What Do Electrical Power-Line Technicians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Electrical Power-Line Technicians install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers. They also adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.

Other tasks include:

• Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections.
• Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
• Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment.
• Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.
• Identify defective sectionalizing devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays, or wiring, using wiring diagrams and electrical-testing instruments.
• Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.

We asked Electrical Power-Line Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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65% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 69% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Electrical Power-Line Technicians coordinate work assignment preparation and completion with other workers. They drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.

A typical day for an Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer will also include:

• Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections.
• Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.
• Dig holes, using augers, and set poles, using cranes and power equipment.
• Attach cross-arms, insulators, and auxiliary equipment to poles prior to installing them.
• Travel in trucks, helicopters, and airplanes to inspect lines for freedom from obstruction and adequacy of insulation.

We asked some Electrical Power-Line Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	57% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	40% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	99% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	20% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	1% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	65% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Electrical Power-Line Technicians also splice or solder cables together or to overhead transmission lines, customer service lines, or street light lines, using hand tools, epoxies, or specialized equipment. They may also attach cross-arms, insulators, and auxiliary equipment to poles prior to installing them.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Electrical Power-Line Technicians Replace or straighten damaged poles. They might also Cut and peel lead sheathing and insulation from defective or newly installed cables and conduits prior to splicing.

In addition, they Identify defective sectionalizing devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays, or wiring, using wiring diagrams and electrical-testing instruments.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections.

To some Electrical Power-Line Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as an Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm

http://www.publicpower.org/

http://www.tiaonline.org/

http://www.cewd.org/roadmap/