Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.

Also Known As:

Electrical Technician Electrical and Instrumentation Technician (E and I Technician) Instrument and Control Technician (I and C Technician) Instrumentation and Control Technician (I and C Technician) Relay Technician Substation Electrician Substation Mechanic Substation Technician Substation Wireman Wireman

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2033 Projected Employment

25,700

1% Change From 2023

Explore Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Disconnect voltage regulators, bolts, and screws, and connect replacement regulators to high-voltage lines.
Notify facility personnel of equipment shutdowns.
Schedule and supervise the construction and testing of special devices and the implementation of unique monitoring or control systems.
Consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to determine optimum equipment functioning.
Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
Open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments or repairs.
Maintain inventories of spare parts for all equipment, requisitioning parts as necessary.
Analyze test data to diagnose malfunctions, to determine performance characteristics of systems, or to evaluate effects of system modifications.
Schedule and supervise splicing or termination of cables in color-code order.
Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
Test insulators and bushings of equipment by inducing voltage across insulation, testing current, and calculating insulation loss.
Prepare and maintain records detailing tests, repairs, and maintenance.
Construct, test, maintain, and repair substation relay and control systems.
Test oil in circuit breakers and transformers for dielectric strength, refilling oil periodically.
Open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments or repairs.
Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
Prepare and maintain records detailing tests, repairs, and maintenance.
Construct, test, maintain, and repair substation relay and control systems.
Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
Maintain inventories of spare parts for all equipment, requisitioning parts as necessary.
Schedule and supervise splicing or termination of cables in color-code order.
Schedule and supervise the construction and testing of special devices and the implementation of unique monitoring or control systems.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.