Electric Distribution Tech III

Electric Distribution Technician

Performs difficult skilled trades work overseeing and participating in the construction, maintenance, and operation of an electric distribution system, installing, maintaining, and repairing overhead and underground power lines and related facilities, operating equipment, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under moderate supervision of the Electric Service Supervisor. Limited supervision is exercised over assigned crew members.

Essential Functions

• Performs the duties of Electric Distribution Technician II.
• Climbs poles, operates bucket and line trucks, and various pieces of equipment as required.
• Frames poles, installs hardware, fuses, transformers, and pulls wires.
• Ties in conductors and changes insulators; performs electrical hot line work as required.
• Operates hotline equipment and tools; uses standard hand and power tools.
• Takes clearances and occasionally performs switching at unattended substations and line sectionalizing disconnect switches.
• Installs single phase and multi-phase underground and overhead services.
• Maintains and assists in repairs of various substation equipment as required.
• Installs and removes cross arms, cutouts, lighting arresters, primary and secondary lines, span guys, breaker bars, etc.
• Carries out requisite ground work in preparation for and at the conclusion of a job.
• Maintains and repairs street and rental lights as required.
• Maintains necessary paperwork and transformer card data as needed.
• Initiates and disconnects services at the pole; checks voltage and rotation.
• Installs voltage and current transformers; wires transformer rated meters.
• Diagnoses problems in the field, responds with sound judgment to unusual and hazardous circumstances and determines action and restores service.
• Maintains and installs underground services; operates all underground equipment.
• Verifies the condition of all vehicles, equipment, and tools provided for use in the performance of work.
• Participates in job briefings; conducts and attends safety meetings.
• May be required to work outside of normal working hours in stand-by, on-call, or emergency situations.

Typical Qualifications

High school diploma or GED and considerable experience in electric line construction and maintenance, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Possession of CPR and First Aid certifications upon hire. Completion of Advanced Lineman, Underground, and Meter courses, Competent Person, and Confined Space training upon hire. Complete Advanced Underground School, Advanced Lineman School, and Advance Meter School within 24 months of hire. Successfully complete Pole Top Rescue and Bucket Rescue upon hire and each year thereafter. Completion of the following Electricities schools: Intermediate Lineman School, Trouble Shooting School, and Transformer School. Valid commercial driver's license in the State of North Carolina. Completion of Lineman Career Development Program Level II preferred. Thorough knowledge of the practices, methods, equipment, materials, and tools used in the erection and maintenance of electrical lines; thorough knowledge of the standard practices applicable in making electric service connections; thorough knowledge of the location of the distribution system and of the areas serviced; thorough knowledge of the design and principles of various types of relays and other instruments used in electric substations; thorough knowledge of the occupational hazards and the safety precautions of the work; thorough knowledge of the basic operation of computers and computer programs; thorough knowledge of basic math skills and mathematical calculations; thorough knowledge of the practices, methods, tools, and equipment used in the maintenance, repair, and testing of instruments and controls; skill in the use and care of tools and equipment to which assigned; ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions; ability to read and understand schematic diagrams; ability to make proper service connections with speed and accuracy; ability to train and supervise staff; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the general public.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasion exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, walking, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, climbing or balancing, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions, frequently requires stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and occasionally requires sitting and tasting or smelling; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm's length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to the risk of electrical shock and exposure to vibration and frequently requires exposure to wet, humid conditions (non-weather), exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), working with explosives and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).