Top 10 Trades

Career Profiles Regionally

Power Line Technicians

What’s it Like?

Power line technicians, or ‘linemen’, as they are called in the industry, help bring electricity to our homes and industries. They install new power lines, and inspect and maintain existing lines. They do repair work after a storm or motor vehicle accident. Power line technicians work on the ground and at heights - from bucket trucks or using climbing gear. They may also work underground.

The work involves putting up and maintaining electrical poles, towers and wires to connect power distribution and transmission networks. Power line technician is a nationally designated trade under the Inter-provincial Red Seal program.

This job offers a great opportunity to stay physically fit and apply the many skills learned during training.

PLTs are employed by electric power companies, electrical contractors, public utilities, and the Canadian Forces.

PLTs can be highly mobile and their skills are in demand across Canada and in the United States.

PLTs may:

construct, repair and maintain power pole lines, towers and underground cable systems
learn climbing skills, safety procedures, tool/material use and bucket truck operation before moving on to more complex technical skills and challenging assignments
work outside in all weather at heights of 30-400 ft.
drive trucks or off-road vehicles
handle large, bulky and often heavy materials or equipment
share the satisfaction of helping restore power to customers at any time of the day or night

Money and Benefits

PLTs are highly paid and typically have very good benefits.

Wages

The following chart sets out the wages for the Master Line agreement, which is between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the power line contractors in BC, including those in the central Vancouver Island region.

Designation		Hourly Rate
Trades Trainee		$17.47
Apprentice	1st Term	$26.11
	2nd term	$28.13
	3rd Term	$30.15
	4th Term	$32.16
	5th Term	$34.17
	6th Term	$36.17
	7th Term	$38.18
Journeyperson		$38.82

BC Hydro

BC Hydro has a separate agreement with the IBEW. At BC Hydro, besides having an exciting, varied, and challenging career, you're paid while you learn and have an excellent benefit package. Apprentices earn 75% of the full trade rate with further increases during the apprenticeship. The starting apprentice rate is $24.62 and the journey rate is $38.82. While BC Hydro’s wage rates are lower than those of the private contractors, their benefit package is extensive, including extended medical, dental and pension benefits.

Why We’re Betting on This

Power Line Technicians are in demand, and that demand is expected to grow
BC Work Futures predicts that though this is a small occupational group, there are 460 openings projected over the 10 year period between 2001 and 2011 in British Columbia
BC Hydro is considering options for expanding the power reserves of the province for future use and export. New projects will likely increase the opportunities for these workers, both in the construction and operations phases, either with BC Hydro or with private sector contractors
BC’s new Energy Plan states “There is fierce competition for talent among the utility companies in British Columbia. Key jobs that are mission critical and hard to recruit include power line technicians. The electricity sector is notably impacted by the number of retiring long-serving employees with early retirement options imbedded in their pension plans. This coupled with the decline in university programs dedicated to power/electricity have caused a vacuum of new graduates with the necessary skills for these highly specialized roles. British Columbia (and the Territories) will be facing the largest skilled labour shortage within the next three to eight years.”
Interviews with BC Hydro and power line contractors in the central Vancouver Island region indicate a definite current shortage and an expected shortage over time

Interested? Where to Start

Power line technicians can seek an apprenticeship with BC Hydro or a private contractor. BC Hydro is currently accepting applications into its Apprenticeship Trainee Program.

Educational Requirements

Candidates must have high school graduation with the following courses: English 12, Math 12 and Physics 12 or equivalent. They must be physically fit, have a mechanical aptitude, and have normal color vision. Successful candidates must have or be able to obtain Class 3 driver’s license for manual transmission with air endorsement.

BC Hydro’s program is 42 months of on the job and classroom (four to five weeks per year) training.

Private power contractors may hire individuals as trades trainees.

Educational Institutions

Training for Power Line Technicians is delivered in BC by:

EITI- Electrical Industry Training Institute

www.eiti.bc.ca

Success Stories

Interviewed & Documented

PROOF of the abundance of Jobs in the Power Line Technicians Industry