Journeyman Lineman

Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation•Livingston, TN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) is an electric power distribution cooperative owned and operated by its members. UCEMC distributes electric power through more than 4,775 miles of lines to over 54,000 members. This role involves assisting in the construction, maintenance, and repair of overhead and underground electrical distribution lines and equipment, working under the supervision of experienced linemen and following all safety protocols to ensure reliable electric service. The position requires operating and maintaining tools, equipment, and vehicles safely, climbing poles, working at heights or in confined spaces, and responding to outages and emergencies. A commitment to cooperative principles and member service is essential.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must have or be able to obtain a CDL.
Ability to perform physically demanding work in various weather conditions.
Willingness to learn and progress through the lineman training program.
Ability to climb poles and work at heights.
Knowledge of electrical systems, safety regulations, and industry standards.
Must possess (or be able to obtain within six (6) months of acquiring the position) and maintain valid class “A” Tennessee commercial driver’s license.
Must be able to follow written and verbal instructions.
Must be able to function adequately in emergency situations.
Must be able to perform bucket truck rescue.
Must be able to accurately read all standard meters.
Must be certified in basic first aid and CPR in accordance with Cooperative policies and procedures.
Must have satisfactorily gained the knowledge required of Groundman and must be continuing to learn the principles and practices in line construction, service, and maintenance requirements in an electric distribution system.
Must continue to learn and become proficient in the operation, maintenance and repair of switching and sectionalizing equipment.
Must continue to learn and become proficient in the installation of transformers, wiring of transformer banks, regulators, capacitators and other complicated equipment.
Must continue to learn and become proficient in recognizing all hazards and working in a safe manner, observing all safety rules.
Must continue to learn and become proficient in RUS specifications, National Electrical Code and National Electrical Safety Code.
Must continue to learn and become proficient in: nominal voltages, safe working practices, minimum approach distances, required personal protective equipment (PPE), personal protective grounding procedures and emergency procedures.
Within first six (6) months in the position, must complete Part I of TVPPA’s Lineman Apprenticeship Correspondence Training Program and applicable lab.
Must know the proper use, care, inspection and replacement procedures for rubber gloves, work gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, climbers, body belts, safety glasses, safety straps, fall protection and personal tools.
Must possess the skills and abilities required of Fourth Year Apprentice Linemen.
Must be able to develop and stimulate the use of training required for individual growth and development and building aggressive and agreeable team spirit among the employees assigned to work with him/her.
Must be able to conduct himself/herself in a courteous manner and be able to gain the respect of his/her co-workers.
Must be able to constructively participate with the Line Foreman and/or Working Line Foreman in developing work and safety programs.
Must be able to perform all tasks and duties involved with line construction, maintenance and service with or without supervision.
Must maintain ability to climb wood poles and other structures, as well as ability to work from aerial devices.
With limited supervision, must be able to install and remove all types of transformers.
With limited supervision, must be able to check three-phase sequence and be able to phase out lines.
With limited supervision, must be able to install, replace and remove oil circuit breakers and sectionalizers.
With limited supervision, must be able to install, replace or remove capacitors or voltage regulators on energized lines.
With limited supervision, must be able to make repairs and maintain transformers, circuit breakers and sectionalizers, and adjust or maintain cutouts.
With limited supervision, must be able to move energized lines, including the crossing of other lines.
With limited supervision, must be able to seek out cause and repair trouble on low voltage or primary lines and substations.
Must be able to check polarity and connect all types of transformer banks using knowledge of electrical theory of transformers.
Must possess (or obtain within six months of hire date) and maintain valid Tennessee class “A” commercial driver’s license.
Must be constantly aware of all hazards and conduct work in a safe manner, observing all safety rules.
Must maintain ability to climb poles and work from aerial devices.
Must be able to perform pole top and bucket truck rescues.
Must be certified in basic first aid and CPR in accordance with Cooperative policies and procedures.
Must be able to safely drive and operate Cooperative vehicles and equipment used in the construction and maintenance of the electric distribution system.
Must possess strong working knowledge of principles and practices in line construction, service, operation and maintenance of an electric distribution system.
Must possess strong working knowledge of using and reading all types of indicating or measuring instruments used on electric distribution lines and related equipment.
Must possess thorough understanding of the operations, maintenance and repair of switching and sectionalizing equipment.
Must possess thorough understanding of the installation of transformers, wiring of transformer banks, regulators, capacitors, and other complicated equipment.
Must possess thorough understanding of RUS specifications, National Electrical Code and National Electrical Safety Code.
Must possess strong working knowledge of the proper use, care inspection and replacement procedures for rubber gloves, work gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, climbers, body belts, safety glasses, safety straps, fall protection and personal tools.

