Occupation

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

Human Advantage 73%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.5 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.

Also Known As: Apparatus Lineman, Corrosion Control Fitter, Corrosion Technician, Electrical Maintenance Mechanic, Electrical Technician, Electrical and Instrumentation Technician (E and I Technician), Field Electronics Tech (Field Electronics Technician), Gear Technician +27 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
  2. Prepare and maintain records detailing tests, repairs, and maintenance.
  3. Consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to determine optimum equipment functioning.
  4. Analyze test data to diagnose malfunctions, to determine performance characteristics of systems, or to evaluate effects of system modifications.
  5. Open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments or repairs.
  6. Notify facility personnel of equipment shutdowns.
  7. Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
  8. Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
  9. Maintain inventories of spare parts for all equipment, requisitioning parts as necessary.

Supplemental Tasks (6)

  1. Construct, test, maintain, and repair substation relay and control systems.
  2. Test insulators and bushings of equipment by inducing voltage across insulation, testing current, and calculating insulation loss.
  3. Schedule and supervise the construction and testing of special devices and the implementation of unique monitoring or control systems.
  4. Schedule and supervise splicing or termination of cables in color-code order.
  5. Test oil in circuit breakers and transformers for dielectric strength, refilling oil periodically.
  6. Disconnect voltage regulators, bolts, and screws, and connect replacement regulators to high-voltage lines.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Calibrate instruments, such as transmitters.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
50%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
28%
Some College Courses
11%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
8%
Bachelor's Degree
2%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word

Software (11)

  • Fluke Corporation FlukeView Forms
  • Megger PowerDB
  • OMICRON Test Universe
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • Web browser software

Tools & Equipment (55)

  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Adjustable pin spanner wrenches
  • Alternating current AC electric welders
  • Analog ohmmeters
  • Bearing pullers
  • Bench ammeters
  • Bench drills
  • Bench vises
  • Bench voltmeters
  • Clamp ammeters
  • Diagonal cutting electronics pliers
  • Digital micrometers
  • Digital multimeters
  • Digital ohmmeters
  • Digital oscilloscopes
  • Electrical fire extinguishers
  • Hand guard cold chisels
  • Handheld dataloggers
  • Handheld thermal imagers
  • Heavy duty die stocks
  • Heavy-duty hacksaws
  • Insulation resistance testers
  • Lifting platforms
  • Light emitting diode LED voltage tester
  • Multigrip pliers
  • Nailing hammers
  • Neon voltage testers
  • Oxyacetylene welders
  • Phase rotation indicators
  • Pin punches
  • Pop riveters
  • Portable electric drills
  • Portable electric grinders
  • Portable electric jigsaws
  • Portable electric saws
  • Precision file sets
  • Precision reamers
  • Radiation meters
  • Ratchet sets
  • Relay test sets
  • Series solenoid voltage testers
  • Sheet metal guillotines
  • Slot screwdrivers
  • Socket wrenches
  • Soldering guns
  • Stepladders
  • T handle tap wrenches
  • Tap sets
  • Tin snips
  • Twist drill bits
  • Universal calibrators
  • Vernier calipers
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Volt-ammeters
  • Wood saws

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Utilities Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
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