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Power Distribution Line Trainee (Vacancies)

Company:
City of Columbus
Location:
Columbus, OH, 43215
Pay:
$28.43 - $37.25 hour
Posted:
August 28, 2025
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Description:

Definition

Applicants may inspect and acquire a copy of the City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities EEO Plan by visiting the DPU website at

Under general supervision, is responsible for learning to install, repair, and replace components of the electrical power distribution system; performs related duties as required.

Examples of Work

(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all of the duties that may be performed.)

At the Basic 1 level - Performs as a helper, learns safety procedures, and identifies components of the power system:

Drives, operates, and performs preventative maintenance (including fuel and lubricants) on vehicles, including pre-trip inspections; cleans vehicles, equipment, and job site after work has been completed;

Operates equipment used in power distribution work;

Operates mobile devices to enter time, materials, and view GIS mapping data;

Assists in the installation, repair, maintenance, and removal of overhead and underground power lines, street light circuits and electric components; performs safe work practices; performs worker rescues such as pole-top, ladder, aerial lift;

Climbs poles or works in bucket attached to truck-mounted boom to perform work;

At the Basic 2 level – Assists with routine power line duties with guidance:

Troubleshoots cables, transformers, and secondary circuits; identifies and engages in safety procedures while performing switching of energized circuits;

Applies transformer theory, assists with transformer installations and connections; investigates transformer conditions;

Assists with servicing energized lines and components; prepares equipment and organizes materials needed; assists in the installation of connections for power distribution system;

Installs, repairs, and removes poles, towers, and anchors; utilizes tools such as those for crimping, splicing, operating winches, various types of trucks, diggers, pole pullers, and voltage detectors;

Utilizes tools and materials such as load tools, live line tools, hotsticks, circuit-switching tools, cable testing equipment, fault detections, reclosers, fuses, substation breakers, capacitors and lightning arrestors, voltage regulators;

Installs, maintains and repairs streetlight system;

Patrols power lines and street light circuits, looking for potential trouble spots;

At the Intermediate level – Performs routine duties independently; assists with more complex duties with guidance:

Performs heavy energized primary circuit work such as installing in-line switches, large conductor splicing, replacing dead-ends and insulators on heavy corners, breaker insulators, and push-brace installation;

Investigates voltage variations in order to determine power quality problems;

Connects and installs dual voltage transformers with proper secondary voltage connections;

At the Advanced level – Performs complex duties with guidance:

Parallels transformers, utilizes capacitors, replaces lightning arrestors, phases primary circuits, and utilizes voltage regulators;

Attends switching planning meetings and executes switching procedures in the field with proper radio etiquette.

Minimum Qualifications

Completion of the twelfth school grade and six (6) months experience assisting in the electrical trade. Substitution: A certificate of high school equivalence (GED) will be accepted in lieu of the twelfth school grade completion. Successful completion of a formal classroom, vocational training program, or apprenticeship training program related to electricity may substitute for the required experience.

By the completion of the probationary period, must possess a valid Class A commercial motor vehicle operator's license allowing operation of vehicles with air brakes.

Test/Job Contact Information

Recruitment #: 25-3577-V1

Employment Type: Full-Time (Regular)

Should you have questions regarding this vacancy, please contact:

Elizabeth Hopkins

Department of Public Utilities

Division of Power

910 Dublin Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43215

P:

E:

The City of Columbus is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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