Kheng San, a 49-year-old electrical engineer with over two decades of experience, has had a rich career in the power industry. Before starting his own firm in 2023, he worked with various players in the electricity market and was once an EMA officer.

His passion for electrical engineering began early. As a child, Kheng San would watch his late father, a crane operator, repair electrical items at home. When it was time to choose his engineering specialisation at university, he was drawn to large-scale electrical apparatuses found in power engineering. Thus, he pursued a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and later obtained his Master of Engineering, researching on the protection of electrical equipment.

“In my first job, I got to install switchgears, transformers and cables, as well as commission new electrical substations. I saw first-hand how our Singapore’s electrical infrastructure was interconnected and how electricity was transmitted to end-users to power their businesses – that sparked my interest in power engineering,” he recalled.

His stint in the Regulations department at EMA in early 2009 also gave him the exposure to understanding how or why certain regulations were required to ensure that the electrical network functions as intended.

Intrigued by the depth of knowledge needed to maintain electrical equipment, Kheng San became fascinated with investigating equipment failures, condition monitoring, power quality and transient management and operation maintenance. With the guidance of one of his career mentors, he honed his technical skills and attention to detail.

During the COVID-19 pandemic period, the father of four decided to take on the challenge of earning his Electrical Engineer licence. He said, “As a licensed Electrical Engineer, I am able to manage low voltage electrical installations and installations with higher voltage limits.”

“Whether working on a project that benefits the society, collaborating with talented people, or mentoring the next generation of electrical engineers, finding purpose and fulfillment in my career has been a natural next step for me – and it fulfills a long-time goal of mine,” Kheng San shared.

Kheng San fondly recalled how his youngest child once compared what he does to that of a doctor. “In my daughter’s eyes, what I do is like conducting health check-ups on electrical systems to ensure safety and reliability. And just like doctors, we have the duty to keep our “patients” healthy and safe.”

So what is his advice on keeping families and loved ones safe from electrical hazards?

He hopes to see more homeowners test their Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB) regularly to ensure it is in working order. He explained, “An RCCB is a safety device that immediately cuts off electricity supply upon detecting electrical leakages. A faulty RCCB is as good as not having complete protection.”

“For homes that do not have an RCCB in working condition, they should engage a licensed electrical worker to rectify it,” he added.

If you ever wonder how the power supply in your home or office is installed, checked and maintained, meet Andrew. As a licensed electrical engineer, his work involves ensuring that electrical systems are certified safe and ready for use.

Andrew’s path to a career in power engineering was a long-winding one. Having graduated during the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the National University of Singapore Electrical Engineering graduate took on different jobs in various industries such as semi-conductor and aerospace before ending up as a licensed electrical engineer.

“When I first started out as a licensed electrical technician in 2020, I was only able to perform electrical works up to a limited voltage. However, one needed to be a licensed electrical engineer in order to perform tasks such as switching on an electrical system and handling installations involving higher electrical voltages. So I set myself the goal of achieving this career milestone,” he said.

Now armed with his licensed electrical engineer credentials, it has given him opportunities to work on a wider range of electrical installations, from residential to commercial and industrial projects.

Andrew shared, “As a Licensed Electrical Worker, it is important that we help customers understand the necessity of complying with the different mandatory codes of practice and regulations to meet their needs without compromising on electrical safety.”

Since becoming a licensed electrical engineer, Andrew’s schedule can be unpredictable and irregular. Despite this, he finds the work rewarding and that is what keeps him going. He recalled a recent power trip at a customer’s premise where he had to restore the power supply under the pressure of time and mentally working through the problem. “It is very fulfilling when you succeed – you feel like a superhero,” he quipped.

As a father of young twins, the 42-year-old is especially mindful of electrical safety at home. He advises, “Always switch off your electrical appliances or devices at the socket when not in use. This not only saves energy but also prevents power surges that could damage your devices or, even worse, cause a power to trip or even a fire. Lastly, do engage a licensed electrical worker to carry out electrical work such as changing the electrical wiring for your home.”

Find out more here on how else you can protect your family and loved ones safe from electrical hazards.