Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for High Voltage Worker

🎯 Role Definition

As a High Voltage Worker, you are the backbone of our electrical infrastructure. You will be entrusted with the critical responsibility of constructing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing high-voltage electrical distribution and transmission systems, including substations, overhead lines, and underground networks. This hands-on role demands a profound understanding of electrical theory, a rigorous adherence to safety standards (like NFPA 70E), and the physical capability to work in diverse and often demanding conditions. You will be a key player in ensuring the lights stay on, responding to outages, and upgrading our grid to meet future demands. This is more than a job; it's a commitment to powering communities safely and reliably.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Electrical Lineworker Apprentice or Pre-Apprentice
Graduate of a Power-Line Technician Program
Military Veteran with relevant experience (e.g., US Army Prime Power Production Specialist)

Advancement To:

Lead High Voltage Worker / Crew Foreman
Substation Supervisor or Manager
System Operator / Power Dispatcher
Safety and Training Specialist

Lateral Moves:

Electrical Planner & Scheduler
Project Manager (Grid Modernization)
Relay/Protection & Control Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Install, maintain, and repair high-voltage electrical equipment, including transformers, circuit breakers, switchgear, insulators, and capacitors in substations and on the distribution grid.
Perform complex switching and tagging procedures on high-voltage systems to de-energize and isolate equipment for safe maintenance, repair, or new construction.
Conduct comprehensive inspections, diagnostic tests, and preventative maintenance on overhead and underground power lines and related infrastructure to ensure system integrity and reliability.
Troubleshoot and diagnose faults within the high-voltage system, utilizing advanced testing equipment like meggers, TDRs, and thermal imagers to rapidly identify and resolve issues.
Operate specialized heavy machinery, including bucket trucks, digger derricks, cranes, and tensioners, to construct and maintain overhead power infrastructure.
Execute the safe climbing of poles and transmission towers to access, repair, or replace components of the overhead electrical system.
Perform high-voltage cable splicing, termination, and testing for both underground and substation applications, ensuring all connections meet stringent industry standards.
Respond urgently to power outages and system emergencies, working in all weather conditions and at all hours to safely and efficiently restore service to customers.
Interpret and work from complex technical documents, including blueprints, single-line diagrams, schematic drawings, and manufacturer specifications.
s- Document all maintenance, repair, and testing activities meticulously in a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for regulatory compliance and historical analysis.
Ensure strict adherence to all company, state, and federal safety regulations, including OSHA and NFPA 70E, and actively participate in job-site safety briefings.
Install and maintain protective grounding equipment to establish an equipotential zone, ensuring a safe work environment for the entire crew.
Perform oil-filled equipment maintenance, including dissolved gas analysis (DGA) sampling, oil filtering, and leak repairs on transformers and breakers.
Work with SCADA systems to monitor grid status, operate remote equipment, and provide real-time feedback to system operators during switching or restoration events.
Manage and maintain tools, equipment, and company vehicles, ensuring they are in safe and reliable working order through regular inspections.

Secondary Functions

Mentor and provide on-the-job training for apprentices and junior members of the crew, fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
Participate in the development and review of safe work procedures and job hazard analyses for non-routine tasks.
Assist engineering and planning teams by providing field-level insights for new construction projects and system upgrades.
Manage on-site inventory of materials and spare parts, ensuring necessary components are available for planned and emergency work.
Collaborate with other utility departments, contractors, and public agencies to coordinate work and ensure public safety around work zones.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

High-Voltage Splicing & Termination: Proficiency in splicing and terminating medium and high-voltage cables (5kV to 35kV and above).
Substation Maintenance: In-depth knowledge of maintaining power transformers, SF6/vacuum/oil circuit breakers, and switchgear.
NFPA 70E & OSHA Compliance: Expert understanding and practical application of electrical safety standards and lockout/tagout procedures.
s- Protective Relay Testing: Familiarity with testing and troubleshooting microprocessor-based and electromechanical relays.
Diagnostic Equipment Operation: Skilled in using multimeters, meggers, TDRs, Hi-Pot testers, and thermal imaging cameras.
Schematic & Blueprint Interpretation: Ability to read and understand complex single-line, schematic, and wiring diagrams.
Heavy Equipment Operation: Certified or proficient in the operation of bucket trucks, digger derricks, and other aerial lifts.
Pole & Structure Climbing: Physically capable and certified for climbing wooden poles and steel structures using appropriate climbing gear.
Live-Line Maintenance Techniques: Experience with hot stick or gloving methods for working on energized lines is highly desirable.
SCADA & Control Systems: Basic understanding of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems used for grid monitoring and control.

Soft Skills

Safety-First Mindset: An unwavering commitment to personal and team safety in a high-hazard environment.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: The ability to logically and methodically diagnose complex system failures under pressure.
Resilience & Composure: Ability to remain calm, focused, and effective during emergency situations and adverse weather conditions.
Strong Communication: Clearly communicating technical information and safety protocols to crew members, supervisors, and control center operators.
Teamwork & Collaboration: Working effectively as part of a crew to accomplish tasks safely and efficiently.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous precision in following procedures, making connections, and documenting work.
Adaptability: Willingness to work long hours, respond to after-hours call-outs, and adapt to changing work priorities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED.
Completion of a certified Lineworker Apprenticeship program (e.g., IBEW/NECA) or equivalent formal training.

Preferred Education:

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Electrical Power & Distribution, Utility Lineman Technology, or a related field.
Journeyman Lineman or Substation Technician certification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Engineering Technology
Power Generation & Distribution

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7+ years of hands-on experience as a qualified High Voltage Worker, Journeyman Lineman, or Substation Technician.

Preferred: Experience working directly for an electric utility, a large-scale data center, or an industrial facility with a significant high-voltage distribution system. Possession of a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL).