Staking Technician
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is now accepting applications for a Staking Technician position. This position will permanently be in our Wewahitchka office; however, primary training for this position will take place in our Southport office and could last a year to two years. The primary role of this position is to design electrical distribution systems and to calculate aid-to-construction. Two to three years of designing electrical distribution systems is required. The deadline to apply for this position is Friday, September 16, 2022.
JOB SUMMARY
Follows and promotes workplace safety in the organization. Assists with the utility privatization contract at Tyndall Air Force Base where needed. Meets with new consumers to plan the type, size and location of facilities to serve them. Performs inspections, acquires building permits and procures easements. Meets with utility committees and other government officials to determine power needs. Responsible for designing electrical distribution systems and calculating aid to construction. Employee may be called in to work at any time. Performs other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Education
High school diploma or equivalent. AA or Technical degree, preferred.
Related Experience
Two to three years of as a Line Technician and designing electrical and water distribution systems.
Other
Must have the ability to pass Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s employment entrance examination and drug screen. Must have the ability to maintain a security clearance to enter government facilities (Tyndall AFB)
Must have the flexibility to work varied hours, including the ability to be on-call.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Must have a working knowledge of overhead and underground utilities including utility color coding, staking, flagging, mapping, marking, road marks and digging laws.
- Must understand how substations operate, how to get readings from breakers, regulators, tie breakers, etc.
- Must be able to perform basic line duties such as switching.
- Must understand locating restrictions, boundaries and property limitations.
- Must have operational knowledge of all metering and electronic metering systems (TWACS).
- Must have working knowledge of building, construction, National utility standards (NEC, NSC, PSC, RUS) and equipment safety.
- Must be proficient in AutoCad.
- Must maintain a flexible schedule and be able to work irregular hours to complete assignments.
- Must understand mapping and drafting principles and how to utilize computer technology for mapping and drafting.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/REQUIRED TRAINING
- Security Clearance
- CPR Certification
- First Aid Certification
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Internal:
Two-way communication with immediate supervisor on work-related plans. Receive direction and guidance as needed for performance improvement.
External:
Communicate with various external members to ensure they are operating, digging or excavating safely and within proper boundaries. Demonstrate the understanding that the job exists to effectively serve each and every customer and take every opportunity to increase understanding for further support of GCEC.
CORE JOB FUNCTIONS
Field Functions
- Ensures the safety and security of all customers and GCEC employees.
- Draws and determines RUS requirements for staking sheets and construction plans.
- Secures easements and permits in order to complete jobs or cross right-of-way.
- Actively identifies hazards, endangered species and other safety related issues as they occur for permitting processes.
- Traces and tags stakes.
- Surveys land and analyzes topography.
- Performs routine line/pole inspections.
- Sets and programs new meters and transformers.
- Performs connects and disconnects of services.
- Pulls dead services.
- Numbers transformers, poles and padmounts.
- Troubleshoots meter issues, service related issues, etc.
- Conducts line switching as directed.
- Uses GPS equipment to accurately map facilities.
- Assigns project ID numbers to new jobs.
- Coordinates activities and services with construction crews to ensure work is being done according to plans/design.
- Interprets drawings and plans from outside engineering firms to install and/or relocate existing power lines (e.g. DOT plans, county plans, subdivision plans, etc.).
- Inspects and manages contractors’ work to ensure it is being done to standard/code.
- Performs monthly reads of substation electronic and manual meters.
- Works with developers and commercial businesses to solve lighting issues.
- Works with Florida Dept. of Transportation, County and City road department on road projects.
- Uses road plans to determine where power facilities can be located.
Engineering
- Designs underground electrical distribution systems for subdivisions using AutoCad drafting and other electronic drafting programs.
- Prepares subdivision agreements.
- Calculates Aid to Construction for underground subdivisions.
- Performs load studies for sectionalizing.
- Designs new substation feeders.
- Programs sectionalizing equipment such as the Versa-Tech electronic reclosers using Light Table/Versa-tech data.
- Meets regularly with local officials for updates to road construction or service changes.
- Creates and drafts blueprints and technical drawings for staking.
- Determines cost to developers.
- Determines the power requirements of the service for transformer, service sizing and meter requirements.
- Prepares bid packages for contractors.
