IEEE 1048-1990 is a guide for protective grounding of power lines, providing practical direction for safely managing grounding practices in power, energy, and industry applications. It focuses on how temporary grounds are applied and used to reduce electrical hazard during line work, maintenance, and related field operations. For utilities and contractors working on energized or de-energized lines, this standard helps support safer procedures, more consistent work planning, and better control of risk.

Overview of IEEE 1048-1990

This technical document addresses protective grounding methods for power lines, with guidance intended to support safe work on electrical transmission and distribution systems. IEEE 1048-1990 is relevant where crews must isolate equipment, apply grounds, and manage exposure to induced or accidental voltages. In practice, the standard helps define a disciplined approach to grounding equipment selection, application, and removal, making it useful for organizations that need clear engineering and field practices for line safety.

Typical use cases

IEEE 1048-1990 is commonly used by power utilities, line maintenance teams, and electrical contractors when planning work on overhead power lines. It may also support procedures for switching, outage preparation, and maintenance on transmission or distribution circuits where protective grounding is required. The guide is useful for crews handling field-installed grounds, supervisors writing work instructions, and engineering teams aligning operating practices with recognized grounding methods in power systems.

Why it matters

Protective grounding is a critical safety control, and IEEE 1048-1990 helps organizations apply it in a more consistent and technically informed way. Clear grounding practices can reduce the risk of electric shock, improve job-site coordination, and support compliance-oriented work planning. For procurement, training, and operational procedures, the standard also provides a common reference point that can help limit ambiguity when defining acceptable grounding methods for line work and maintenance activities.

• Protective grounding guidance for power lines
• Support for safe line maintenance planning
• Relevant to transmission and distribution work
• Useful for field procedures and work instructions
• Superseded IEEE standard in English