they inform action. A gas sample, liquid screen, or materials test is not an endpoint; it’s the evidence utilities need to make confident decisions. That’s why laboratory services are integrated with engineering consulting, field diagnostics, and condition monitoring. When an online sensor flags an anomaly, laboratory analysis can validate the finding and pinpoint the cause. When results suggest insulation degradation, expert interpretation provides context, urgency, and recommended next steps. This ability to translate data into decisions is especially critical as utilities face workforce transitions. With many experienced engineers retiring, laboratories help fill the gap by providing clear, risk-based guidance rooted in decades of diagnostic knowledge. Scalable and responsive support The pace of change in the energy sector means utilities o§en need answers quickly. Laboratory services are adapting with increased capacity, faster turnaround, and flexible reporting. Whether analysing a rushed sample from a transformer under load or benchmarking a fleet’s insulation liquids, labs can scale to match immediate and longer-term needs. Beyond testing, laboratories also play an educational role, helping utilities build internal confidence through training, webinars, and guidance on evolving standards. This knowledge transfer strengthens resilience and ensures teams are prepared to act on the results they receive. Looking ahead The future grid will be more dynamic, distributed, and digitally enabled than ever before. But reliability will continue to hinge on one principle: informed decision-making. Laboratory services uncover the invisible, validate what’s uncertain, and guide the actions that keep power systems running. As utilities plan for tomorrow’s challenges – from AI driven load growth to EV integration and new materials – the foundation for resilience starts in the lab.

Individually, these tests may not carry the weight of DGA or furan analysis, but together they provide the details needed to make informed maintenance decisions across the fleet. Forensic analysis: learning from failure Even with the best preventive testing, failures can happen. When they do, forensic analysis uncovers the root cause. Labs examine aged paper and pressboard, test tensile strength, and measure the degree of polymerisation to assess insulation breakdown. Metallurgical analysis reveals cracks, erosion, or poor weld quality. Contaminant analysis identifies foreign particles or byproducts that may have triggered the fault. Cross sectional imaging exposes thermal damage and wear patterns invisible to the naked eye. The value of forensic testing is not only in understanding a single failure but applying those lessons across the fleet. Root cause insights can inform future strategies, prevent repeat issues, and strengthen warranty and insurance claims. Powering decisions From gases to furans to forensics, laboratory diagnostics provide the clarity utilities need to act with confidence. Each test adds a di¤erent layer of visibility into asset health, and together they form the foundation of proactive, risk-informed asset management. The future of grid reliability In Part 4 of the series, the focus turns to the future of grid reliability, which starts in the lab: from managing AI-driven load growth and EV integration, to testing new liquids and next generation substation equipment. The electric grid is entering a new era of complexity. From AI-driven data centres to electric vehicle charging networks, demand for electricity is accelerating faster than infrastructure can keep pace. Renewables integration, modular substations, and distributed energy resources are reshaping power flow and stressing equipment in new ways. These shi§s accelerate aging, introduce new failure modes, and put unprecedented stress on transformers, breakers, and insulating liquids. Examples include: - High-frequency harmonics stressing transformers and switchgear - New insulating liquids, such as natural esters and sili cones, with di¤erent aging profiles - Emerging degradation modes that traditional testing alone cannot fully capture. Laboratory diagnostics provide a way to measure these risks directly, o¤ering visibility into how assets respond to new

Acknowledgements to Doble Engineering for the information shared in the blog posts.

For more information visit: www.doble.com

Insights provided by lab testing and analysis help prevent failures, reduce costs, and improve fleet performance.

24 Electricity + Control NOVEMBER 2025