2 answers
Logan
Student
Astoria, Oregon
1
Question
Asked
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What is the day-to-day experience of an Electrical Power-line Installer like? What is still the biggest challenge to you in your job today? Any drawbacks to your work?
I'm a student studying Building Construction Technology in order to specialize into electrical. Looking at a few careers within that specialty. #electrical
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2 answers
Billy Peacock
Power Grid Operator
19
Answers
Little Rock, Arkansas
Updated
Billy’s Answer
Great question! This field can pay very good, but it's very dangerous by nature and comes with a lot of responsibility,
There really are two worlds when it comes to power line installers (Each utility can be different but here are some rules of thumb):
Distribution: Theses are the power lines you see all the time in neighborhoods and along the sides of streets. These are the lines that most homes and businesses are connected to, and are very local in length and layout. The poles are usually 30 feet tall and all the linemen are local, don't travel a whole lot, and are usually home at nights with the family.
Transmission: These are the long power lines (sometimes up to 100 miles in length) that will run across huge right-of-ways connecting regions of the power grid together. The structures are much taller and the linemen are on the road more due to the more widespread nature of their work. It usually pays a little bit better due to those reasons.
Both types are very physically demanding jobs. You'll have to climb wooden poles or metal structures carrying things without any help, and be suspended in the air for hours at a time. Both will require you to be on-call, and you'll most likely have to work a lot of nights and weekends. Also, like I mentioned earlier it's very dangerous. Believe it or not, some of the work is done while the power lines are still energized! Safety, processes, and procedure adherence has to always be 100%.
In both areas, you'll usually start as a groundsman which will basically means that you'll be running errands and will be the support for the qualified linemen performing the line work while you learn the trade. After a few years of that, you'll go through some training programs designed to get you qualified to do the actual line work.
It will be hard and it's not for everybody, but for the ones that do make it can be rewarding!
There really are two worlds when it comes to power line installers (Each utility can be different but here are some rules of thumb):
Distribution: Theses are the power lines you see all the time in neighborhoods and along the sides of streets. These are the lines that most homes and businesses are connected to, and are very local in length and layout. The poles are usually 30 feet tall and all the linemen are local, don't travel a whole lot, and are usually home at nights with the family.
Transmission: These are the long power lines (sometimes up to 100 miles in length) that will run across huge right-of-ways connecting regions of the power grid together. The structures are much taller and the linemen are on the road more due to the more widespread nature of their work. It usually pays a little bit better due to those reasons.
Both types are very physically demanding jobs. You'll have to climb wooden poles or metal structures carrying things without any help, and be suspended in the air for hours at a time. Both will require you to be on-call, and you'll most likely have to work a lot of nights and weekends. Also, like I mentioned earlier it's very dangerous. Believe it or not, some of the work is done while the power lines are still energized! Safety, processes, and procedure adherence has to always be 100%.
In both areas, you'll usually start as a groundsman which will basically means that you'll be running errands and will be the support for the qualified linemen performing the line work while you learn the trade. After a few years of that, you'll go through some training programs designed to get you qualified to do the actual line work.
It will be hard and it's not for everybody, but for the ones that do make it can be rewarding!
LaTonya McClain
Life Coach
25
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
LaTonya’s Answer
Hi Logan,
Please review what it is like to install the electrical wiring via this link:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm
I googled power companies in Oregon and got, Pacific Power. Then, I search the careers of the power company near you and came up with the list below using the keyword search "install"
https://careers.pacificorp.com/search/?createNewAlert=false&q=install&locationsearch=
You want to look for journeyman, internships or co-op. In other words, you need an entry level / trainee position. You may have to be 18 years old. Also, look for high school and college program that assist students at the company.
Hopefully, this is a good start for you.
Please review what it is like to install the electrical wiring via this link:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm
I googled power companies in Oregon and got, Pacific Power. Then, I search the careers of the power company near you and came up with the list below using the keyword search "install"
https://careers.pacificorp.com/search/?createNewAlert=false&q=install&locationsearch=
You want to look for journeyman, internships or co-op. In other words, you need an entry level / trainee position. You may have to be 18 years old. Also, look for high school and college program that assist students at the company.
Hopefully, this is a good start for you.