ISA UTILITY SPECIALIST 2026 EXAMINERS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔A typhoon is a regional term for: - ✔✔a severe tropical cyclone
✔✔Repeatedly answering questions that are similar, such as those that may be asked
of a contractor in the field, can lead to __________. - ✔✔desensitization
✔✔Two types of failure modes: - ✔✔mechanical & electrical
✔✔Three types of dependencies: - ✔✔mandatory, discretionary, & external
✔✔An interruption in the flow of electricity that could lead to fire or an outage -
✔✔electrical shorts
✔✔A survey of the volume of work; may be done by comprehensive inventories or
sampling: - ✔✔workload assessment
✔✔The Saffir-Simpson Scale is a classification scheme for __________ intensity based
on maximum surface __________ __________ & the type & extent of __________. -
✔✔hurricane;
wind speed;
damage
,✔✔Customer-friendly language should keep __________ to a minimum because it can
intimidate customers & confuse the message. - ✔✔jargon
✔✔Which type of dependency is one in which one task cannot begin until another
activity has ended? - ✔✔mandatory dependency
✔✔slightly enlarged portion of a stem where leaves & buds arise - ✔✔node
✔✔The potential between live conductors & the neutral wire is known as __________-
to-__________ potential. - ✔✔phase-to-neutral
✔✔As much compatible vegetation as possible should be left within __________
__________ near bodies of water. - ✔✔buffer areas
✔✔The rise & onshore flow of seawater due to storm winds & pressure dropping near
the storm's center: - ✔✔storm surge
✔✔Some customers may not voice their displeasure about VM directly with the utility,
but instead voice their opinion on social media, leading the utility to __________
customer dissatisfaction. - ✔✔underestimate
✔✔Circuits that feed electricity to other parts of the distribution network are called: -
✔✔feeder circuits
✔✔Method for reducing the height of a tree - ✔✔drop-crotch cuts
✔✔Which type of dependency is developed my managers to meet a specific objective?
- ✔✔discretionary dependency
✔✔Vegetation that is desirable or consistent with the intended use of the site is
considered __________. Vegetation that is NOT consistent with the intended use of the
site is considered __________. - ✔✔compatible;
incompatible
✔✔__________ __________ are often released to media outlets to provide specific
information that the utility wants to make public. - ✔✔press releases
✔✔Cyclonic-scale storms that aren't tropical cyclones are called: - ✔✔extratropical
cyclones
✔✔Amps in a conductor that are larger than those for which it is rated: - ✔✔overcurrent
, ✔✔Which type of dependency is a relationship between a task under the direction of a
project management team & an action outside of their control? - ✔✔external
dependency
✔✔Level _____ assessments, while sometimes required to further evaluate defects not
detected by Level 2 assessments, are impractical in most utility settings; aka advanced
assessments - ✔✔3
✔✔Cutting back a tree to buds, stubs, or laterals not large enough to assume apical
dominance; also known as rounding over, heading, or heading back (a bad practice) -
✔✔topping
✔✔What communication method is most effective for engaging with customers in real
time about utility emergencies? - ✔✔social media
✔✔A local storm produced by a cumulonimbus cloud & accompanied by lightning &
thunder: - ✔✔thunderstorm
✔✔A wire connection between energized conductors & other electrical equipment (e.g.
