Public utilities say Schweitzer's No. 1

PULLMAN - North American utilities chose Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories as the No. 1 protective relay manufacturer in a recent survey conducted by a technical marketing research company.

The study asked employees at 112 utilities to measure relay manufacturers' technology, price, features, security against hackers, technical service and support, ease of use and maintenance cost, according to a news release from SEL.

Customers ranked SEL first in all eight categories and No. 1 in combined customer experience, according to the news release. The survey was conducted by Newton-Evans Research Company.

SEL is the second-largest manufacturer in north central Idaho and southeastern Washington. It employs about 1,000 people in Pullman.

The relays the company makes are used by every electrical utility in the country. The relays locate potential trouble, fixing it if possible and, if not, instantly cutting the flow of electricity in a way that causes the least amount of damage and disruption in a system.