City and County of San Francisco

Under general supervision, on an assigned shift and in multiple locations, operates hydro-power generation, switching and water regulation equipment and facilities to ensure adequate City water supplies while producing electrical power in the most effective and cost efficient manner; brokers power with other agencies following established contractual requirements; and performs related duties as required.

This is the journey level in this classification series. Employees in this class are expected to perform the full range of inspection, minor maintenance and operational duties. In addition, incumbents learn guidelines and methods of scheduling, brokering and dispatching power to meet contractual agreements and maximize cost effectiveness and return. This class is distinguished from 7484 Senior Power Generation Technician in that the latter is a lead/specialist class, either providing lead direction to a shift or a crew of technicians or giving technical assistance to the supervisor in the area of process and procedure development and employee training.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Reviews system operational status, including checking alarms, meters, gauges and computer status screens; physically inspects equipment and ensures that all normal operating parameters are met; if problems exist, attempts to correct or determine the cause and notifies appropriate personnel.

2. Reviews pre-established schedules and real time indicators and adjusts equipment operation accordingly to meet operational parameters.

3. Ensures that water levels at multiple facilities are maintained within acceptable parameters; communicates with field staff to operate valves to raise and lower storage level appropriately.

4. Starts, stops and regulates generators and associated equipment to meet schedule requirements; adjusts such equipment as required.

5. Performs switching operations at transmission facilities in both local and remote locations; under direction, shuts down or otherwise ensures that safe clearances have been obtained and that such equipment is inoperable when maintenance or repair work is being performed; coordinates switching with other agencies as required to isolate transmission lines.

6. Contacts other power generation agencies to purchase or sell power, depending upon operational needs; assesses prices and delivery routes to maximize economic return within established guidelines.

7. Inspects various generation, transmission and switching facilities in off-site or remote locations; transmits information regarding the condition of such facilities to other operational or maintenance staff and takes action as directed.

8. Assists maintenance personnel in the installation, maintenance and/or repair of equipment; may independently perform minor maintenance or adjustments as required.

9. Assists in providing instruction in work procedures to less experienced operational staff.

10. Participates in training and learns new operational systems and procedures as they are introduced.

Important Duties:

11. Maintains logs and records regarding work performed and operational actions taken; compiles periodic and special reports regarding work performed; makes daily water model calculations and reports.

12. Drives a motor vehicle and uses a variety of standard office equipment, including multiple computer terminals, in the performance of the work.

13. May perform the shift coordination duties of a Senior Power Generation Technician on a relief basis.

Knowledge of: operation and basic maintenance of facilities and equipment required for large scale hydro-power generation and transmission; safety principles and practices related to high voltage power generation and transmission; computer applications associated with the work; business arithmetic; record keeping principles and practices.

Skill in: operating and performing basic maintenance to large scale hydro-power generating equipment and related switching and transmission facilities; using computer software to monitor and operate such equipment; using hand and power tools related to the work; making accurate arithmetic calculations; maintaining accurate records of shift activities and work performed.

Ability to: use independent judgment within established procedural guidelines; troubleshoot and identify equipment operating problems; instruct others in work procedures; follow oral and written directions; receive and convey information by radio and telephone; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work; make accurate arithmetic calculations; maintain accurate records of shift activities and work performed.

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education:

None

Experience:

Two (2) years of experience in the Mechanical and Electrical operations and/or maintenance of plant equipment; AND

Completion of eighteen (18) months of satisfactory training in class 7480 Power Generation Technician I.

License and Certification:

Must possess a valid Class C California driver’s license.

Newly hired 7482 employees are required to become North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) certified by the completion of their probationary periods in order to fulfill the federal mandate established by the WECC Compliance Office.

Supplemental Information:

Physical Demands: strength and mobility to work in a typical plant operations setting, including operating hand and power tools; driving to various work sites; stamina to perform sustained physical labor; including standing, walking, climbing and working in confined or awkward spaces; strength to lift and maneuver materials and equipment weighing up to 100 pounds with proper equipment; vision to read printed material, VDT screen and determine fine color differences; and hearing and speech to communicate in person or over the telephone.

Other Requirements: must be able to work off-hours, holidays, weekend shifts and be available for emergency call back as required.

Established: 6/15/1995

Amended: 10/27/2014

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.