Apprentice or Journeyman Substation Technician

Job summary  

Platte River has a substation technician position open and is seeking either an experienced, qualified, team oriented, journeyman or a highly motivated, team oriented, utility experienced apprentice. Please carefully read through this posting before applying. 

Journeyman substation technician

The substation technician is responsible for maintaining Platte River’s substation and transmission line systems. Work is performed as a team in a variety of areas including high voltage equipment testing and repair, relay and controls installation and wiring, transmission line inspection, battery bank maintenance and installation, construction inspection, and aerial lift operation.

Substation technicians must be able to work well with a variety of individuals, as they are also responsible for transmission maintenance work in accordance with NERC Standard PRC-005 and vegetation management in accordance with NERC Standard FAC-003, and overseeing work performed by others in specialized maintenance areas.

Apprentice substation technician

The apprentice assists journeyman technicians with maintaining substation and associated transmission equipment such as breakers, transformers, battery chargers, cables, switchgear, and other hardware in Platte River’s substations and facilities.

This is a four-year commitment to developing the required knowledge and skills through self-study and on-the-job training. Individuals seeking this opportunity must take initiative and commit personal time (outside of normal work hours) to study and complete coursework. Enrollment and materials fees for required courses are paid for by Platte River, and individuals interested in pursuing a higher-level degree beyond the required courses may seek tuition reimbursement.

Work hours and environment  

The substation crew begins and ends each day at Platte River’s headquarters location in Fort Collins. Substation technicians regularly work four 10-hour day shifts (Monday through Thursday), from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm, with no required overnight or long-distance travel. Journeyman substation technicians work overtime and respond to emergency callouts during nights, weekends, and holidays on an as-needed basis. Apprentices do not respond to afterhours callouts and work minimal overtime.

Substation technicians must be able to distinguish various colors in wiring and detect hazards or issues by sound and exert moderate to considerable physical effort that may include working from ladders and in awkward positions. Frequent use of light or medium-weight objects (e.g. 25-50 lbs.) and use of medium-weight tools is required. There is marginal to moderate exposure to conditions that are unpredictable and may lead to workplace injury due to working around energized electrical equipment or at heights.

Essential duties and responsibilities  

Assigned to both apprentice and journeyman technicians:

• Models the mission, vision, values, and culture of the organization.
• Reads and understands wiring diagrams and schematics.
• Reads, understands, and applies information from equipment manuals to perform evaluations and repairs.
• Works on small parts in tight spaces such as breakers, operator cabinets and wiring panels.
• Understands and applies electrical theory.
  
  

Assigned to apprentice technicians: 

• Carries out assignments following the leadership and guidance of the substation technicians and the substation maintenance supervisor.
• Upgrades knowledge and skills through self-study and on-the-job training to complete the requirements of Platte River's apprenticeship program.
• Installs, repair, and maintain protective relays; installs wire, conduit, cable, electrical metering devices, circuit breakers, transformers, OCB’s switches, motors, and other equipment.
• Pulls wire, conduit, cable, and splice electrical wiring.
• Uses various electrician hand tools such as snips, screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters, and other.
• Repairs and maintain power transformers by replacing faulty or worn parts.
• Operates substations switching equipment, breakers, and transformers.
• Operates electrical test equipment and evaluates results.
• Understands and avoid electrical hazards.
• Troubleshoots and repair various electrical and mechanical problems.
• Formulates plans and methodologies to accomplish daily work and verify that equipment is performing as desired.
• Operate fleet vehicles, including DOT regulated vehicles used for substation maintenance work including but not limited to large bucket trucks and large crane (boom) trucks.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Assigned to journeyman technicians: 

