Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Utility Electrician

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a skilled Utility Electrician to perform installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair of utility electrical systems across distribution networks, commercial/industrial facilities, and public infrastructure. The ideal Utility Electrician applies strong technical knowledge of electrical distribution, safety standards (NFPA 70E/OSHA), and hands-on experience with overhead and underground systems, switchgear, transformers, metering systems, and SCADA interfaces to ensure reliable power delivery and compliance with company and regulatory requirements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Electrician Apprentice or Trade School Graduate with power systems focus.
Lineworker / Cable Splicer Trainee with utility company experience.
Maintenance Electrician in industrial or municipal facilities.

Advancement To:

Senior Utility Electrician / Lead Electrician
Substation Technician / Substation Foreman
Electrical Supervisor or Distribution Operations Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Relay & Protection Technician
SCADA or Controls Technician
Electrical Estimator for utility projects

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Inspect, diagnose, and repair faults on overhead distribution lines, underground feeders, pad-mounted transformers, and service laterals using hand tools, test equipment, and utility-specific diagnostic procedures to restore reliable electrical service to customers and minimize outage duration.
Install, terminate, splice, and test medium- and low-voltage cables and conductors in accordance with manufacturer specifications and utility standards, including splicing in vaults, manholes, and overhead work on poles and crossarms.
Perform scheduled preventive maintenance on transformers, switchgear, breakers, reclosers, sectionalizers, and protection devices to extend equipment life, reduce failure risk, and maintain regulatory compliance.
Troubleshoot and isolate distribution system faults using distribution system maps, fault indicators, circuit analyzers, insulated tools, and protective relaying information to determine the most effective restoration strategy.
Conduct meter installations, removals, and accuracy tests for residential, commercial, and industrial customers, including installation of service disconnects, meter sockets, instrument transformers, and metering enclosures.
Perform substation maintenance and component replacement activities under supervision or as qualified, including testing and maintenance of power transformers, instrument transformers, circuit breakers, protective relays, and grounding systems to ensure substation reliability.
Safely operate utility vehicles, bucket trucks, digger derricks, cranes, and aerial lifts for line work and overhead maintenance while adhering to vehicle inspection, load, and safe operation protocols.
Lead and participate in planned outage coordination and switching operations, including creating and following switching orders, performing isolation and tagging, and ensuring clear communication with dispatch and system operators.
Execute emergency outage response and storm restoration work, including rapid assessment, temporary repairs, rerouting power, and coordinated multi-crew operations under stressful and time-sensitive conditions.
Read, interpret, and apply electrical schematics, single-line diagrams, engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, and utility construction standards to ensure installations are code-compliant and meet utility specifications.
Install and maintain protective grounding systems, grounding rods, and jumpers during live-line and de-energized operations to protect personnel and equipment from electrical hazards.
Follow and enforce all safety policies, NFPA 70E arc flash procedures, lockout/tagout (LOTO) requirements, and OSHA regulations, and participate in regular safety briefings, job hazard analyses, and near-miss reporting to maintain a zero-incident safety culture.
Perform testing and commissioning of new distribution equipment and services using multimeters, megohmmeters, hipot testers, phase rotation testers, and transformer turns ratio testers to verify functionality and safety before energization.
Install, program, and troubleshoot remote telemetry units (RTUs), SCADA interfaces, automated switching devices, and line sensors to support grid monitoring, fault detection, and remote operations.
Execute trenching, conduit installation, vault assembly, and backfill operations for underground primary and secondary systems while coordinating with locates, civil crews, and permitting authorities to avoid utilities conflicts.
Maintain accurate work orders, service records, test reports, safety checklists, and as-built documentation in the company’s asset management or work-order system to support regulatory audits, billing accuracy, and capital planning.
Coordinate and communicate with customers, project managers, contractors, and other stakeholders to schedule work, explain outages and restoration plans, and ensure minimal disruption to service and operations.
Ensure proper storage, handling, and inventory control of electrical components, spares, splicing kits, climbing gear, PPE, and specialty tools, and request procurement or requisitions to maintain readiness for planned and emergency work.
Train and mentor apprentice electricians, new hires, and cross-functional crew members on safe work practices, troubleshooting techniques, equipment operation, and company standards to develop team capability and knowledge transfer.
Apply industry best practices for asset inspection and condition-based maintenance using infrared thermography, partial discharge detection, oil sampling and analysis, and vibration or acoustic testing to identify early signs of equipment degradation.
Participate in capital projects and system upgrades, including installation of new feeders, reconfiguration of circuits, capacitor bank installations, and deployment of renewable interconnections, ensuring compliance with design specifications and timelines.

