Austin Energy - Distribution Electrician III

City of Austin•Austin, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under minimal supervision, this position performs journeyman level lineworker tasks specializing in the Distribution, Network, or Transmission craft. This role involves climbing utility poles and structures, using hand and powered tools, and driving electric utility vehicles for construction and maintenance of Austin Energy’s electrical system. The position requires responding to on-call emergencies and after-hour outages. Responsibilities include determining work requirements from job packets, working on high voltage energized lines, troubleshooting electrical systems, and performing installation, repair, and maintenance of high voltage wires, cable, and equipment. The role also involves operating electric utility aerial equipment and high-voltage switching devices. Attending training to stay updated on technology and rescue techniques is required. Specific duties vary depending on the specialization (Distribution, Network, or Transmission), including installing services, transformers, and connecting single-phase and three-phase electrical services (Distribution); locating faults, installing network transformers, and servicing network vaults (Network); and planning transmission installations and maintaining transmission equipment at high circuit voltages (Transmission). The position may also involve providing leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus four (4) years of experience in the electric utility field as a Distribution, Network, or Transmission lineworker.
Valid Texas Class A Commercial Driver License or ability to acquire license and/or endorsements within 120 days of employment.
Ability to produce and maintain an acceptable driving record.
Knowledge of AE, COA, and/or State of Texas requirements for vehicle inspections.
Knowledge of the electrical theory and principles related to electricity, magnetism, circuits, and electrical equipment.
Knowledge of the hazards involved in working on and around high-voltage energized lines and equipment.
Knowledge of various transformer connections and the procedures for proper transformer phasing.
Knowledge of installation, operation, and maintenance of electrical equipment, apparatus, and instruments.
Skill in planning and organizing personnel and work assignments.
Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
Skill in operating computers and related software applications.
Skill in setting up and operating electric utility aerial equipment.
Skill in applying knowledge of AE safety rules, regulations, work practices, standards, and procedures associated with each craft when working on energized electrical systems.
Skill in using the necessary air monitoring equipment prior to entering enclosed or confined spaces.
Skill in properly using, inspecting, maintaining, and safely storing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Personal Protective Devices (PPD).
Skill in performing installation, construction, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems and electrical/electronic instruments.
Skill in troubleshooting electrical systems using electronic test equipment (i.e. Multi-Range Voltage Detector [MRVD], phasing sticks, rotation meters, Digital Multi-Meters [DMM], and clamp-on amp meters).
Skill in working on and around high-voltage energized lines and equipment.
Skill in reading, preparing, interpreting, and modifying blueprints, diagrams, sketches, and drawings.
Skill in performing all phases of installing, framing, constructing, and maintaining AE’s electric system.
Ability to understand oral and written instructions.
Ability to climb poles and structures to various heights (Distribution and Network - up to 80 ft, Transmission - up to 250 ft), following AE guidelines for personal fall arrest systems.
Ability to climb ladders, work in enclosed spaces, and work as an enclosed space attendant (confined spaces for the Network craft).
Ability to apply knowledge and skills obtained from training in the classroom and on the job.
Ability to read and understand written instructions, technical manuals, blueprints, diagrams, sketches, and drawings.
Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility standards in the COA Driver Safety Program.
Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and professional working relationships with City employees, customers, and the public.
Ability to organize, inspect, and safely use various hand and powered tools, equipment, materials, cables, and conductors.
Ability to properly interpret and follow manufacturers load charts when operating cranes, boom trucks, digger derricks, and bucket trucks.
Ability to lead and mentor less tenured DE’s.
Ability to perform strenuous work in all types of weather conditions.
Ability to work with frequent interruptions, changes in priorities, and rotating shifts as assigned.
Ability to lift, carry, and manipulate equipment and supplies weighing more than 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience with the hazards associated with working on energized lines and equipment at primary distribution (high) voltages.
Experience climbing electric utility wood poles up to 100 feet, while utilizing fall restraint equipment and devices.
Experience working with electric utility design and construction standards.
Experience working on all types of transformer installations serving single and three phase loads.
Experience with troubleshooting a distribution electric utility system.
Successful completion of a distribution electric apprenticeship program (verification required).
Currently working or have worked as a journey-level Lineworker at a distribution electric utility and/or a distribution electric contractor within the last two (2) years.

Responsibilities

Climbs utility poles and structures (steel/wood/fiberglass/concrete), uses approved hand and powered tools, and drives various electric utility vehicles to assist with trouble call response, construction, and maintenance of Austin Energy’s (AE’s) electrical transmission, network, or distribution system.
Responds to on-call, emergency call back, and after hour outages due to weather related events or system disturbances.
Determines work requirements for jobs based on reviewing job packets, which include blueprints (plan and profile views), material list, workorder, and job summary.
Works on and around high voltage energized lines and equipment, and performs troubleshooting of electrical systems using various test equipment (i.e. Multi-Range Voltage Detector [MRVD], phasing sticks, rotation meters, Digital Multi-Meters [DMM], and clamp-on amp meters).
Performs pulling, installing, repairing, or moving high voltage wires, cable, and other material on AE’s electrical distribution, network, or transmission system.
Performs installation, framing, construction, and maintenance of structures, hardware, and equipment on AE’s overhead and underground electrical distribution system, network distribution system, and/or transmission system, according to AE’s standards and work practices.
Performs set up and operation of electric utility aerial equipment (i.e. cranes, boom trucks, digger derricks, bucket trucks, etc.) and other equipment (i.e. wire tensioner/puller, cable reel truck, cable trailer, wire trailer, skid-steer loader, bulldozer, backhoe, and forklift).
Operates high-voltage transmission, substation, and/or distribution switching devices and equipment, using proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Personal Protective Devices (PPD), to de-energize and isolate circuits.
Attends refresher, cyclical, and annual training to keep up with new technology and rescue techniques.
(Distribution only) Installs and connects single-phase and three-phase electrical services to AE’s residential and commercial customers, and installs and connects overhead and underground transformers, switches, cutouts, etc.
(Distribution only) Performs cutting, splicing, terminating, and taping of Underground Residential Distribution (URD) and power cable on AE’s electrical system.
(Network only) Locates faults on AE’s underground network and substation getaways, and installs and connects network transformers and protectors.
(Network only) Performs cutting, splicing, terminating, and taping of Underground Residential Distribution (URD) and power cable on AE’s electrical system, and builds power cable risers for substation feeder exits.
(Network only) Installs and services: network vaults and vault equipment, electrical service to downtown residential and commercial customers, and small cell and streetlight equipment.
(Transmission only) Plans various types of transmission installations and maintenance projects (i.e. structure change outs, pulling in or changing conductors, and pulling in or changing fiber optic cable).
(Transmission only) Constructs and maintains transmission equipment and structures with circuit voltages of 69kV, 138kV, and 345kV.
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.