Power system electricians
Career Overview
Power system electricians:
- Install, maintain, test and repair electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system equipment and apparatus
- Work for electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies
Job Titles
Duties
Power system electricians perform some or all of the following duties:
- Install and maintain electrical power distribution equipment such as transformers, generators, voltage regulators, switches, circuit breakers, capacitors, inductors, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems
- Install and maintain electrical equipment and apparatus in generating stations or powerhouses
- Inspect and test installed electrical equipment and apparatus to locate electrical faults and check their operation, using volt meters, ammeters and other electrical test instruments and equipment
- Repair or replace faulty electrical equipment and apparatus
- Complete test and maintenance reports
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
490% Employed Full Time
78%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place both indoors and outdoors, so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions
- Exposure to electrical circuitry, high tension wires, transformers or other equipment in the workplace may be a potential source of electrical shock
Career Pathways
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school is usually required
- Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program for power system electricians
or
A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in electrical technology is usually required - Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Manitoba, Alberta, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
490Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 25 | 5.1% |
| Kootenay | 70 | 14.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 205 | 41.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 3.1% |
| Northeast | 20 | 4.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 80 | 16.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 80 | 16.3% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
200Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.5% |
| Kootenay | 40 | 0.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 90 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 40 | 1.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 30 | -0.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Utilities | 140 |
| Construction | 40 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.