Secondary Functions

Support cross-functional crews on civil or fiber-optic utility projects where electrical coordination or temporary power solutions are required.
Assist in the development and continuous improvement of maintenance procedures, safety programs, and standard operating procedures to increase efficiency and reduce downtime.
Provide input to engineering and asset management teams on field-observed reliability issues, equipment condition, and opportunities for capital investment or smart-grid upgrades.
Contribute to training materials, toolbox talks, and competency assessments to ensure team proficiency across evolving electrical technologies and regulatory changes.
Participate in after-action reviews following major outages or incidents to capture lessons learned and recommend corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong ability to read and interpret electrical single-line diagrams, wiring schematics, and construction blueprints for distribution and substation systems.
Proficient in testing and troubleshooting with multimeters, clamp meters, megohmmeters, insulation testers, micro-ohm meters, and power quality analyzers.
Experience installing, maintaining, and testing medium-voltage (MV) and low-voltage (LV) distribution equipment including transformers, switchgear, sectionalizers, reclosers, and breakers.
Skilled in splicing, terminating, and jointing of copper and aluminum conductors, shielded cables, and fiber where applicable, with proper mechanical and electrical techniques.
Knowledgeable in protective relaying, coordination studies, fuse selection, and basic relay settings to help diagnose protection operations and misoperations.
Familiarity with SCADA, RTU communication, remote telemetry, and smart-grid devices for monitoring and fault detection.
Competent in confined-space entry procedures, underground vault safety, trench safety, and adherence to OSHA confined-space standards.
Certified understanding and application of NFPA 70E arc flash risk assessments, PPE selection, and electrical safe work practices.
Proven ability to operate digger derricks, bucket trucks, cranes, and other utility-specific equipment safely and in compliance with company vehicle and equipment standards.
Experience with asset management/work-order software, mobile field applications, and record-keeping for job history, parts usage, and regulatory compliance.
Proficient in performing infrared thermography inspections and interpreting thermal patterns to detect hot spots in connections and equipment.
Basic knowledge of power system fundamentals (load flow, fault current, phasing) and ability to apply that knowledge during outage restoration and switching operations.

Soft Skills

Strong commitment to safety with demonstrated habit of following procedures, participating in safety meetings, and promoting a safety-first culture among peers.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking with the ability to diagnose complex electrical faults under pressure and determine effective corrective actions.
Clear and professional communicator capable of coordinating multi-team restoration efforts, explaining technical issues to non-technical stakeholders, and documenting work.
Team-oriented mindset with experience mentoring apprentices and collaborating closely with line crews, engineers, and contractors.
Adaptable and resilient under emergency conditions, willing to work extended hours and respond to storms or outages as required.
Detail-oriented and organized, able to maintain accurate records, follow checklists, and ensure compliance with electrical codes and company standards.
Customer-focused attitude with the ability to manage customer expectations, provide timely updates, and resolve service concerns diplomatically.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance routine maintenance, urgent repairs, and capital project tasks effectively.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with completed electrician apprenticeship or trade school certificate in electrical technology.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree in Electrical Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, or related field.
Completion of accredited lineworker or utility electrical training program.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Technology / Electrician Apprenticeship
Power Systems / Powerline Technician
Industrial Maintenance / Industrial Electricity
Electrical Engineering Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of hands-on experience in utility distribution, commercial/industrial electrical maintenance, or linework; includes experience with overhead/underground systems and substation work.

Preferred:

3–10 years of experience specifically in utility distribution or municipal power systems, with demonstrable experience in outage restoration, protective devices, and medium-voltage equipment maintenance.
Possession of or progress toward Journeyman Electrician or Lineman certification, Class A or B CDL, NFPA 70E qualification, OSHA 10/30, Confined Space, and first aid/CPR certifications.