Electric Service Technician Apprentice

JOB SUMMARY: The overall purpose and general responsibilities of the job.

Installs, repairs, and maintains overhead and underground electric distribution lines; assists with control circuits for pumps and motors; and performs other work-related duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: The fundamental duties and tasks that define the job.

• Leads and supervises assigned departmental employees, which includes assigning, reviewing work and training for assigned employees.
• Prioritizes work, inspects future job sites, and plans for work that will need to be done.
• Ensures that proper policies and procedures are being followed, that work, and safety standards are being maintained, and that work schedules are being met.
• Regularly works above ground on poles or lines using safety belt or operating man lift equipment, bucket or digger truck or other specialized equipment to string, splice, transfer, energize or de-energize circuits and transformers, and/or shorten or lengthen lines.
• Routes or re-routes power lines over, under or around existing lines and structures, while working above, on, or in close proximity to energized lines; selects and uses a variety of “hotline” tools and makes use of rubber gloves, line hoses, mechanical jumpers, fiber guards, blankets and other protective devices as specified.
• Installs, removes, transfers, maintains and/or repairs cross arms, pins, insulators, guys, transformer and switch racks and other overhead pole and Underground Residential Distribution (U.R.D.).
• Installs and removes transformers, including primary and secondary current transformers and self-contained meters; cut-outs, disconnecting switches, circuit breakers and other overhead line and U.R.D. devices, rigging block and tackle where necessary or working with ground crew and winch to raise or lower equipment.
• Performs line switching or sectionalizing; emergency repairs; phases and connects circuits under load; load checks and balances feeders as directed or required.
• Excavates and backfills trenches to complete repairs.
• Operates power tools, light construction equipment, ground maintenance equipment, and pickup truck.
• Assists in on-the-job training of apprentices and other crewmembers in maintenance and construction of power lines.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

CONTACTS: Nature of contacts, external relationships, and internal relationships.

Provides general and technical information. Communication is primarily face-to-face, via telephone and through written correspondence.

Internal Contacts: Frequent contact with departmental personnel.

External Contacts: Occasional contact with the general public.

RESPONSIBILITY: Supervision given accountability, safety, budgeting, spending authority and confidentiality.

Primary responsibility for assisting the Electric dept. Superintendent and managing the day-to-day operations of the department in a safe and efficient manner. Job has impact on City operations, budget, and public image.

DIFFICULTY: Judgment, initiative, and decision-making.

Judgment is necessary in selecting appropriate established guidelines to follow. Significant deviations require prior approval.

GUIDANCE: Supervision received and level of independence.

Employee receives general direction when performing the essential job functions.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Working environment and other conditions of employment.

Working conditions are primarily outside in all weather conditions. Work is performed near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, in or near traffic, toxic or caustic chemicals, and in natural or manmade disasters with risk of electric shock. Required to work hours other than regular schedule such as days, nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call.

SECTION III - JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Minimum requirements for formal education and job-related experience. Graduation from high school or General Education Development Certificate and several years of work experience directly related to electrical services, particularly related to electric utility operations or related work experience in similar work environment; or an equivalent combination of education and/or related experience.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES: Utilized in the performance of the essential functions of the job.

• Knowledge of electric operations
• Knowledge of and skill in reading and following wiring diagrams, blueprints, manuals, wiring codes and following safety practices at all times
• Knowledge of a skill in using safety equipment
• Knowledge of basic mathematics and measurements
• Skill in working with energized and de-energized circuits, wires, and transformers
• Skill in safely operating digger truck, bucket truck, trencher and other equipment commonly used in electric distribution field
• Skill in safely climbing poles and working at moderate heights
• Ability to perform all physical requirements of the job

License and Certification

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical requirements associated with performance of the Essential Job Functions.

Physical requirements include frequently carrying/lifting 50 lbs., pushing or pulling 100 lbs.; visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate small hand tools and construction equipment; subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing, bending, crawling, squatting, kneeling and working in cramped and strained positions for long periods of time to perform essential job functions.