Publications

• Leadership for Lineworkers Pt.7 - Tailboards

Expert overhead/underground power lines.

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Max Fuentes started his career in 1984 with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. He currently provides consulting, training, developing procedures, litigation expertise, and Wildfire Mitigation consulting for the Transmission and Distribution Utility industry. • Worked 31 years in the transmission and distribution electric power industry as a certified IBEW lineman, line foreman, retiring in 2015 as a Grid Assets Line Supervisor – Business Operations for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. • 18 years teaching and training high voltage electric power lineworkers in construction of overhead transmission and distribution power lines, as well as construction of underground distribution power lines. • Expert at applying OSHA 1910.269, 1910.146 standards, CAL-OSHA Title 8, and General Orders 95, 128, 165, 166, 174, and the NESC. • Expert at developing, writing, and implementing skills training for powerline workers for low to high-voltage industry practices, work methods and guidelines. • Experience in developing and writing Hazard and Wildfire Mitigation Plans, for utilities and working as an independent third-party reviewer of plans. • Development and delivery of leadership and professionalism workshops for utilities, contractors, and the IBEW. • Pole Top, aerial bucket, and vault rescue training and certification for Qualified Electrical Workers. • Creation and maintenance of line work methods and safety procedures. • Experience staffing line crews, fault locators, and heavy equipment operators. • Provides consulting and expertise to lawyers as an expert witness as it relates to the transmission and distribution electric utility industry. ◆ Expert report writing. ◆ Crafting declarations. ◆ Experience in depositions and trials. ◆ Expertise at applying rules, regulations, and policies as it applies to the transmission and distribution utility industry for lawyers. ◆ Assisted lawyers in mediation process, writing and developing graphics and other duties. Training, education and experience background: (1984) Hired on as a pre-apprentice with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. (1988) Promoted to Journeyman Lineman. (1988-1996) Technical skills trainer for SMUD pre-apprentices and apprentices. (1990 - 1996) Line Foreman - leading and directing 4-man line crew Skills: trained in pole climbing, wood and steel structures. Rigging, heavy equipment operations, emergency outage restoration, high and low voltage safety procedures, industry accepted work methods, expertise in researching and applications for FED-OSHA, State OSHA approved plans, NESC, California General Orders - 95, 128, 165, and 174. Installed and maintained SMUD's distribution "smart grid". Knowledgable in the majority of Distribution and Transmission line work methods. Experience in overhead Distribution and transmission line construction installations, repairs, maintenance, and inspections. Experience in URD (Underground Residential Distribution) cable pulling, terminations, splicing and fabricating elbows. (1997-99) Chief Field training instructor Northwest Lineman's College. (1999-2001) President of Trade Tech - Post secondary vocational power line and telecommunications trade school. (2002-2005) Journeyman Lineman SMUD. (2005-2015) Transmission and Distribution Line supervisor, Safety and training, Maintenance planning, Inspecting, Meter and Services, and Asset management. Retired as a Grid Assets Line Supervisor - Business Operations.