We are pleased to announce that we will be posting our High-Voltage Electrical Apprentice Program vacancy announcement from September 24 through November 16, 2007. This program is a 3 ½ to 4 year program that provides participants with comprehensive academic and on-the-job training as high-voltage electricians, lineman and substation operators. Apprentices advance through steps in six month increments and must pass a review at the end of each step in order to progress to the next level. Successful completion of the program leads to permanent employment with BPA, with a competitive benefit package, outstanding retirement package, and career potential. Our apprentices begin our program at an extremely competitive salary well above $22 per hour.
Description
Our apprenticeships are paid, formal 3 to 4 year training programs consisting
of steps of six months each. You must pass a review at the end of each step
in order to progress to the next level. Training is a combination of progressively
difficult on-the-job experiences, classroom study, correspondence courses,
and homework. Apprentices will be promoted to Journeyman after successfully
passing the final step review and be assigned to vacant Journeyman positions
as they open up. Following are descriptions of the three Electrical Apprenticeship
tracks we offer.
Power System Electrician
Throughout your apprenticeship, you will work under the direct supervision
of a Journeyman Power System Electrician or Electrician Foreman. You will
be trained to perform a variety of installations, adjustments, maintenance,
and repairs on electrical equipment. Maintenance tasks include routine inspection,
modification, troubleshooting, and repair of electrical, hydraulic, mechanical,
and pneumatic equipment. Apprentices work from sketches, drawings, blueprints,
diagrams, and instruction books and are expected to gain knowledge of the
various work processes with progressively difficult assignments.
High Voltage Lineman
Throughout your apprenticeship, you will work under the direct supervision
of a Journeyman Lineman or Lineman Foreman. You will be trained to maintain
and construct high voltage lines on wood pole and steel tower structures.
Training includes: access road maintenance procedures; care and inspection
of tools, gear, and government vehicles; digging procedures; working with
different types of wood structures and insulators; safety and first aid;
BPA Safety Code; brush and weed control; danger tree identification and removal;
setting, anchoring, and guying of pole structures; public relations; blueprint
reading; purpose and installation of protective grounds; rigging for stringing
and handling of conductor; steel tower erection; conductor handling and splicing;
counterpoise and bonding; line phasing and transposition; procedures for
locating line trouble; types of conductor and factors affecting conductor
size; hot line maintenance procedures; insulator testing and voltage gradients;
protective tagging and clearances; recognition and cure of corona and radio
interference; results of lightning damage and correct lightning protection.
Substation Operator
Apprentices are trained under the direction of a Chief Substation Operator.
Training tasks include: review of security and station logs; inspection of
automatic logging devices, event recorders, and fault locators for proper
operation; inspection of indication and tags on control panels; check for
adherence to station voltage schedule and compliance with operating limits
on equipment; inspect all components in switchyard and out-buildings; check
security of property perimeter; check for hazardous conditions; ascertain
scheduled switching; plan and perform delegated switching; operate various
communication systems; keep dispatchers informed of all pertinent information
and notify appropriate officials in case of a power system emergency; read
meters, instruments, gauges and record for billing purposes; read and analyze
substation drawings; lead and instruct others as assigned; and perform containment/cleanup
measures to protect the environment.
The announcements are open to students who are:
o A U.S. citizen
o Enrolled as a degree-seeking student (diploma, certificate, etc.); in an
accredited technical school, vocational school or 2 year college (see attached
list) in a course of study leading to a degree or certificate related to
the electric utility industry, such as electrical theory, electronics, industrial
arts, or industrial technology.
o In their last year academic year and expect to meet their academic requirements
for graduation prior to start of BPA's next Apprentice class (June 2008)
o Taking at least a half-time course load as defined by the school
o A student in good standing with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
o Eligible to participate in a work study agreement between the school and
BPA
o Able to complete 640 hours of career-related work prior to conversion
AND/OR
The announcements are open to individuals who are current or former federal employees and eligible military veterans (30% or more Disabled Veterans, Veterans eligible to apply under VRA, Veterans eligible to apply under the Veterans Employment Act of 1998).
Each announcement provides complete position information, qualification requirements,
conditions of employment, and very specific application instructions and
requirements that includes information such as:
o How To Apply
o Required information on resumes
o Where to submit application packages
o Student Educational Employment Program Information Sheet
o An attached supplemental questionnaire
Benefits
Listed below are highlights of a few of our many Benefits available to employees.
o Flexible and generous leave programs including two vacation weeks to start,
unlimited sick leave accrual, voluntary leave donation/recipient program, and
family friendly leave
o Ten paid holidays per year
o Federal Employees Health Benefits & Group Life Insurance consisting of
various health and life insurance choices with option to carry coverage into
retirement
o Complete On-the-Job injury/illness coverage
o Solid retirement plan including disability coverage
o Diverse and competitive 401K with employer matching
o Relocation packages: transportation of employee and family, transportation
and/or storage of household goods
o Employee assistance program
o Career counseling
A student must be finishing all of their student requirements by June of any year (i.e. June 2008) to participate in our apprentice program. However, they cannot graduate until they finish the first four months (640 hours) of their apprenticeship with BPA. The student must be enrolled in an electrical/electronics/industrial trades field curriculum, have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, be a US Citizen, completed all course work by the June time frame of the hiring year, and be enrolled in a co-op/internship/apprenticeship at the school, which is deemed as half time according to school doctrine. If they have all of these requirements then they may be hired under our apprenticeship guidelines. (see attachments).