transformers): - ✔✔tap
✔✔__________ __________ are scheduling tools that provide a visual means of
tracking a project. - ✔✔Gantt charts
✔✔The maximum incompatible plant pressure (species, density, etc.) allowable before
unacceptable consequences develop: - ✔✔tolerance level
✔✔The process by which personnel become indifferent or disconnected from customers
& their concerns: - ✔✔desensitization
✔✔A complex of thunderstorms that travels more than 240 miles, with wind speeds
greater than 58 mph: - ✔✔derecho
✔✔In electric generation, the number of magnet revolutions per second: - ✔✔Hertz
✔✔Expenditures that do not generate income: - ✔✔cost center
✔✔*Tree Age:*
- Young = _____% of life expectancy
- Mature = _____-_____% of life expectancy
- Overmature = _____% of life expectancy - ✔✔<20%;
20-80%;
>80%
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔A typhoon is a regional term for: - ✔✔a severe tropical cyclone
✔✔Repeatedly answering questions that are similar, such as those that may be asked
of a contractor in the field, can lead to __________. - ✔✔desensitization
✔✔Two types of failure modes: - ✔✔mechanical & electrical
✔✔Three types of dependencies: - ✔✔mandatory, discretionary, & external
✔✔An interruption in the flow of electricity that could lead to fire or an outage -
✔✔electrical shorts
✔✔A survey of the volume of work; may be done by comprehensive inventories or
sampling: - ✔✔workload assessment
✔✔The Saffir-Simpson Scale is a classification scheme for __________ intensity based
on maximum surface __________ __________ & the type & extent of __________. -
✔✔hurricane;
wind speed;
damage
,✔✔Customer-friendly language should keep __________ to a minimum because it can
intimidate customers & confuse the message. - ✔✔jargon
✔✔Which type of dependency is one in which one task cannot begin until another
activity has ended? - ✔✔mandatory dependency
✔✔slightly enlarged portion of a stem where leaves & buds arise - ✔✔node
✔✔The potential between live conductors & the neutral wire is known as __________-
to-__________ potential. - ✔✔phase-to-neutral
✔✔As much compatible vegetation as possible should be left within __________
__________ near bodies of water. - ✔✔buffer areas
✔✔The rise & onshore flow of seawater due to storm winds & pressure dropping near
the storm's center: - ✔✔storm surge
✔✔Some customers may not voice their displeasure about VM directly with the utility,
but instead voice their opinion on social media, leading the utility to __________
customer dissatisfaction. - ✔✔underestimate
✔✔Circuits that feed electricity to other parts of the distribution network are called: -
✔✔feeder circuits
✔✔Method for reducing the height of a tree - ✔✔drop-crotch cuts
✔✔Which type of dependency is developed my managers to meet a specific objective?
- ✔✔discretionary dependency
✔✔Vegetation that is desirable or consistent with the intended use of the site is
considered __________. Vegetation that is NOT consistent with the intended use of the
site is considered __________. - ✔✔compatible;
incompatible
✔✔__________ __________ are often released to media outlets to provide specific
information that the utility wants to make public. - ✔✔press releases
✔✔Cyclonic-scale storms that aren't tropical cyclones are called: - ✔✔extratropical
cyclones
✔✔Amps in a conductor that are larger than those for which it is rated: - ✔✔overcurrent
, ✔✔Which type of dependency is a relationship between a task under the direction of a
project management team & an action outside of their control? - ✔✔external
dependency
✔✔Level _____ assessments, while sometimes required to further evaluate defects not
detected by Level 2 assessments, are impractical in most utility settings; aka advanced
assessments - ✔✔3
✔✔Cutting back a tree to buds, stubs, or laterals not large enough to assume apical
dominance; also known as rounding over, heading, or heading back (a bad practice) -
✔✔topping
✔✔What communication method is most effective for engaging with customers in real
time about utility emergencies? - ✔✔social media
✔✔A local storm produced by a cumulonimbus cloud & accompanied by lightning &
thunder: - ✔✔thunderstorm
✔✔A wire connection between energized conductors & other electrical equipment (e.g.
transformers): - ✔✔tap
✔✔__________ __________ are scheduling tools that provide a visual means of
tracking a project. - ✔✔Gantt charts
✔✔The maximum incompatible plant pressure (species, density, etc.) allowable before
unacceptable consequences develop: - ✔✔tolerance level
✔✔The process by which personnel become indifferent or disconnected from customers
& their concerns: - ✔✔desensitization
✔✔A complex of thunderstorms that travels more than 240 miles, with wind speeds
greater than 58 mph: - ✔✔derecho
✔✔In electric generation, the number of magnet revolutions per second: - ✔✔Hertz
✔✔Expenditures that do not generate income: - ✔✔cost center
✔✔*Tree Age:*
- Young = _____% of life expectancy
- Mature = _____-_____% of life expectancy
- Overmature = _____% of life expectancy - ✔✔<20%;
20-80%;
>80%