Nice To Haves

Enrollment in or completion of an approved apprenticeship program preferred.
Minimum of three (3) months experience in applying the skills necessary for the position with an electric cooperative or related type organization is preferred.
Must have completed TVPPA’S Apprentice Lineman Correspondence Training Program or equivalent training approved by management.
Must have a minimum of five (5) years progressive work experience in electric utility system line construction, operations and maintenance. A minimum of (1) year experience as a Groundman and a minimum of (4) years of progressive work experience in the Apprentice Lineman Classifications or other approved equivalent training program is required.

Responsibilities

Assist in the construction, maintenance, and repair of overhead and underground electrical distribution lines and equipment.
Work under the supervision of experienced linemen, following all safety protocols to ensure reliable electric service to our members.
Operate and maintain tools, equipment, and vehicles safely and effectively.
Climb poles and work at heights or in confined spaces as needed.
Follow all safety regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure a safe work environment.
Respond to outages, emergencies, and after-hours calls as required.
Read and interpret work orders, maps, and schematics.
Maintain a commitment to cooperative principles and member service.
Learn the tools and materials needed for line construction and maintenance.
Assist linemen and learn how to properly use and store all hand lines and rope block assemblies.
Learn how to read meters.
Learn various materials used in the construction of rural electric power lines.
Assist linemen and learn how to frame poles on the ground.
Install pole grounds.
Install hardware, insulators and cross arms on the ground.
Install anchors.
Pull and secure guy wires to anchors.
Spot poles and secure them to be framed on the ground.
Tamp and plumb poles.
Load and haul poles in a safe manner.
Clear and clean rights-of-way.
Learn to accurately read all types of watt-hour meters.
Climb poles and work on de-energized poles and equipment only after satisfactorily completing an approved climbing school.
Attend and participate in safety meetings scheduled by the cooperative as required.
Continue to learn and become familiar with the methods of making up various assemblies such as cross arms, down guys and overhead guys, primary and secondary dead-ends on the ground and on structures with voltages of less than 600 volts.
Learn to read the nameplate on transformers to be able to determine the size and voltage ratings of transformers.
Operate line equipment when assigned, complying with all federal, state and Cooperative regulations and safe practices.
Continue to study the APPA safety manual and Cooperative safety manuals, and become familiar with the standards of construction and the safe methods of handling the various jobs.
Study and become familiar with all Cooperative policies and procedures.
Perform part-time supervisory functions to ensure that trouble crew line personnel assigned for assistance observes safety rules, and routes and executes service and work orders.
Provide direction and training of line crew personnel in the lineman apprenticeship training program or of personnel specifically assigned, for further development of skills and abilities.
Perform extremely complicated line construction and maintenance work on energized secondaries and on dead primary conductors structures and equipment in accordance with approved specifications.
Perform complicated work on energized primary conductors and equipment after proper instruction and training, under close supervision.
Carry out service and work order assignments.
Interpret staking sheets and prepare material tickets.
Prepare daily time sheets.
Prepare field and inspection reports.
Observe safety rules at all times when assigned to a construction or maintenance work group.
Maintain courteous relationships with members while making connects, disconnects, installing services, collecting accounts, reading meters, etc., when assigned.
Perform scheduled tool inspections.
Perform "on-call" duty assignments, as a condition of employment, when scheduled and/or when required to maintain continuity of service after regular working hours and on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays observed by the Cooperative.
Safely operate trucks and other construction equipment, as required.