- Prepares DOT, County and environmental permits.
- Prepares work plans for construction crews.
GIS/Mapping
- Draws maps in AutoCAD and ESRI (GIS) mapping software as needed.
- Uses spatial autocorrelation techniques to measure the association of various geographic features and map points.
- Uses GPS system to implement new mapping systems, correcting points and locations of current units in SKI database and updating system to reflect any changes to existing maps.
- Enters and maintains distribution system maps and other engineering and member data using appropriate mapping software.
- Utilizes GPS, wireless GIS software and field visits to verify the accuracy of the mapping data and mapping system.
- Extracts and corrects GPS data to update mapping databases.
- Assists in the maintenance of the GIS system by obtaining, updating and implementing all information pertaining to the electric distribution system that is provided by the engineering and operations teams through staking sheets and other reports.
- Analyzes GIS data for use in planning applications that promote better land use and reduce the environmental impact of development and energy consumption.
- Knowledge of NRECA rules and regulations.
- Knowledge of RUS Construction Guidelines.
- Knowledge of DOT Guidelines.
Member Service
- Meets and communicates with consumers and future consumers to determine power needs, type, size and location of facilities to best meet their needs.
- Investigates and resolves customer complaints (e.g. voltage complaints, lightning damage, lights blinking, etc.).
- Alerts customers by informing them of safety issues or if workers will be on or around their property.
- Explains why employees are there and what they will be doing.
- Alerts customers if/when their service will be interrupted before work is done
- Answers questions from customers in the field.
- Resolves any safety issues for customers in or around their property.
- Mediates conflicts with angry, threatening or dangerous customers.
- Offers advice to customers with regard to the safety of their property and installed equipment.
Services
- Completes hand-drawn and computer-generated staking sheets.
- Schedules on-site visits with consumers.
- Researches records for existing easements.
- Prepares service orders.
- Schedules and plans events and projects between departments.
- Attends meetings such as the employee meeting and safety meeting.
- Must be able to come in at any time and work the Annual Meeting if needed.
- Documents and assesses daily reports such as:
- Vehicle inspection reports
- Incident reports
- Blueprints/ schematics/ drawings
- Mapping sheets/ staking sheets
- Service orders
- Picking tickets
- Work orders
- Outage reports
Other
- Performs other duties as assigned, such as assisting other departments (service department, construction, engineering department or Tyndall AFB), general office maintenance and construction projects, training and any additional work. If the Staking Engineer has received Line Technician training they may be required to pull standby and work on the distribution system at any time within their trained capacities.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE
- Electric Distribution systems – Knowledge of practices, methods, tools and equipment used in the installation, maintenance, calibration, repair and testing of electric distribution systems. Specifically:
- Knowledge of reading and interpreting staking sheets.
- Knowledge of transformers, wires, sizes.
- Knowledge of pole positioning, setting poles.
- Knowledge of electric meters.
- Knowledge of electrical codes and their meanings.
- Computers – Knowledge of basic computing, data entry and how to best utilize computer programs to achieve an end result.
- Engineering/Design – Knowledge of creating and reading blueprints, schematics and other technical drawings (e.g. staking sheets, maps, etc.) and how to input or program their data into a computer.
- Mechanical – Knowledge of machines and tools including their designs, uses, repair and maintenance.
- Mathematics – Knowledge of how to use arithmetic for construction purposes (e.g. linear footage, square footage, area, distance, etc.).
- Production and Processing – Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, etc. for maximizing the effectiveness of equipment and services.
- Transportation – Knowledge of principles and methods for moving things that are large, small, awkwardly shaped, heavy, light, bulky, etc.
- Public Safety and Security – Knowledge of how to properly ensure the safety and security of the general public while performing work in or around water or electrical distribution lines.
- Geography – Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations and topography.
- English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
- Law and Government — Knowledge of state/federal laws and codes related to electric distribution systems, especially those related to the environment; knowledge of related OSHA standards.
- Agency Specific (not required at time of hire) – Knowledge of GCEC’s policies and procedures, including GCEC’s safety manual. Understanding of the operations and maintenance of the water and electrical distribution system at Tyndall Air Force Base. Understanding the work procedures and policies for Line Technicians and other co-workers.