Individuals can learn more about our Apprentice Program at BPA's Apprentice website and can contact Monica Brindos, Technical Training Center at 360-418-2265 for technical related questions. I have also placed our Apprentice web page link so students will know where to go to view more information - Technical Training Center Link.
There are two vacancy announcements.
o Announcement #004831-07 is open to Career and Career Conditional Employees
of Bonneville Power Administration, Transfer Eligibles, Reinstatement Eligibles,
30% or more Disabled Veterans, Veterans eligible to apply under VRA, Veterans
eligible to apply under the Veterans Employment Act of 1998, and CTAP/ITCAP
Eligibles.
o Announcement #004832-07-ST is open to students who are not veterans
or former/current Federal employees.
Sincerely,
Craig Rademacher
Agency Recruiter
Bonneville Power Administration
503-230-5330 wk
503-230-3149 FAX
9/21/2007 4:50 PM
o PL 213-1 Dated 1/13/1999
THE BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINSTRATION’S HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP
High Voltage Lineman, Power System Electrician, Substation Operator
The Bonneville Power Administration is a Federal electric utility within the US Department of Energy. Established in 1937, we have been charged with providing electric power, transmission, and energy services in increasingly competitive markets to the Pacific Northwest. BPA's power grid is one of the world's largest, with more than 14,000 circuit miles of power lines and about 400 substations. The power comes primarily from 29 federal dams located in the Columbia-Snake River Basin. BPA is considered a world leader in transmission technology and has over 2,700 employees in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and western Montana.
Description
Our apprenticeships are paid, formal 3 to 4 year training programs consisting
of steps of six months each. You must pass a review at the end of each step
in order to progress to the next level. Training is a combination of progressively
difficult on-the-job experiences, classroom study, correspondence courses,
and homework. Apprentices will be promoted to Journeyman after successfully
passing the final step review and be assigned to vacant Journeyman positions
as they open up. Following are descriptions of the three Electrical Apprenticeship
tracks we offer.
Power System Electrician
Throughout your apprenticeship, you will work under the direct supervision
of a Journeyman Power System Electrician or Electrician Foreman. You will
be trained to perform a variety of installations, adjustments, maintenance,
and repairs on electrical equipment. Maintenance tasks include routine inspection,
modification, troubleshooting, and repair of electrical, hydraulic, mechanical,
and pneumatic equipment. Apprentices work from sketches, drawings, blueprints,
diagrams, and instruction books and are expected to gain knowledge of the
various work processes with progressively difficult assignments.
High Voltage Lineman
Throughout your apprenticeship, you will work under the direct supervision
of a Journeyman Lineman or Lineman Foreman. You will be trained to maintain
and construct high voltage lines on wood pole and steel tower structures.
Training includes: access road maintenance procedures; care and inspection
of tools, gear, and government vehicles; digging procedures; working with
different types of wood structures and insulators; safety and first aid;
BPA Safety Code; brush and weed control; danger tree identification and removal;
setting, anchoring, and guying of pole structures; public relations; blueprint
reading; purpose and installation of protective grounds; rigging for stringing
and handling of conductor; steel tower erection; conductor handling and splicing;
counterpoise and bonding; line phasing and transposition; procedures for
locating line trouble; types of conductor and factors affecting conductor
size; hot line maintenance procedures; insulator testing and voltage gradients;
protective tagging and clearances; recognition and cure of corona and radio
interference; results of lightning damage and correct lightning protection.
Substation Operator
Apprentices are trained under the direction of a Chief Substation Operator.
Training tasks include: review of security and station logs; inspection of
automatic logging devices, event recorders, and fault locators for proper
operation; inspection of indication and tags on control panels; check for
adherence to station voltage schedule and compliance with operating limits
on equipment; inspect all components in switchyard and out-buildings; check
security of property perimeter; check for hazardous conditions; ascertain
scheduled switching; plan and perform delegated switching; operate various
communication systems; keep dispatchers informed of all pertinent information
and notify appropriate officials in case of a power system emergency; read
meters, instruments, gauges and record for billing purposes; read and analyze
substation drawings; lead and instruct others as assigned; and perform containment/cleanup
measures to protect the environment.
Benefits
Listed below are highlights of a few of our many Benefits available to employees.
o Flexible and generous leave programs including two vacation weeks to start,
unlimited sick leave accrual, voluntary leave donation/recipient program, and
family friendly leave
o Ten paid holidays per year
o Federal Employees Health Benefits & Group Life Insurance consisting of
various health and life insurance choices with option to carry coverage into
retirement
o Complete On-the-Job injury/illness coverage
o Solid retirement plan including disability coverage
o Diverse and competitive 401K with employer matching
o Relocation packages: transportation of employee and family, transportation
and/or storage of household goods
o Employee assistance program
o Career counseling