• Supports specific projects, during new construction and improvements of transmission lines and substations by assisting engineering in ensuring quality control and proper functionality of transmission equipment and controls.
• Collaborates and coordinates with Transmission Operations and Engineering departments to install, commission, and maintain high voltage equipment.
• Serve as qualified worker for voltages to 240V that understands and avoids AC and DC electrical hazards.
• Serves as a qualified switchman (230KV & 115KV) and worker to ensure equipment is cleared, tagged, and safe for work to be performed.
• Operates electrical test equipment and reads, interprets, and evaluates results.
• Troubleshoots and repairs various electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical problems.
• Responsible for recommending corrective action to management regarding equipment issues discovered during routine maintenance and inspections.
• Responsible for pulling, routing, and terminating the control, current, and voltage wiring to equipment and panel diagram specifications.
• Formulates plans and methodologies to accomplish daily work and verifies that equipment is performing as designed.
• Works with or provides inspections for subcontractors during construction or maintenance activities as directed by supervisor.
• Complies with established safety and environmental procedures; works safely and demonstrates safe work practices.
• Completes training as required to stay abreast of new maintenance and testing methods and requirements.
• Trains apprentice-level technicians.
• Maintains current first aid training.
• Participates in periodic call outs in response to after-hours incidents.
• Delivers daily and highly technical services in a variety of areas, including high voltage equipment testing and repair, relay and controls installation and wiring, transmission line inspection, battery bank maintenance and installation, construction inspection, and aerial lift operation.
• Performs basic and general work related to transmission maintenance in accordance with NERC Standard PRC 005 and vegetation management in accordance with NERC Standard FAC 003, as well as oversees work performed by third parties in specialized areas of maintenance.
• Supports specific projects, during new construction and improvements of transmission lines and substations by assisting engineering in ensuring quality control and proper functionality of transmission equipment and controls.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Knowledge, skills, and abilities  

Apprentice substation technicians:

• Ba
  sic computer operating skills (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and work cooperatively.
• Ability to work in confined spaces, adhering to safety policies and standards.
• Ability to work on emergency callouts and overtime as needed to provide reliable service to member communities and restore service promptly.
• Ability to work under emergency and in all weather conditions.
• Ability to operate standard substation fleet vehicles including large bucket trucks and heavy-duty crane trucks.
• Ability to distinguish between various colors used in wiring.
• Ability to detect hazards and electrical or mechanical issues through sound.
  
  

Additionally required for journeyman substation technicians:

• Ability to work alone, in small teams and with larger groups to plan and carry out assigned tasks.
• Able to work cooperatively with other substation technicians, system dispatchers, engineers, and representatives from the four-member owner communities to accomplish the tasks described above.
• Ability to work under pressure during emergency situations and outage time restraints.
• Ability to understand and adhere to the technician’s role and responsibilities related to compliance with NERC PRC 005 and FAC 003 compliance standards.
• Ability to work safely and in accordance with utility industry safe work practices for energized equipment and yards.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively (written and verbal) with others.
• Skill in using a computer record and other systems (e-mail, time entry, work order system, spreadsheets).
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot Doble, Megger, and Dilo software and test equipment.
• Strong working knowledge of the operation and maintenance of 115KV and 230KV Breakers, Circuit Switchers, Transformers, Hand Operated Switches, Relays, and related sensing devices.
• Ability to interpret drawings and schematics from manufactures of high voltage equipment and components.
• Ability to skillfully plan and install control devices, wiring, equipment, and relays for new construction and equipment upgrades.
• Ability to plan and properly manage time to ensure work completion on schedule.
• Knowledge, familiarity, and ability to follow applicable state, federal, and local environmental, safety, and electrical codes or regulations.
  
  

Qualifications

Required of all substation technicians:

• Maintain insurance eligibility for Platte River's vehicle liability policy and subject to random drug screening under DOT requirements.
• Obtain and maintain current AED, CPR and first aid certification/training.
  
  

Apprentice substation technician additional requirements:

• Education: high school diploma, GED or higher-level degree.
• License: valid Class A CDL or ability to obtain one within one year of starting employment.
• Work experience: 2 years in an electrical or mechanical field, preferably at an electric utility.
  
  

Journeyman substation technician additional requirements:

• Education: completion of an accredited/registered apprenticeship in a field related to transmission substation systems.
• License: valid Class A CDL with tanker endorsement or ability to obtain within one year of starting employment.
• Work experience: 1 year as journeyman substation technician (or equivalent) working in high voltage (115kv or above) substation maintenance and testing.
  
  

Pay  

This is an hourly, non-exempt position; wages are paid bi-weekly. Factors that may be used to determine actual salary include specific skills, years of experience, education and certifications.

Apprentice substation technician

• Full pay range: $42.75 to $57.74 per hour
• Hiring range: $42.75 to $50.26 per hour
  
  

Journeyman substation technician

• Full pay range: $46.10 to $64.53 per hour
• Hiring range: $46.10 to $55.31 per hour