Electrical Technician

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 employees 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.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company is an AA/EEO employer that actively pursues and hires a diverse workforce. Pacific Gas and Electric Company is an AA/EEO employer that actively pursues and hires a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

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.

Relay Protection Electrical Technician(Hydro) is expected to be proficient in the calibration, installation, maintenance, and operation of the following: protective relays and associated equipment which will ensure the efficient, safe, reliable, and NERC Reliability Standards compliant operation of PG&E generating plants and transmission networks. Responsible for performing work involving an extremely high degree of complexity, including troubleshooting, repairing, overhauling, calibrating, and maintaining components of protective relay systems(microprocessor and electro-mechanical); substation and electric utility protection systems; station automation and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. This job requires the individual to comprehend various types of equipment labels, safety signs, learn and apply technical materials and complete daily logs. The individual must be able to drive safely, work extended hours; travel/transfer to new headquarter upon request at any time, and wear company provided Personal Protective Equipment.

Electrical Technicians assist our team in safely operating and maintaining hydroelectric powerhouses and related facilities as well as the construction and project management expertise to expand and replace this infrastructure as needed. Other duties include installation, field testing, and maintenance of protective relay equipment, relay carriers, supervisory equipment, station apparatus, instruments, remote and local control devices and associated wiring.

Electrical Technicians must be proficient in understanding and deciphering electrical drawing /and schematics. Background of electrical apprenticeship and experience must be such as to qualify an employee to perform these duties with skill and efficiency.  You must be comfortable working from heights ascending and descending at high altitudes, around energized and/or large loud, vibrating mechanical rotating equipment. You must be able to maneuver frequently on stairs and ladders, over rock, gravel, and concrete, metal grating, scaffolding, and wood; which may include narrow and uneven surfaces; work in confined and awkward positions and drive and work in extreme weather conditions in remote work locations. Working environment is predominantly outdoors, and may include exposure to poison oak, snakes, ticks, spiders, rodents and insects.

The position will require travel between numerous site locations during work hours.

PG&E is providing the hourly rate that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This position is subject to collectively bargained hourly wage rates and increases. The starting wage rate for this position is $85.62 per hour.  This wage rate is specific to the locality of the job. The wage rate is based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity. 

Job Responsibilities

• Install, field test and maintain protective relay equipment, relay carriers, supervisory equipment, station apparatus, instruments, remote and local control devices and associated wiring

• Must be proficient in print reading, specifically elementaries (schematics) & diagram of connections

• Must be able to calibrate electro-mechanical & microprocessor relays which include but not limited to distance, directional overcurrent, overcurrent, overvoltage, undervoltage, differential, frequency, phase unbalance, negative sequence, loss of excitation

• Must be able to test current transformers which include saturation, primary & secondary current ratio, voltage ratio & insulation resistance test

• Must be able to test power & potential (instrument) transformers which include polarity, transformer turn ratio, voltage ratio, insulation resistance, oil dielectric, oil acidity, sudden pressure, moisture test

• Must be able to test various transducers which include but not limited to voltage, watt, var, current, milli-volt    

 • Pack and move from ground, trucks, or platforms; lift, carry, and install various tools, parts, and equipment weighing up to 100 pounds on mountainous terrain, dams, canals, stairways, and ladders

• Use safety equipment such as eye, ear, foot, hand protection, as well as fall protection equipment

•Work around chemicals, fuels, solvents, oils, acids, paints, and some substances identified in Proposition 65.

• Maneuver frequently on stairs and ladders, over rock, gravel, concrete, metal grating, scaffolding and wood; which may include narrow and uneven surfaces; possibility of ice, oil, and/or water on surfaces

• Ability to work with other technicians on testing and installing equipment

• Recording and filing of test results

• Operate a company vehicle

• Must work safely at all times as defined by PG&E’s safety standards and procedures

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must possess a High School diploma, GED or equivalent work experience
• Must possess a valid California Driver's License
• 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
• Must be able to lift 100 pounds a minimum of one time a day
• Must be able to wear company provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Previous Journeyman Electrical Technician experience with two or more years of experience in relay and control

• 2 years experience testing protective relay equipment in a power station or high voltage substation
• Certified journey level Electrician

Desired:

• A four year degree in Electrical Engineering OR a two year Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology and two years of experience in relay and control

• Successful completion of apprentice electrical technician program
• Demonstrated experience with electromechanical and microprocessor protective relay devices in substations or powerhouses
• Proficient in understanding and deciphering electrical drawings and schematics
• Demonstrated ability to complete detailed and intricate work requiring hand and eye dexterity, such as circuit boards and meter and relay movements
• Ability to travel and transfer to new hydro facilities upon request at any time, within the PG&E service region

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.

• Apprentice Electrical Technician Test - ETT Test
• Physical Test Battery
• Work Orientation Inventory-Physical/Technical Driving
• Provisional Journeyman Electrical Technician Assessment