Electrical substations are energy distribution points that can be found in both cities and rural areas. A substation receives high-voltage electrical energy from a power plant, converts it to low-voltage streams, and then distributes it via power lines to nearby homes and businesses. Circuit breakers, transformers, power cables, and other substation elements are maintained and repaired by a substation electrician on a regular basis and in an emergency. Substation electricians work in potentially hazardous environments, and they must complete several years of formal training and supervision before being allowed to work independently.
Employees of utility companies or municipal government organizations make up the majority of substation electricians. A professional may be in charge of working at a single large substation or servicing a large number of smaller substations in a given geographic area. A substation electrician in a rural setting may have to travel hundreds of miles between substations to perform preventive maintenance and repairs. Some substations are housed in buildings, but the majority are fenced-in outdoor structures. As a result, a substation electrician must be ready to work in inclement weather to prevent or correct power outages.
A substation electrician’s primary responsibility is to ensure that transformers and voltage regulators are in good working order. Inspecting power lines, testing voltage and current levels, and replacing old circuit breaker fuses are all part of the job description. When a component fails to function properly, an electrician temporarily turns off the power to diagnose and correct the problem. To avoid personal injury and widespread power outages while performing repairs, he or she must have a thorough understanding of the substation’s schematics.
A high school diploma is usually required for becoming a substation electrician, as is participation in a four- to five-year apprenticeship program. A new worker’s time as an apprentice is split between classroom studies and on-the-job training. He or she enrolls in classes to learn about electricity’s physical properties, blueprint reading, safety precautions, and emergency procedures. An apprentice works as an assistant to experienced electricians on the job site, gaining firsthand experience in the trade.
An individual can take a regional licensing exam to obtain substation electrician credentials after completing an apprenticeship. After gaining several years of experience in an entry-level position, a professional may be able to advance to a supervisor position with a private power company or a quality control inspector position with a city agency. Some substation workers choose to continue their education and training in order to work as independent commercial or residential electricians.