Substation Maintenance Assistant

Company Description

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wabash Valley Power is a not-for-profit electric cooperative and wholesale provider of reliable, affordable electricity to our 21 electric distribution member cooperatives. These cooperatives in turn serve more than 280,000 homes, businesses, and farms in Indiana and Illinois. 

As a not-for-profit co-op, we do things a bit differently—and that’s the point. Because we aren’t influenced by shareholders, we make our decisions with our members in mind. That means we value things like teamwork, and putting families first. It also means a business model that’s designed for stability and growth. It’s a Deliberately Different approach to the energy industry, and that’s great news for the people who count on us.

What You'll Get
We believe what benefits our employees benefits our company. That’s why we put employees first—your health, your family, and your development. These aren’t just slogans: We offer continuing education, flex time, health benefits, a 401(k) match and pension plan, and much more. Here are just a few of the things that make our company culture unique:

•  No Sweat  - We offer a wellness program that includes a payroll credit for medical insurance, an on-site fitness center for your convenience and extra vacation days for participating. We’ll even throw in a fitness device reimbursement to keep you on track!
•  Flex Time  - Our flexible schedule means you can work in your appointments or family events and maintain a comfortable work-life balance.
•  Stay in School  - We value employees who have a desire to learn, so we provide funds for continuing education. We also offer in-house training and ongoing development through our internal GROW program.
•  Keep it Casual  - When you work for us, you work in comfort.  Blue jeans are the norm in our office, and we make them look good!
•  Work Hard, Play Hard  - We reward our employees with generous vacation time, to the tune of up to five weeks off a year. Even our new employees receive credit for prior work experience.

Job Description

The purpose of this position is to provide for the Inspection and maintenance of substation facilities, such as power transformers, voltage regulators, circuit reclosers, circuit breakers and related equipment.  Assists personnel with substation equipment installation, testing and repair activities.

• Performs external inspections of various types of substation power equipment such as transformers, regulators, circuit breakers and reclosers.
• Provides substation inspection assistance, limited to, visual, infrared and corona discharge detection from the ground to help identify unsafe conditions or degraded equipment conditions.
• Records gauge and meter readings from substation instrumentation.
• Performs preventive maintenance, such as cleaning, painting, tightening, minor adjusting, lubricating, inspecting, testing, making minor part replacements, packing valves, etc.
• Obtains samples of insulating fluid from transformers and regulators.
• Interrogate field IED devices to obtain SOE and logs as directed by Engineering
• Ensure proper inspection, maintenance, and security requirements are met for inventoried equipment spares and mobile substations.
• Assist in maintaining a stock and non-stock inventory of needed materials and work with the materials department to maintain appropriate inventory levels
• Responds to system/equipment issues or alarms, performs analysis to determine operability or need for repairs, and advises supervision of unusual system events.
• Assists other workers with installation, testing, maintenance, and repair of substation facilities with duties, such as handing tools, supplies and materials to other workers; preparing the work area; and cleaning the work area or equipment.
• Keeps work areas clean and organized. Pickup scrap wire, boxes, and other discarded materials
• May assist with deployment and de-commissioning of Mobile Substations.
• Drive and operate the various WVPA vehicles, including Chase Vehicles, Bucket Trucks, and Tractor/Trailer Combinations.
• Ensure safety, security, and compliance requirements are met for all field equipment and personnel

Qualifications

Required:

• Understanding of mechanical concepts and good mechanical skills.
• Able to read and understand the following: electrical one-lines, schematic and wiring diagrams; technical manuals and instruction books; mechanical and civil construction drawings.
• Knowledge of Substation and Transmission safety and standard work procedures required.
• Knowledgeable in MS Office skills.
• Dependable and reliable, and able to work as a member of a team.
• Self-motivated with ability to make decisions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to meet Company driving standards, including a valid driver’s license.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a CDL and/or DOT Medical Card.
• Will be required to pass all required Safety/Compliance courses related to substation entry, LOTO, etc.

Preferred:

• Experience in Substation maintenance and construction preferred.
• Previous electric utility substation experience highly desirable.
• Computer program application skills are preferred.

Additional Information

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards
• Must be able to work from structures at different heights, including but not limited to ladders, aerial lifts, steel grating if required to perform technical work in the field to ensure safety, reliability and environmental compliance.
• Must be able to report to various worksites.
• Must be able to drive/operate a company maintenance vehicle.
• Must be available for emergencies and overtime, as needed.
• Must be able to talk, listen and speak clearly on telephone.

Working Conditions:

• Works indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines