Abstract: A method and system automatically determines when an electrode add event occurs in an electric arc furnace having a plurality of electrode columns, each carried by an electrode positioning system. Data is received correlating to the electrical current input to the positioning motors of the plurality of electrode columns. Data is also received correlating to a defined operating mode of the electrode positioning systems. Motor electrical current data is captured when the electrode positioning system is in the defined mode and an electrode-add event is thereafter determined when a current spike is identified in the motor input current data.