Posted: 19-Jun-25
Location: Somerset, Kentucky
Type: Full Time
Required Education:
Internal Number: 5269
EKPC Company Information
Located in the heart of the Bluegrass state, East Kentucky Power Cooperative is a not-for-profit generation and transmission (G&T) electric utility with headquarters in Winchester, KY which is just a short distance from Lexington. Our cooperative has a vital mission: to safely generate and deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to our 16 owner-member cooperatives serving more than 1 million Kentuckians across 87 counties. We're leaders in environmental stewardship and we're committed to provide power to improve the lives of people in Kentucky.
As passionate as we are about providing smart energy solutions, we are equally excited about people. We strive to cultivate connected workplaces where great ideas are born and rewarding careers are built.
EKPC offers a wage and benefits package that ranks among the best in the state. There is no waiting period on our medical, dental and vision insurance plans so you are covered on day one, and the dental plan is free for employees. Our generous 401(k) retirement plan allows employees to start contributing to their plan after a month of service, and after 3 months of service, EKPC will automatically contribute 6.5% of base wages AND match employee contributions up to 4.5%. Our competitive vacation and sick leave package starts day one to allow for flexibly and a healthy work-life balance.
For more information on our plentiful benefits package visit our website at https://www.ekpc.coop/work-ekpc
EKPC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Considering Different Levels
The following levels are open for consideration: 1, 2 and 3.
All skill levels are being considered and the person chosen for the position will be placed in the level in which they are experienced. Please see below for description of all levels.
Key Roles
To perform all duties necessary to provide efficient service in the construction, maintenance, upgrading, and relocation of EKPC transmission lines.
Key Responsibilities
All Levels
- Performs work on transmission structures in the maintenance and relocation of transmission lines.
- Operates live-line maintenance tools in performing work on energized lines and stations.
- Performs installation and maintenance on air break and other type switches.
- Assists with scheduled and emergency line and substation outages.
- Accepts switching order instructions and operates switching devices.
- Assists with the safe loading and unloading of poles.
- Loads and secures material and equipment onto trucks and trailers.
- Operates appropriate equipment and trucks necessary to perform maintenance and relocation of transmission lines.
- Performs foot and aerial patrols of transmission lines.
- Supports Right-of-Way and Substation Electricians.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Line Technician Level 1
- Ensure work area is clear of debris (e.g. pole signs, brush, rocks) when using a chainsaw.
- Attach and inspect safety lanyard to bucket truck.
- Inspect hardware on transmission structures and adjust or replace as necessary.
- Coordinate with gas and water companies to locate underground lines.
- Inventory poles.
- Remove old pole from ground using a pole jack.
- Clean a pole hole by hand using a spade and spoon or post hole digger.
- Verify that the hole has been dug to the proper depth for a single pole structure using rule of thumb 10% of pole length plus 2 feet.
- Harness the pole above its balance point using a sling in order to move it into position for setting.
- Guide the pole into/out of a hole by hand on a de-energized line.
- Fill dirt, rocks, or gravel into area surrounding a newly installed pole by using shovels and tamps in order to support and set the pole.
- Frame up a pole while in the air by installing the hardware and crossarm (if needed) while de-energized.
- Install crossarms, armor rods, and dampers.
- Attach guy wire to anchor eye.
- Use the proper nylon sling to lift steel pole.
- Install/remove/replace a down guy or a span guy, de-energized.
- Inspect a pole for unsafe conditions prior to climbing (e.g. ground line rot, pole rot, holes, foreign objects in pole).
- Inspect, put on, and remove climbing gear and safety equipment at proper time and place.
- Climb up or climb down a pole using proper equipment and procedures.
- Position self in proper location to perform work on pole.
- Install/remove/replace any type insulator on a pole or arm while de-energized.
- Install/remove dampers (lead or spiral) on existing conductors.
- Install/remove a mechanical dead-end.
- Monitor vehicle and equipment gauges.
- Check and maintain oil and other fluid levels.
- Check and replace exterior lights.
- Inspect winch lines.
- Load and secure material and equipment onto trucks and trailers.
