All about Roles and Responsibilities of a Powerhouse Electrician

Have you ever wondered what the roles and responsibilities a powerhouse electrician endures? If so, we’ve got you covered.

Powerhouse electricians like Laura Avila Barraza are very proficient at what they do, and we’re going to be looking at the roles and responsibilities of these professions to entice and educate those who are interested in learning more about the profession.

Job Responsibilities

Electrical and Electronics Repairers of Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay inspect, test, repair, or help maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays. The following is a list of their duties that they perform on a regular basis.

• Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify any malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices that can include ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.

• Prepare and maintain records detailing all of the tests, repairs, and maintenance.

• Consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to help in determining optimum equipment functioning.

• Analyze test data to diagnose malfunctions, to determine performance characteristics of systems, or to evaluate effects of system modifications.

• Besides what normally occurs within their day, Powerhouse Electrical Repairers also repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators. They can also keep a close eye on inventories of spare parts for all equipment, requisitioning parts as necessary.

• On a weekly to monthly basis, Powerhouse Electrical Repairers open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments, or repairs. They might also test insulators and bushings of equipment by inducing voltage across insulation, testing current, and calculating insulation loss.

• In addition, they run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.

• Although specific duties can constantly change, many of them schedule and supervise splicing or termination of cables in color-code order.

• To some Powerhouse Electrical Repairs, it is also within their set of responsibilities to notify facility personnel of equipment shutdowns.

Work-Life Balance

Typically speaking, for people like Laura Avila Barraza, powerhouse electricians can expect to run through a 40-hour workweek.

Is this an Ideal Career Choice?

People who are suitable for this job tend to enjoy work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. Professionals like Laura Avila Barraza thoroughly enjoy working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like adhering to a set of procedures and routines. Additionally, they also enjoy working with data and details more than with ideas.

Work Environment

Where these types of electricians and technicians work is very intricate. In that, you can expect to be hired by power companies to work in power stations or substations. The work is physically demanding at times.

You may need to climb to heights to monitor or test your equipment, for instance, and standing all day comes with the territory.

There are also risks in this job, most notably the possibility of being electrocuted. Following safety procedures and using the appropriate gear is essential for reducing the likelihood of this happening.

Training for the Position

The requirements for working in this field vary depending on your location. In certain places, you may need to become a licensed electrician before you begin training in powerhouses and substations as a specific specialty.

In other places, you may be able to get an apprenticeship to learn all of the skills of a technician without any prior experience.

There are a few good places to start if you’re interested in this as a career. A powerhouse or substation electrician or technician are good areas to find work in.

Look for a post-secondary program in electrical technology or a similar field to get background knowledge in electrical work and any classroom requirements you may need to fulfill.

On-the-job training is also imperative, so seek out an apprenticeship program or a position in a substation or powerhouse of your choosing.

Job Salary

While the sources of power generation may sporadically change over time, the need for electricity will not go away by any means. Powerhouses and power companies will continue to seek out qualified technicians and electricians. All electrician careers are increasing right now at a rate of about nine percent, so you can expect to be able to find work without putting forth that much effort.

While electricians, in general, can seek to earn an annual salary of $54,110, the salary for a powerhouse electrician is usually more because of the specific skills that are required for the job.

The annual average earnings of this specialized type of electrician are closer to $77,000 per year. To get into this sufficient career, start looking for an apprenticeship or a college program to get your foot in the door.

The possibilities are endless so start conducting as much research as you possibly can, in order to find your dream job that can serve you for years to come.