Powerline technicians construct, maintain and repair overhead and underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems. They erect and maintain steel, wood or concrete poles, towers and guy wires.  Install, maintain and repair overhead and underground power lines and cables, insulators, conductors, lightning arrestors, switches, transformers, street lighting and other associated equipment. Powerline technicians also work with various types of heavy equipment including ariel booms, backhoes, nodwells, tension stringing equipment and skid steers, and splice, solder and insulate conductors and related wiring to connect power distribution and transmission networks. 

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When there is a power failure, disturbance, or storm damage, powerline technicians locate the source of the problem and replace or repair defective power lines and accessories. The power lines may be de-energized and grounded or may remain energized. Live-line maintenance techniques are used on energized power lines. 

 

Industry Changes

Power line technicians are employed by electric power companies, electrical contractors, public utilities, equipment suppliers, or mining companies. The demand for electrical power keeps rising as society adopts new technologies. With an expected wave of older workers soon to retire, this trade is currently in high demand.

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The Government of Canada's Job Market Report reveals that within the next 10 years, the demand for electrical power line and cable workers & telecommunications line and cable workers will remain stable. New job openings are expected to total 7,800, while 9,000 new job seekers are expected to be available to fill them.

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Power Line Technician is a nationally designated trade under the IP Red Seal program. Students who complete the UFV Power Line Technician program can pursue an apprenticeship with an electrical utility or electrical contractor company.

                                 

Safety

Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

 

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment.

 

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials.

 

Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

 

Job Tasks

• Ability to deal effectively and courteously with the public even in difficult situations

• Ability to pay careful attention to details

• Ability to lift heavy objects weighing in excess of 25 kilograms

• Ability to work at heights and in varying extreme climates

• Ability to work as a member of a team and adapt to changing tasks and locations

• Climbing ability

• Electrical serving

• Good hearing and colour vision

• Good physical coordination and manual dexterity

• Read and interpret drawings and specifications to determine the materials

• Rigging and Hoisting

• …and much more

 

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Allen Keys

• Amp Meter Amprobe

• Analog MultiMeter

• Cable Cutters

• Coax Stripper

• Combination Square

• Conduit benders

• Crimpers

• Cordless Drill/Driver

• Digital MultiMeter

• Drills

• Files

• First aid kits,

• Fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipment

• Flashlight

• Grinders

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Ladders

• Measuring tape

• Mega Ohm Meter

• Mini pipe cutters

• Needle nose pliers

• Screw driver set

• Volt meter

• Wire cutter, splicer

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Ability to work at heights

• Analytical Thinking

• Critical Thinking

• Co-ordination

• Creativity

• Decision Making

• Lifting and hoisting

• Mechanical aptitude

• Manual dexterity

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Patience

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Writing

• Use of hand signals

• Computer Knowledge

• …and much more

 

General Wages

• Average -   $27.65

• Minimum -  $19.00

• Maximum - $35.00

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Sample Q&A

 

1. Which of the following is the most preferable sheave for the lead line to be pulling from on a block and tackle that is reeved?

a. left sheave with the becket on the right.

b. centre sheave of the bottom block.

c. centre sheave of the top block.

d. right sheave with the becket on the right.

Ans. C

 

2. Which of the following types of hitches should be used if a component to be removed cannot be rigged with two chokers?

a. double wrap choker hitch.

b. single basket hitch.

c. double wrap basket hitch.

d. single wrap choker hitch.

Ans. A

 

3. What is the minimum size of copper TW75 conductor in conduit required to supply a 50 kV A (kilo-volt amps) three-phase dry type transformer, with a 600V primary and a 120V/208V secondary?

a. #2 awg

b. #3 awg

c. #6 awg

d. #4 awg

Ans. C

 

4. When the ohmmeter reads a low resistance in one direction and a low resistance in the other direction with ohmmeter reversed, the diode will be?

a. forwarded biased

b. functioning

c. reversed biased

d. short circuited

Ans. D

 

5. Which of the following is the KVA output of two 75 KVA transformers connected open delta?

a. 86.55

b. 130

c. 150

d. 259.5

Ans.  B

 

6. Which of the following is the recommend depth of burial for 40 feet or greater wood utility poles?

a. 10% of length

b. 10% of length plus 2 feet

c. 10% of length plus 1 foot

d. 10% of length plus 4 feet

Ans. B

 

7. Which one of the following is correct when descending a wood utility pole?

a. hands are lowered first

b. gaffs should be slapped toward the pole

c. leg should stroked

d. try to coast or slide down

Ans. A