- Visually inspect vehicles prior to use and complete daily inspection sheet.
- Document mileage on vehicle inspection report.
- Drive bucket truck, knuckle boom, or digger derrick.
- Inspect trucks for proper equipment and complete daily inspection sheet.
- Operate a four-wheel drive pickup truck.
- Hitch trailers to trucks.
- Conduct DOT pre-trip inspection.
- Obtain CDL permit and maintain DOT license.
- Tie knots, hitches, and rigging including bowline, bowline on a bight, clove hitch, and square knots.
- Attach rope slings to insulators in order to suspend insulators.
- Operate a hand line to transport tools, equipment, and other materials up or down a transmission structure.
- Attach/remove a running block and line to pole and a stationary object on the ground to lift material up a pole.
- Clip-in a conductor on a de-energized straight line structure.
- Inspect, test, and repair personal protective grounds.
- Use a voltage detector to determine if conductor is de-energized.
- Ground de-energized transmission lines before performing work.
- Inspect, test, and repair pole grounds.
- Ground trucks to system ground or screw ground.
- Assist with line requests, Lockout/Tagout procedures.
- Label transmission structures to identify them.
- Foot patrol transmission structures and right-of-way to identify faults/problems and enter foot patrol and aerial notes in computer database.
- Repair pole holes with approved material.
- Operate a hydraulic jack.
- Operate and sharpen a chain saw.
- Operate a drill to bore a hole.
- Operate ground rod driver.
- Use cable cutters to cut cable.
- Operate generators.
- Operate pneumatic air equipment.
- Operate the UTV.
- Operate the bulldozer, mini-excavator, and backhoe.
- Operate forklift and complete forklift training class.
- Operate the bucket truck.
- Flag traffic at the job site.
- Sharpen climbing gaffs.
- Clean, test, and inspect fiberglass sticks.
- Inspect lanyards, harness, fall arrest, and fall restraint systems.
- Inspect and clean rubber gloves, sleeves, hoses, and blankets.
- Inspect and utilize fire extinguishers and first aid kits and all emergency equipment on vehicles.
- Identify minimum approach distances.
- Determine nominal voltage.
- Associate number of insulators or belles to determine insulating voltages. 69 kV 138kV 161 kV 345 kV.
- Access and utilize safety manual.
- Locate and reference SDS manual.
- Maintain switch plates.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Line Technician Level 2 and Level 3
Please visit our website at www.ekpc.coop/work-ekpc for a full job description.
Key Requirements
Education:
- High school diploma or equivalent. Additional courses in electricity and lineman training preferred.
Experience:
- Three (3) years experience in the construction or maintenance of electric transmission lines preferred.
Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of the construction and maintenance of electric transmission lines.
- Knowledge of distribution line construction.
- Knowledge regarding the maintenance and adjustment of air break switches.
- Knowledge of the proper and safe use of tools and equipment used in (energized & de-energized) line construction and maintenance.
- Knowledge of first-aid procedures and pole top rescue.
- Willing to attend training sessions and/or complete study courses related to area of work.
- Skilled in pole climbing and in using lineman tools while working on a pole.
- Skilled in properly and safely working with live conductors of all voltages.
- Skilled in all work required in connection with the installation of materials, apparatus, and equipment used in the construction and maintenance of electric transmission lines and be able to carry out these responsibilities without supervision.
- Able to supervise crew in the absence of the crew foreman.
Competencies
- Technical/Professional Knowledge & Skills
- Safety Awareness
- Customer Focus
- Contributing to Team Success
- Initiating Action
Working Conditions
- Living within thirty (30) minutes driving time of assigned service center is preferred. Certain locations may be considered over others depending on hiring needs.
- Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Must obtain and maintain Class A CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) Certification.
- Extensive overnight travel is required, and non-scheduled overtime is a normal part of this position.
- This is an on-call position.
- Regular lifting up to 100 pounds and occasional lifting of more than one hundred (100) pounds.
- Regular climbing and work at heights on ladders, poles, structures, trucks and equipment, and occasional climbing and work at heights on stairs.
- Must wear personal protective equipment as applicable.