Powerline Technician

The Town of Ponoka is currently recruiting for a permanent full-time (1.0 FTE) Powerline Technician.

Position Summary

The Powerline Technician reports to the Powerline Foreman, and works with colleagues in the Electrical Department to provide quality services to internal and external customers. The team’s work will collectively support the Vision of the Town of Ponoka: To be a thriving community with a hometown feel.  

This position supports the team by performing duties that include construction, operation, maintenance, and metering of the overhead and underground distribution system within the Town of Ponoka.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assist in the installation and maintenance of the municipal electrical system by:

• Complying with all policies, rules and regulations of the municipality and the provincial government.
• Reading electrical specifications and drawings.
• Installing lines, transformers, breakers, fuses, switches, meters, streetlamps, and other related equipment.
• Performing safety checks and monitoring installation procedures as prescribed in policies and procedures.
• Operating and maintaining electrical vehicles and equipment in compliance with prescribed policies and procedures.
• Trouble shooting and suggesting remedial action.
• Responding to emergency situations.

    2. Assist in the installation and reading of electrical meters by:

• Wiring and installing meters.
• Rewiring and replacing meters.
• Reading meters and/or calculating estimated electrical consumption.
• Responding to complaints about meter readings.
• Identifying and correcting faulty readings and/or meters.
• Completing in/out reading, cut-offs and reinstatements of service.
• Identifying unusually high or low consumption rates.

    3. Perform other related duties as required by:

• Assisting other Town Departments with work activities including snow removal, and operating other equipment/vehicles as required.

   

Minimum Requirements

Education

High school graduation

Valid Alberta Powerline Technician Certificate or Interprovincial Red Seal Preferred but will also consider 3rd or 4th year apprentice. 

Valid Emergency First Aid Level or above.

Experience

Minimum Five years of directly related experience 

Municipal experience or contractor with town/city experience is an asset

Other

Satisfactory Driver’s Abstract

Satisfactory Criminal Record Check

Valid Alberta Class 3 Vehicle Operators License with Airbrake Endorsement preferred or willingness to achieve.

Participation in the On-Call rotation is a requirement of this position and the successful candidate must be able, prepared and in fit condition to respond to the trouble call site within thirty minutes of receiving the trouble call.

Competencies

Knowledge:

• Considerable knowledge of electrical distribution systems and its application to construction, maintenance, emergency repairs and on-going operations.
• Excellent organization and planning skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal, team participation and communication skills.
• Excellent customer relations.
• Safe work skills including knowledge of safe work and job planning procedures.

Additional Skills:

• Experience in the operation of a Digger an asset.
• Standby and troubleshooting experience an asset.
• 25 kV rubber glove and hotline work knowledge an asset.
• Computer knowledge an asset.

To be effective in this position, an individual will:

• Demonstrate integrity: honesty, responsibility, and trustworthiness.
• Display a strong commitment to serving the community.
• Aim for excellence, striving for the highest quality in all that you do.
• Be respectful to others and treat them the way you would want them to treat you.
• Maintain transparency and open communication within the organization, as well as between the community and the Town’s government.

Working Conditions

• Indoor, outdoor, all weather conditions
• Walking, standing, kneeling, sitting, bending
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching
• For further information, please reference the Physical Demands Analysis for this position.

Health and Safety

• Provide our community with quality services in a responsible manner within a healthy environment.
• Ensure the Town of Ponoka’s health and safety policies, procedures, and safe work practices are followed in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations.