scope:

Description of Driving Event:

High voltage linemen were on very tight time constraints and were attempting to measure the voltage in a 15kV fuse cabinet. They were going to measure the voltage from phase to ground of approximately 7630 volts. The equipment they were using is engineered to contact high power lines or transformers out in the open for direct readings. The linemen had contacted the phase conductor with one probe of the test meter and were attempting to make contact with a ground point in the fuse cabinet of the transformer when an electric flash occurred, indicating a ground fault. The ground fault went through and out of the back of the meter ground faulting to the cabinet enclosure. No one was injured but the fault caused an immediate interruption of power to the site electric feeder.