Substation Technician at The Energy Cooperative – Utica, Ohio

The Energy Cooperative, headquartered in Newark, Ohio, serves over 70,000 electric, natural gas and propane members throughout east-central Ohio. As a non-profit cooperative, we are member-owned and controlled by the members we serve. We are committed to serving our members safe, high quality energy services at a reasonable price. We believe in our employees and strive to provide fair, honest and equal treatment with a commitment to training, education, and opportunity for advancement in a safe and secure environment.

At The Energy Cooperative, we take pride in offering competitive benefits and want our employees to have what they need to be their best.

Here’s a glimpse of the programs we offer our employees:

Medical, Dental and Vision InsuranceLife and Accidental Death & Dismemberment InsuranceSupplemental Life Insurance Programs for Employee, Spouse and ChildrenDisability InsuranceFlexible Spending Account (FSA)Paid Time-Off (PTO)Paid HolidaysTraditional 401(k) and Roth 401(k)Retirement Pension PlanEducation AssistanceEmployee Assistance Program

We are currently looking to fill the position of Substation Technician for our Utica, OH Service Center. This is a full-time, non-exempt, highly skilled technical position within the distribution system of the electrical system. An individual in this position must be able to work independently with minimal supervision in addition to demonstrating a high level of responsibility and follow through.

Nature and Scope of Position (Essential Duties and Responsibilities):

Support and incorporate the Cooperative’s Mission, Vision and Values in professional behavior and decisions.Comply with all Cooperative policies, procedures, goals and objectives and meet attendance and punctuality guidelines.Understand, observe and enforce cooperative safety and security procedures and report potentially unsafe conditions to department supervisor and/or safety department personnel.Complies with all safety rules and procedures. Keeps abreast of all policies, procedures, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and National Electric Safety Code (NESC) specifications, OSHA regulations and other matters related to the assigned work. Performs maintenance of the Cooperative’s substations, station related equipment, and metering points to ensure that the sites, fencing, structures, electrical buss work, and all electrical and electronic equipment are kept in good condition and maintained to meet operational needs and the requirements of the N.E.S.C. and the RESAP. Performs other substation maintenance such as installation of conduit, control circuits, mechanical construction, connections, and concrete work.Inspects, tests, repairs, and calibrates all substation equipment including transformers, circuit switchers, voltage regulators, breakers and reclosers, motor operators, battery chargers, control equipment, etc. and completes all pertinent documentation/records. This includes taking oil samples from substation equipment for testing.Assists line department with station switching and with power restoration during storms or other outages.Installs and operates software, and maintains substation SCADA, AMI, and other communications equipment. Downloads event recorders and load data from substation relays and recloser controls. Maintain substation load and device duty cycle databases, including substation reading databases.Maintains internal relations with all levels of Company personnel. Maintains external relations with members, contractors and consultants, professional organizations, and other utilities. Work with warehouse personnel to ensure warehouse and pole yard are efficiently organized and maintained.Maintains a positive internal relationship with all levels of Cooperative personnel including upper management. Maintain a positive and helpful external relationship with members, developers, contractors, and the general public in reference to maintenance and construction of the electrical system.Perform scheduled on-call assignments including working after regular working hours and on Saturdays, Sundays, and company-observed holidays. Respond quickly to all outage calls, station issues/problems and emergency situations. Respond to un-scheduled outage work as assigned or as called in to work as the need develops, 365 days per year.Performs other related work in addition to other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactory. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience: A minimum of a high school diploma is required, and additional college or technical training is preferred, such as a two-year technical degree. A minimum of 5 years of experience in various phases of electric distribution and/or substation maintenance, with experience in switching of voltages up to 138 kV is required. Experience in SCADA and electronic controlled equipment is desired. Must have experience in using a computer and Microsoft Office products. An equivalent combination of education, experience and training will be considered. Ability to read and understand the cooperative mapping system, work orders and switching procedures. Ability to read and understand one-line diagrams and troubleshooting protection and controls systems preferred. Working knowledge of EPA and PCB regulations as they pertain to the electric industry. Possess operable computer skills and a willingness to learn new skills as to utilize various software programs, applications, and technology devices for work related functions.Certificates, Licenses and Training: Must possess and maintain a valid State of Ohio driver’s license and good driving record, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class-A desired. Must keep abreast of all changes in first aid procedures, safety rules and regulations, and always maintain an up-to-date First Aid and CPR cards. Must successfully pass any test or certification requirements necessary for performing this position. Must attend and participate in job training and safety meetings and attend such specialized schools as may be directed. Language Skills: Must be able to communicate situations and/or problems effectively. Must effectively present information and respond to inquiries from supervisors, customers, landowners, and the general public. Must be able to understand and follow written and/or oral instructions. Ability to deal with the general public in a pleasant and courteous manner at all times is essential. Must maintain a positive attitude that will promote harmony and good will among fellow employees, the members and the general public.Other Skills and Abilities: Requires the use of good judgment to plan, perform and make decisions. Must have extensive knowledge of electrical testing procedures and electrical distribution practices. Must have extensive knowledge of occupational hazards and necessary safety precautions applicable to this type of work. Must have the ability prepare and complete all necessary paperwork and other written documentation required for this position. An employee in this position may be required to participate in the service on call schedule when requested.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Participates in departments on-call schedule and must be available for announced or unannounced overtime work and the ability to respond to call-out work during non-working hours for emergencies and service connects and disconnects which cover the entire electrical system. As a result, an individual in this position must maintain their personal residence within reasonable travel time of the Utica office.This position is subject to pre-employment physical and substance abuse testing and may be subject to random testing in accordance with the Cooperative’s substance abuse policy.While performing this job successfully an individual must have the ability to maintain sufficient strength to engage in heavy manual labor encountered in the work area within the limits of sound safety practices.