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Maintenance
Assists other PG&E personnel in the operation, installation, removal, cleaning, inspection and troubleshooting of equipment such as underground cable vaults, cables, splices and terminations; operates 15kV and 138kV class equipment including underground cable duels and cables; performs plant switch duties; performs equipment lockout/tagout; uses test equipment (multi-amp, strobe lights, probe, megaohm meter and hi-pot); inspects new electrical construction work for design standards and acquisition of appropriate permits; runs Utility plant cranes and lift vehicles.
Competently reads blueprints, electrical diagrams and technical manuals to understand and perform repairs on piping systems, gear boxes, drive mechanisms, pumps, compressors, hydraulic power and pressure unites; valves, gates, trash racks, turbines and motors; maintains building lighting protection systems, substation battery banks and wiring systems; installs boil and safety switches; analyzes problems using multi-amp, strobe lights and probe equipment; tests and makes adjustments on mechanical meters and gates used for capacity, flow, temperature, velocity and pressure measurement. Completes incident reports and shift logs.
Troubleshooting
Perform diagnostic evaluation, troubleshooting and scheduled or unscheduled maintenance on the full range of electrical and solid state analog electronic equipment in hydroelectric power generating stations. Includes installing, modifying and performing routine and preventive maintenance on recording and indicating meters, voltage control equipment, communication systems and dam safety instrumentation.
Troubleshoot problems to find the source of an outage or malfunction in hydroelectric plants using a variety of electrical and mechanical testing equipment, including voltmeters, ammeters, ohmmeters, voltage testers, continuity testers and power analyzers. Maintains logs, reports and work requests for completing tasks and reporting findings. Inspect hydroelectric plant electrical, mechanical and electronic equipment such as motors, transformers, voltage regulators, generators, relays, air compressors, sump pumps, fans and electric control boards. Communicates the status of operating equipment to system dispatch and supervisors. Performs tunnel or field inspections of hydropower plant facilities and resources. Operates and controls hydroelectric turbine generator units and auxiliary equipment. Performs other duties as assigned.
Installation
In this role, you will install, repair and replace electrical systems, equipment and circuitry. You will also install and test protective relays, digital controls, governors, excitation systems, auxiliary equipment and other power generating unit electrical operational equipment. Reporting to the Hydro Electrician Technical Supervisor, you will test and troubleshoot equipment to diagnose and resolve malfunctions. You will also perform electrical maintenance on hydroelectric power generating units and auxiliary equipment. You will also work standby duty on a scheduled basis.
Other electricians, including high voltage lineman and outside linemen, install and service lines and equipment positioned hundreds of feet above ground level. These professionals must complete extensive safety training and have the ability to perform high-angle rescues. These employees often spend their days working outdoors in all weather conditions and are exposed to hazardous materials.
Testing
Perform acceptance tests and preventative maintenance to electrical equipment such as generators, turbines, motors, circuit breakers, switchgear, programmable logic controllers, SCADA systems and battery systems. Use vibration, theomography and partial discharge testing to diagnose malfunctions of equipment. Maintain and update electrical drawings, equipment files, sketches, reports and records to document work performed. Test and troubleshoot equipment to ensure NERC compliance. Operate, control and monitor hydroelectric turbine generator units and auxiliary equipment. Inform system dispatch and supervisors of operating status.