DSPS Celebrates Latest Code Update
Madison, Wis. – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) Secretary Dan Hereth joined union and industry leaders Monday, to officially sign the state’s new electrical code. Wisconsin is adopting the 2023 National Electric Code, moving away from using the 2017 edition with amendments.
“Smoothest code project that I’ve experienced, and everyone we’ve spoken with has been complimentary of the finished product,” Secretary Hereth said after the signing. “This was a great collaborative process. I want to recognize Administrator Branden Piper and our electrical team. Also, the electrical union leaders and the professionals who worked on the updates as part of the state’s Electrical Code Advisory Committee. When labor, industry, and state government work together, Wisconsin is safer.”
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 494 in Milwaukee hosted the signing. Both Hereth and Local 494 Business Manager John Jacobs singled out the contributions of the Advisory Committee and its Chairperson, Kyle Krueger.
“Kyle eats, breaths and lives code. That’s his hobby. And I could think of no better person to lead the team,” Jacobs explained. “It is appreciated the state has gotten on board to adopt the 2023 standards.”
“I want to thank Dan and his team for the work they did to get this pushed across the finish line with us” said Krueger, who works as Executive Director of Technical and Regulatory Affairs for the National Electrical Contractors Association. “Then, obviously, the committee members. They’re all volunteers from all parts of the industry; very passionate about the electrical code. Without them, this would not have gone as smoothly as it did. I think we’re going to have a much safer Wisconsin now.”
The new electrical code updates take effect September 1, along with a recent refresh of the state plumbing code. The updated electrical code introduces several safety updates, including:
- Requirement for whole home surge protection
- Restrictions on the number of feeders that can supply a building or structure
- Requirement of permits and inspections for services on vacant land
Under Hereth, DSPS has put an emphasis on code updates as part of its broader mission to protect the public by enforcing and improving regulatory standards. The agency has worked on several other code projects with industry-led advisory committees and councils in the past year:
- Wisconsin’s Commercial Building Code was adopted in late 2025
- A new Passenger Ropeway Code took effect earlier this summer
- Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code Council recently recommended joining the 49 other states in using the International Residential Code (IRC), beginning with the 2024 IRC
DSPS has started updating its licensing exams to reflect the electrical code changes. The agency expects exam updates to be completed by October 1.
About DSPS
DSPS issues more than 240 unique licenses, administers dozens of boards and councils that regulate professions, enforces state building codes, and maintains the Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is a key tool in the multi-faceted public health campaign to stem excessive opioid prescribing. A fee-based agency, DSPS is self-sustaining and receives no general fund tax dollars for its day-to-day operations. With two offices and roughly 250 employees, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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