Hydro Utility Operator

Requisition ID # 165529 

Job Category: Power Generation; Maintenance / Construction / Operations 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Operations - Other

Work Type: Onsite

Job Location: Alta

Department Overview

Power Generation operates and maintains PG&E's hydroelectric, fossil, solar generation and battery storage facilities, providing approximately 5,300 megawatts of generating capacity for our customers. Our nearly 1000 coworkers are dedicated to delivering safe, reliable and cost-effective generation to California in an environmentally responsible manner. Our hydro facilities include 62 conventional hydro powerhouses, a pumped-storage facility, 98 reservoirs, 168 dams and more than 200 miles of canals and flumes, among other water conveyances. Natural gas-fired plants in operation are Humboldt Bay Generating Station in Eureka; Colusa Generating Station in Colusa County and Gateway Generating Station in Antioch. Several utility-scale solar generation plants also are operated and maintained, as well as PG&E’s successful entry into battery energy storage, our Elkhorn Battery facility at Moss Landing in Monterey County.​​​​​​​

Position Summary

This is an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245 represented classification, which has over 100 years of experience representing employees at PG&E.  This job is subject to collective bargaining.

A Hydro Utility Operator checks and ensures flow and level of water in various water ways and structures remains at a consistent level and is not blocked. Monitors, maintains, cleans, patrols, tests and makes minor repairs to equipment and water way related structures.

This position is a DOT (Department of Transportation) covered classification and is subject to random drug and/or alcohol screening.

PG&E is providing the hourly rate that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This position is subject to collectively bargained hourly wage rates and increases. The starting wage rate for this position is $35.62 per hour.  This wage rate is specific to the locality of the job. The wage rate is based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.

Job Responsibilities

• Maintains buildings and grounds.
• Operates and provides routine maintenance for weather stations.
• Performs routine tests on automatic equipment.
• Maintains and installs measuring devices.
• Cleans, patrols, maintains, makes minor repairs to and is responsible for the flow and level of water in canals, flumes, gates, tunnels, siphons, penstocks, gauging stations, canal alarms, spill channels, trash rakes, fish ladders, fish screens, dams, reservoirs and their related facilities and equipment.
• Regulates diversions to customers.
• Drives (company/personal) vehicle on designated inspection route; drives in all traffic and weather conditions, day or night.
• Inspects the condition of (overhead/ underground/ above ground) water conveyance structures, including both new construction and reconstruction projects; checks tree and weed debris, and erosion conditions that affect structures/waterways; inspects equipment that has been damaged by natural elements, such as (sun/ storms/ flooding/ lightning); assurance of water flow and volumes; inspects areas by foot or vehicle; uses sight, hearing and smell to monitor plant operations; views a variety of instruments, including lighted panel board and several monitors; watches the visible areas of operation; listens for routine or aberrant operation sounds and alarms.
• Identifies the location and extent of damages to structures caused by vandalism or accidents; investigates the cause and extent of damages that have caused interruptions of service; investigates water clarity and forbidity of waterways.
• Communicates in person, by phone and by radio with (supervisor/ public officials/ general public and customers) regarding (findings/ identified problems/ proposed solutions/ estimated time frames); communicates with site foremen, crew members, home owners and public.
• Walks, climbs, bends, kneels or squats to access structures and equipment; lifts metal cabinet covers; unlocks/ re-locks gates, doors or garages, as needed; uses flashlight or head lamp at night or in dark spaces.
• Uses handwriting in the field to record site locations, findings, identified problems, proposed solutions, estimated time frames, and details of incidents; records needs for equipment repairs and replacements; records vehicle safety inspection, fuel usage and mileage.
• Uses computer to inspect operations and take readings from seasons, write up work summaries, repair recommendations and for e-mail; compiles, copies, files and mails reports; uses phone to schedule appointments, speak with other agencies; receives and reviews work site (assignments/ route); plans route, prioritizes work, checks directions and addresses; obtains vehicle and conducts pre-op safety inspection; stocks vehicle with tools and supplies for fieldwork.
• Attends and participates in daily tailboard meetings or communicates with supervisor to learn safety guidelines and potential hazards; attends and participates in training and procedural meetings, as scheduled.
• Fuels vehicle at designated fueling stations (at start of shift/ at end of shift/ during route), as needed; measure and pre-mix oil and fuels for tools and equipment.
• Uses hand tools and power tools to repair: roads, canals, tunnels, ditches, flumes, water collection systems, pipelines and other related water systems; cleans canals, ditches, roads, dams and water gates; uses pumps and hoses for dewatering; operates controls, buttons, dials and switches to regulate power production, temperature and water flow.
• Based on qualifications, operates hand and foot controls of various types of heavy equipment, such as: snow-cat.
• Provides on-the-job training, orientation, demonstration and assistance to other crew members; attends and participates in training classes and meetings.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Ability to reside at PG&E-owned housing close to or on remotely-located job site
• Must possess a High School diploma, GED or equivalent work experience
• CA Class C Drivers license by Day 1 of hire
• Ability to work around bodies of water
• Ability to work from a helicopter
• Ability to work in all types of weather extremes
• Ability to drive safely in all weather and road conditions
• Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends and holidays, and various work schedules
• Must be able to wear company provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Ability to lift 50 pounds or more
• Ability to work in remote areas by yourself at times
• Ability to work in remote work locations with possible exposure to poison oak, snakes, spiders, bees, mosquitoes, ticks and rodents
• Must be able to maneuver on steep and/or uneven terrain
• Internal candidates valid CA Driver's License Class A Permit or Equivalent, within 3 months of hire, External Candidates Day 1 require valid CA Driver's License Class A Permit or Equivalent

Desired:

• 5+ year work experience in a water system environment (Water system facilities)
• Demonstrated experience with basic hand and power tools used in the commercial construction industry
• 1+ years of experience in the operation of mechanized equipment associated with this work
• 1+ years of concrete forming and placement
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word
• Live within 40 miles of the service territory

Pre-Employment Testing

PG&E Employees: You must have qualified on all prerequisite tests prior to submitting an application, and all secondary tests prior to interviewing. For more information on prerequisite and secondary exams, including study guides, please visit the Pre-employment testing program website.

• Industrial Skills Test
• Physical Test Battery