Electrical Technician

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 protective relays and associated equipment to 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 headquarters 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 drawings / 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 $82.53 per hour. This wage rate is specific to the locality of the job.

• Install, field test and maintain protective relay equipment, relay carriers, supervisory equipment, station apparatus, instruments, remote and local control devices and associated wiring
• Be proficient in print reading, specifically elementary schematics and diagrams of connections
• Calibrate electro‑mechanical and microprocessor relays which include but are not limited to distance, directional overcurrent, overcurrent, overvoltage, under voltage, differential, frequency, phase unbalance, negative sequence, and loss of excitation
• Test current transformers which include saturation, primary & secondary current ratio, voltage ratio & insulation resistance
• Test power & potential (instrument) transformers which include polarity, transformer turn ratio, voltage ratio, insulation resistance, oil dielectric, oil acidity, sudden pressure, and moisture test
• Test various transducers which include but are 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,…