THE COST OF NEGLIGENCE

It is difficult to imagine an electrician losing her own home to an electrical fire.

I use the name Ms. Light in honor of my grandmother Luz, affectionately called “Doña Light” by those who knew her. She lost her life after a house fire caused by an improper electrical installation performed by someone without the required license or technical training to perform that type of work.

Like many people, she trusted that the work had been performed professionally and believed the installation was safe. It was not.

The fire destroyed our home completely. My grandmother survived long enough to reach the hospital, but her third-degree burns were severe, and after a few days of suffering, she passed away.

Experiences like this can leave people consumed by anger. But my grandparents raised me differently. They taught me that adversity should strengthen our character, not destroy it.

Instead of allowing tragedy to destroy my faith and values, that experience reinforced my commitment to mastering the National Electrical Code (NEC), industry standards, and disciplined electrical practices that protect human life. It strengthened my sense of responsibility as a Licensed Journeyman Inside Wireman and deepened my respect for the profession entrusted with powering homes, hospitals, research facilities, and critical infrastructure.

To me, electrical work has never been “just a job.” It is a responsibility.

Every conductor, termination, calculation, inspection, and safety procedure carries consequences that can impact lives, families, and entire communities. That is why I strongly advocate for proper training, code compliance, continuous education, and accountability within our industry. Electrical standards are not obstacles to avoid; they are safeguards written from lessons learned through real incidents, injuries, and loss.

A part of my mission today is mentoring apprentices, technicians, and engineers in understanding and applying electrical codes, standards, and disciplined maintenance practices that promote safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Today, I carry that responsibility into my work supporting electrical systems at NASA Ames Research Center, where reliable power is essential for operating complex research facilities that simulate extreme aerospace environments. In these environments, electrical reliability goes beyond keeping equipment running. It requires strict adherence to codes and disciplined practices that protect people, critical infrastructure, and the scientific missions these systems support.

Doña Light

That is what Ms. Light represents to me:

• A commitment to safety.

• A commitment to reliability in ensuring that every system we build and maintain protects human life.

One of the most important lessons my grandparents taught me is reflected in this verse:

“Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.” Romans 12:21

We cannot always control the tragedies we experience in life, but we can choose what we become because of them.

• I chose to become a better apprentice, journeyman, engineer, and mentor.

• I chose to help others learn.

• I chose to reinforce the standards that protect people.

Because at the end of the day, success is measured by one simple outcome:

That everyone returns home safely.

Whether we are powering a home, an industrial facility, or a research center,

the principle remains the same:

When it comes to electricity , doing it right is not optional .

The cost of negligence is always higher.