Hydro Utility Operator

Requisition ID # 173980

Job Category: Maintenance / Construction / Operations

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Energy Delivery

Work Type: Onsite

Job Location: Pioneer

Department Overview

Power Generation maintains and operates PG&E's hydroelectric, fossil and renewable generation facilities, providing more than 4,000 megawatts of generating capacity for our customers. We are an organization of nearly 700 men and women dedicated to deliver safe, reliable and cost effective generation to California in an environmentally responsible manner. As an integral and active member of the company team, Power Generation contributes to PG&E's goal of becoming the leading utility in the United States.

Position Summary

This is an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245 represented classification, which has over 100 years of experience representing employees at PG&E. This job is subject to collective bargaining.

This position is a DOT (Department of Transportation) covered classification and is subject to random drug and/or alcohol screening.

A Hydro Utility Operator routinely patrols monitors, surveys and i nspects the condition of PG&E's hydroelectric assets checks and ensures water flow and level remains unobstructed and in compliance. . Monitors, maintains, cleans, patrols, tests and makes minor repairs to equipment associated with PG&E's hydroelectric assets .

PG&E is providing the hourly rate range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual hourly rate paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreement, and internal equity. Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors. ​

Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the starting hourly rate range for this position is $36.96 to $57.02, subject to collectively bargained wage increases.

Responsibilities

• Maintains buildings and grounds associated with PG&E's hydroelectric assets .
• May assist in performing routine tests on automatic equipment.
• May assist in maintaining and installing measuring devices.
• Cleans, patrols, maintains, makes minor repairs to and may assist in adjusting the flow and level of water in canals, flumes, gates, tunnels, siphons, penstocks, gauging stations, canal alarms, spill channels, trash rakes, fish ladders, fish screens, dams, reservoirs and their related facilities and equipment.
• May assist in regulating water diversions to customers.
• Drives (company/personal) vehicle on designated inspection route; drives in all traffic and weather conditions, day or night.
• Routinely patrols monitors, surveys and inspects the condition of PG&E's hydroelectric assets including but not limited to, dams, reservoirs, forebays’ water conveyance structures, dwelling, roads, bridges, public safety signs, fall protection equipment and other hydroelectric assets ; assess and maintains vegetation conditions , , and erosion conditions that may affect the safe reliable of PG&E's hydroelectric assets ; patrols monitors, surveys and inspects equipment that may have been damaged by natural causes, , vandalism, accidents or storm’s ;[BE1] ; all areas are to be inspected by foot or vehicle (this may include the use of boats, helicopters, drones or UTV’s) ; uses sight, hearing and smell to monitor our hydroelectric assets .; views a variety of instruments, including lighted panel board and several monitors; watches the visible areas of operation; listens for routine or aberrant operation sounds and alarms.
• Identifies documents and reports the location and extent of damages to structures caused by vandalism, natural causes, storms or accidents; investigates the cause and extent of damages that have caused interruptions of service; investigates water clarity and turbidity of waterways.
• Effectively and routinely communicates in person, by phone or by radio with supervisor, switching center or coworkers’ regarding loan worker safety and location, emergent conditions, or any other findings that may pose a threat to employee public or environmental safety . ; communicates with site foremen, crew members, home owners and public.
• In all weather conditions employee walks, climbs, bends, kneels or squats to access structures and equipment; lifts metal cabinet covers; unlocks/ re-locks gates, doors or garages, as needed; uses flashlight or head lamp at night or in dark spaces.
• Uses organized handwritten field notes to record site locations, field findings, hazards and deficiencies, proposed solutions, estimated time frame and material needed for repair, uses detailed notes incident reporting and documentation ;.
• Uses computer or mobile device to: schedule track and identify routine and corrective work; write up work summaries and reports with repair recommendations, create and assign corrective work; e-mail; attends remote meetings use teams or zoom; compiles, copies, files and mails reports; uses phone to schedule appointments, speak with other agencies; receives and reviews work site (assignments/ route); plans route, prioritizes work, checks directions and addresses; obtains vehicle and conducts pre-op safety inspection;
• Attends and participates in daily tailboard meetings or communicates with supervisor to learn safety guidelines and potential hazards; attends and participates in training and procedural meetings, as scheduled.
• Uses hand tools and power tools to repair: roads, canals, tunnels, ditches, flumes, water collection systems, pipelines and other related water systems; cleans canals, ditches, roads, dams and water gates; uses pumps and hoses for dewatering; operates controls, buttons, dials and switches to regulate power production, temperature and water flow. -Fuels vehicle at designated fueling stations (at start of shift/ at end of shift/ during route), as needed; measure and pre-mix oil and fuels for tools and equipment.
• Based on qualifications, operates hand and foot controls of various types of heavy equipment, such as: snow-cat, UTV’s, boats and drones.
• Provides on-the-job training, orientation, demonstration and assistance to other crew members; attends and participates in training classes and meetings.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must possess and maintain a valid Class A California Driver's License Permit by Day 1 of hire
• Must possess and maintain a valid DMV Medical Card by Day 1 of hire
• Must possess a High School diploma, GED or equivalent work experience
• Ability to work around bodies of water
• Ability to work from a helicopter
• Ability to work in all types of weather extremes
• Ability to drive safely in all weather and road conditions
• Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends and holidays, and various work schedules
• Must be able to wear company provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Ability to lift 50 pounds or more
• Ability to work in remote areas by yourself at times
• Ability to work in remote work locations with possible exposure to poison oak, snakes, spiders, bees, mosquitoes, ticks and rodents
• Must be able to maneuver on steep and/or uneven terrain

Desired Qualifications:

• 5+ year work experience in a water system or hydroelectric, power generation environment
• Demonstrated experience with basic hand and power tools used in the commercial construction industry
• 1+ years of experience in the operation of mechanized equipment associated with this work
• Obtains part 107 drone certification license
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Outlook, Teams Excel, and Word
• Has basic SAP work management experience
• Live within 25-50 miles of the service territory

Pre-Employment Testing

PG&E Employees: You must have qualified on all prerequisite tests prior to submitting an application; and all secondary tests prior to interviewing. For more information on prerequisite and secondary exams, including study guides, please visit the Pre-employment testing program website.

• Industrial Skills Test
• Physical Test Battery