Station Electrician C - A

AEP Service Corporation; Bluefield (VA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power seeks Station Electrician personnel to support energized and de-energized station work at the Bluefield, VA Transmission Service Center. Positions span levels C, B and A, with increasing education, skill, and certification requirements for higher levels, and a requirement to reside within 45 minutes of the facility.

The role involves servicing transformers, breakers, and related equipment, using testing tools, performing maintenance, and adhering to safety and regulatory

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent education/experience in electrical/mechanical/industrial maintenance.
• Military training and/or technical experience may substitute for formal education.
• Valid Class A CDL is required.

Responsibilities

• Work on energized equipment up to 260 volts.
• Assist in disassembly/assembly, inspection, maintenance and repair of station equipment and transformers.
• Install and maintain station batteries, cables, conduits and wiring; replace components as directed.
• Perform inspections and tests using voltmeters, ohmmeters, insulators and related test equipment.
• Maintain records and submit reports; assist in training other employees.

Education

Associate degree in electrical/mechanical/industrial maintenance technology or equivalent education and/or experience

Equivalent education and experience (military training and technical/technician experience)

Valid Class A CDL

Job description

Job Summary

The Station Electrician performs all types of work involved in the construction, maintenance, rebuild, removal, operation, testing and inspection of energized or de-energized generation, transmission and distribution facilities. Respond to emergency call-outs on station trouble and coordinate prompt restoration of service to customers as required.

Job Description

Successful Candidate must live within a 45-minute driving distance under normal driving conditions to the Bluefield, Virginia Transmission Service Center at 1188 Hockman Pike Bluefield, VA 24605. Note: This position is posted at multiple grade levels and offers a range of opportunities for advancement. The minimum qualifications outlined below apply to the Station Electrician C level, with increased educational, skill, experience and certification requirements for higher level Station Electrician B and A.

What You’ll Do - Station Electrician C

• Work on energized equipment up to 260 volts.
• After six months in classification, employees shall assist in work on conductors and equipment energized at voltages above 750 volts with direct supervision or assistance of personnel in higher classification.
• Select proper prints and/or drawings for various work and have a basic understanding of each.
• Use voltmeters, ohmmeters, ammeters, insulation meggers and other test equipment associated with station work.
• Assist in disassembling and reassembling, inspecting, maintenance, and repairing of station transformers, circuit breakers, portable substations, rotating machinery, network protectors and transformers, air ducts and heat exchangers; install and maintain station batteries; replace nitrogen bottles and air filters.
• Assist in station work such as installing conduit, pipe, cable and wire; use hand lines to pass tools and materials; dig and backfill trenches; remove and spread stone; uncrate equipment and material; install and remove portable substation fences, barriers and safety signs; paint structures and equipment; climb station structures.
• Use various kinds of tapes, insulating materials, protective and insulating paints and varnishes, and understand proper application of each.
• Assist in making visual inspections such as check lights, heaters, circuit breaker counters, oil levels, and bus connections; read gauges such as voltmeters, ammeters, hydrometers, pressure and level gauges; apply start-run-stop tests on emergency generators, water and sump pumps and fire engine motors.
• Report on abnormal conditions.
• Replace lamps, switches, duplex outlets, dry cells; install and maintain signal and communication systems.
• Assist in various tests involving oil samples, connecting and operating portable and stationary oil handling equipment.
• Assist in electrical tests, TTR, Doble, core megger and resistance for transformer testing, etc.
• Assist in station switching including use of radio communication and/or direct instruction from higher classification, assist in checking equipment clearances and making de-energized tests, place grounds as directed.
• Knowledge and proficiency in steel and aerial lift rescue.
• Maintain records and prepare and submit reports as required.
• Attend and participate in training and assist in the training of other employees as assigned.
• Use and operate various company vehicles, specialized equipment, hand and power tools.
• Operate company vehicles, cranes, aerial lifts and specialized equipment.
• Perform duties incidental to the operation of such equipment.
• Knowledge and use of various knots used in station work.
• Perform similar or less skilled work as assigned.
• Assist employees of equal or higher classification; direct the work of employees assigned to assist.
• Become familiar with the Company’s safety rules and practices and the application of resuscitation and First Aid as presented in the Company’s Safety Manual.
• Perform duties in accordance with the Company’s safety rules and operating regulations and practices.

