Which statement best describes the safety requirement when planning to work on a de-energized line to ensure safety?

• A. The line must be de-energized and tested
• B. The line must be grounded only
• C. The line must be switched off and left as is
• D. The line must be tagged but not tested

Answer: (A)

To work safely on a line that is supposed to be de-energized, you must establish a verified safe condition by removing the energy and proving there is no voltage present. De-energizing removes the power source, and testing confirms zero voltage on the conductors and checks for any stored or induced energy that could release energy while you’re working. This verification is essential to protect against shocks, arc flash, and any unexpected re-energization.

Grounding alone doesn’t guarantee safety because a line could still be energized from another source, or contain stored energy that could discharge. Simply switching off and leaving it can allow re-energization or leave residual energy. Tagging warns others but doesn’t prove the circuit is safe to work on. Therefore, de-energizing and testing to verify no energy remains is the best approach.