Sparky's Journal

📅 May 27, 2026

Big Shift in Electrical Education: Paul Abernathy Joins EC&M Magazine

The electrical trade just got some strong news.

Paul Abernathy announced he’s partnering with EC&M Magazine for a new series of content focused on inspectors and electricians. Starting around July 2026, he’ll be writing six articles per year for the “Inspectors Intel Series” (dropping every other month), producing a full 12-video series in his signature “Ask Paul” style, and serving as one of their NEC consultants, answering real questions in podcasts and videos.

This is exactly the kind of move the industry needs.

Paul has built a reputation for clear, deep, and practical NEC breakdowns that cut through the confusion. Bringing that expertise to one of the most respected trade publications like EC&M should put high-quality code education in front of way more apprentices, journeymen, contractors, inspectors, and engineers.

He also touched on the long history with Mike Holt in an earlier post. The two have been friends for decades, and Mike has been a longtime contributor to EC&M. Seeing major NEC educators connected to the same major platform feels like a positive step for the whole trade.

Why This Matters for Electricians

The electrical field still suffers from fragmented education. Too many of us are left piecing together knowledge from job sites, YouTube, forums, and random resources. Consistent, professional NEC content — especially covering real-world topics like inspector vs. electrician perspectives, code interpretation gaps, and the 2026 changes — helps raise the bar across the board.

With rapid growth in EVs, renewables, energy storage, and stricter regulations, the industry doesn’t just need more electricians. We need better electricians who truly understand the “why” behind the rules and can communicate effectively when differences come up.

Paul’s new series, including the upcoming “Code Wars” content, looks like it will tackle these exact issues head-on.

I’m looking forward to the articles, videos, and Q&As. This type of collaboration between top educators and established trade media is how we build a stronger electrical industry.

Stay sharp and keep learning out there.

View the Full Deal here from the master himself: https://fasttraxsystem.com/ecm/

— JoshTheSparky ⚡