What You’ll Do - Station Electrician B

• Work on conductors and equipment energized at voltages above 750 volts with direct supervision or assistance of personnel in higher classification.
• Use live line tools as required for the work assigned.
• Operate crane and aerial lift equipment when in close proximity to energized lines or equipment; operate company vehicles and specialized equipment.
• Assemble, repair and maintain circuit breakers, transformers, reactive devices, network protectors and transformers, and station equipment such as lightning arresters and capacitor banks; replace bushings in the field; repair and replace associated equipment and subassemblies; make connection splices and cable terminations; install ground wires on de-energized primary leads and conductors, power cables, and related apparatus.
• Erect and drill switchboard panels and mount equipment; replace switchboard equipment; wire de-energized panels and controls; wire energized panels and controls in the presence of a qualified employee; install and wire outlets, control lighting, fixtures and switches; install conduit, pipe and tubing.
• Select proper prints and/or drawings for various work and have a basic understanding of each.
• Assemble and erect station steel structural members; assemble and replace switches and buses; ascend station structures by climbing or other approved means; paint structures and equipment.
• Make structural parts from sketch or verbal instructions; patch concrete and build forms; do incidental rough carpenter work and perform caulking.
• Perform switching operations as directed and accept clearances, make de-energized tests, and install protective grounds.
• Make inspections of stations and buildings; report irregularities and abnormal conditions; remove string, bird nests and other foreign objects from station equipment; check operating condition of equipment such as pumps, compressors, and fire extinguishers; complete inspection reports.
• Make connections for various electrical tests.
• Set up and operate circuit breaker stroke analyzer; set up, tear down and operate oil handling equipment and SF6 gas equipment; record and read instruments and gauges such as voltmeters, watt/reactive meters, ammeters, hydrometers, pressure and level gauges.
• Check, adjust, and set auxiliary controls such as auxiliary switches, pressure switches, alarm and indicating gauges.
• Set up and operate TTR, Doble, core megger and resistance for transformer testing, etc.
• Maintain records and prepare and submit reports as required.
• Assist employees of equal or higher classification; direct the work of employees assigned to assist.
• Perform duties in accordance with the Company safety rules and operating regulations and practices.
• Assist in conducting departmental safety meetings and training of other employees.
• Inspect and maintain live line tools, ladders, and personal insulated safety equipment; use electric or gas welding equipment, hydraulic conduit benders, and compression tools.
• Maintain various types of fire-fighting equipment.
• Maintain tools and equipment in a clean and orderly condition.
• Perform similar or less skilled work as assigned.

What You’ll Do - Station Electrician A

• Install and maintain all types of station equipment, both energized and de-energized.
• Select proper prints and/or drawings and interpret specifications in order to proceed with each part of the work without supervision.
• Use live line tools provided for station work.
• Install and remove controls, instruments, meters, relays and control wiring for new and existing stations; lay out panels from drawings; wire energized panels.
• Understand and use a phase sequence meter when required.
• Assemble, adjust and maintain disconnects, air breaks, bypass, ground and interrupter switches.
• Lead in performance of station ground resistance tests.
• Perform inspections, maintenance, adjustment and testing on all types of station equipment including, but not limited to, circuit breakers and operating mechanisms, network protectors and transformers, mobiles, reactors, and regulators.
• Check and inspect stations and equipment; locate, clear, report and correct irregularities and abnormal conditions.
• Perform SF6 gas processing, oil de-gasification, vacuum pumping, dew point testing and other electrical tests.
• Check parallel circuits, both wye and Delta, using a phasing device or potential transformer voltmeter.
• Make transformer tap changes and understand the voltage and turns ratios involved.
• Select and install replacement bushings, arresters and insulators.
• Make operational tests on equipment; radios, carrier current, telemetering, pilot wire and control equipment; adjust as necessary or as directed.
• Maintain and operate tools, company vehicles, cranes, aerial lifts and specialized equipment.
• Perform duties incidental to the operation of such equipment.
• Maintain records and prepare and submit reports as required.
• Perform switching and grounding on transmission, distribution and generation lines and stations as required.
• Know the hazards involved with reactive controlling devices and coupling capacitors.
• Assist employees of equal or higher classification; direct the work of employees assigned to assist.
• Perform similar or less skilled work as assigned.
• Perform all duties in accordance with the Company’s safety rules and operating regulations, environmental compliance, and practices.
• Assist in conducting departmental safety meetings and training of other employees.

What We’re Looking For

Education

• Associate degree in electrical/mechanical/industrial maintenance technology or equivalent education and/or experience.
• Equivalent education and experience is limited to military training and work experience of technical/technician nature (such as aviation and nuclear instrumentation technician); or recent experience (within last 6 months) as a Station Electrician or equivalent job title with another electric utility or contractor.

Work Experience

• No work experience required.
• Minimum of 24 months’ satisfactory work experience as a Station Electrician C or the equivalent (as determined by the Company).
• Minimum of 24 months satisfactory combined work experience as a Station Electrician B or Station Electrician B-Certified or the equivalent.

Other Requirements

• Must be available to work overtime, call-out overtime and shift work, as required.
• Travel requirements are expected > 50 % of the time.
• Must have the ability and desire to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the duties and/or responsibilities of the key job (Station Electrician A) in this family and be qualified through demonstration, examination and/or performance appraisal as determined by the Company.
• Ability to deal with customers and other employees in a courteous and professional manner.
• Ability to plan work and to properly instruct and brief others.
• Must meet all vehicle operation requirements designated by federal and/or state law.
• Considerable travel and overtime may be required to complete work assignments.
• Must successfully complete Physical Abilities Test (PAT).
• Must obtain the appropriate valid commercial driver’s license prior to the end of the designated probationary period.

Licenses/Certifications

• Valid Class A CDL is required.

What You’ll Get

Standard base pay is: Station Electrician C - $31.33 /hour. Station Electrician B - $38.83 /hour. Station Electrician A - $58.62 /hour.

In addition to competitive compensation, AEP offers a unique comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.

Where Putting the Customer First Powers Everything We Do At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions.

Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!

Compensation Data Compensation Grade: N004-150 Compensation Range: $31.33 - $58.62.

The Physical Demand Level for this job is: H – Heavy Work: Exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10-20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Medium Work.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.

Company Brand & Culture

At American Electric Power, we provide more than electricity to our millions of customers - we energize possibilities. We’re redefining the future of energy by reducing our carbon footprint, empowering the communities we serve and building an engaged, talented workforce. All while delivering the reliable service our customers expect. It’s an exciting time in the energy industry. Are you ready to be part of it? We’re looking for team members to help create the grid of the future. Learn more about our commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive work culture that values different experiences.