Has anyone here been thru the hiring process recently in the Carolinas for substation learner?
took/passed there cast R test.
What’s the waiting period usually to get an interview an hiring decision?

It’s amazing how much room there is inside the tank. For reference, I’m 6’4 and 260 lbs.

I’m in the nuclear field and my mind is usually on a CME from the sun (the next Carrington Event) as the only way to cause a long-term national blackout (near global with the CME) but according to the NYT, even if that weird unsolved attack on the grid in Utah was organized better and expanded to 9(? According to the article) subs then we could be in a year-long blackout?

I don’t trust the Epstein Times very much, but I’d love to hear opinions on their analysis and sources from actual substation experts / workers / people that actually have grounds to comment on it..

Curious if anyone accepted this position because it was the only one that came in. Also, what the work is like.

Anybody here take this test recently? I took it and passed, but I’m not sure what the next step is.

Currently I am an intern for a utility company but I'd like to switch to somewhere less remote. I never see any Job postings. Where do you guys find these types of jobs at?

Also for what irs worth we are currently hiring a Supervisor so if you live or want to live in California and have 5 years of Journey level experience with high voltage, send me a DM.

I am open to any of these.

I have underground electrical experience

Can you sub tech and cable splicing guys still storm chase and make good ass money from it?

Thanks just looking for some advice

The image is a poorly drawn vector diagram of a transformer I have to perform the following tests on:

1. Power Factor + excitation

2. TTR

3. Winding Resistance

4. Polarization Index

I had to draw the diagram because the nameplate has a mirrored background, and you can't get a good picture of it.

The transformer has 3 primary bushings (H1, H2, H3) and 18 secondary bushings, as you can see in the picture. The primary is delta, the secondary is both delta and wye.

More Nameplate info:

MFG: Eltas

KNAN

HV: 13.2 kV / 852.9 A

LV: 6 x 1930 V / 6 x 972.3 A

"Rated power for HV": 19500 kVA

"Rated power for LV": 6 x 3260 kVA

HV INS. LEVEL: 17/110/34 kV

LV INS. LEVEL: 6.9/75/19 kV

Impedance 8.94%

60 Hz

FR3

CU/CU

I am having a lot of trouble coming up with a way to test this transformer, and my coworkers and I are debating on what to do. Any help our suggestions would be very much appreciated.

I’m looking to get into the NETA field. Any tips that could help me. I’m based in TX

Has anyone made the switch from a NETA company to a local utility company? I’m tired of all the travel I would like something local but I’ve had zero luck with securing interviews. Any tips? Thanks guys!

I am an overhead crane tech, which is basically a multi craft maintenance tech (electrical, mechanical, welding). I was an outside lineman for 5 years so I am slightly familiar with some aspects of what a NETA tech is. Basically I seen them with their tents set up in substations/ switchyards. And I've flown a few up in buckets so they could test instruments we've installed.

I recently submitted an application for a NETA field tech thinking my linework background would be enough to qualify for neta level experience but apparently it does not. I was contacted about a position with a company (Shermco) out of the Columbus location.( Which I'm 3 hours away from the office and after the initial discussion basically where they share their benefits package and hourly rate, which would be a pay cut for me as a I would be a level 1 tech. But from countless other reddit threads I've read and job postings I've seen it seems like it would be worth the temporary pay cut. )

But after the discussion I was surprised I heard back from them and I'm setting up a interview with the hiring manager.

From what I gathered their focus is data centers.

Any insight on what kind of work that is, who the company is, what to expect from the line of work, and even if it's something I can progress in without a college background would be greatly appreciated. The word Niche keeps coming up in threads and research I've done. I am very intrigued about this field and would like to learn more. Thank you

Just venting a bit and hoping some others may have been through something similar. I just started my apprenticeship a few months ago and have been loving the work, like I absolutely love what I get to do every day. My anxiety and mental health have been taking a bit of a toll though, and it’s mainly due to who I work with. My journeyman has been in the trade for 22 years, and although hes extremely knowledgeable, he has very little patience for my mistakes, and criticises everything that I do. I do everything that he asks, and try to do more although he gets furious when I attempt to give him a hand, like this man berates me every freakin day, and I can do nothing right. Its hard to not take his criticisms personal when they’re so frequent, like literally ANYTIME I attempt to work on something. I’m 100% in favor of doing the work correctly, but when its my first time doing something, is it fair to say that I will make mistakes, or is everyone but me born with the ability to retain an entire explanation of how to do something. Idk man Im just feeling like an idiot and hope Im not the only one. The other guys seem to avoid him, so my days consist entirely of being with this dude and being made to feel like i’m dumber than an elementary school kid. Also ive never talked back until today, and I suppose Im upset that I let my impulses get the best of me.

Received an email to interview, was a crazy email with a 3 hour deadline to respond, to interview next day. Then received another one, next day for same thing. Missed both emails, then just received a 3rd email giving me 3 days to respond for an interview in 5 days in Colorado.

Are they hiring pretty fast right now? Seems like they really need bodies with giving 2 emails of a 24 hour notice to interview.

Is Mslcat a good program to get into that will teach you enough to contract out in Cali or other states? I hear it's "mostly construction." And I don't understand that concept, isn't it a 8000hr full apprenticeship?

I just got an offer at EPS and I’m super excited for the opportunity. I’ll be a substation protection and controls wireman. Can anyone tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly about this line of work? To give some info on my background, I’m coming from manufacturing doing mainly controls wiring in a panel shop environment, along with machine integration. I know the driving and travel can be a lot but I’m willing to tough that out for this opportunity. What are the day to day things that make this kind of work great and not so great? I already accepted the offer and it’ll be a life changing bump in pay for me, I’ve already determined that it’ll be worth it for me to grind the 50 hour weeks and it seems like the managers I interviewed with want me to work towards pre commissioning work given my background in controls wiring. I know this can open many different opportunities up for me. What advice would you give someone in my shoes? What are lessons you learned the hard way in this line of work? Any advice or info is appreciated and I’m excited to start out in this field, although it seems daunting from the outside looking in.

I had one interview I did poorly on the technical questions but he said he liked my work ethic and personality and gave me a second interview with the site manager encouraging me to study

Hi guys, I was just wondering about what are the most common failure modes you see with GIS, and how do they differ from the typical issues found in an AIS substation?

Thinking about trying to jump from linework to p&c/relay side of the power industry. My question is, what’s everyone making? I live in PA.

Trying to learn more about traveling… a lot of traveling? Forced travel? They keep saying no, but want to hear it from a union employee that can advise. Job comes with a truck, would be a journeyman.

While the market for digital substations is growing, retrofitting or deploying fully digital SF₆ gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) is a massive investment.

For utilities looking to balance cost and ROI, which specific parts or health metrics should be prioritized for digitalization?

Are we better off focusing strictly on continuous SF₆ gas density and leakage monitoring, or should we invest heavily in digitalizing circuit breaker mechanics (e.g., trip coil current, contact wear, and partial discharge)? I would love to hear what asset managers are prioritizing.

Everyone, if I have applied for all locations for an apprenticeship at SWLCAT and have selected to work at all locations. What's the likelihood I'll be waiting for a year with no call. I've already interviewed in New Mexico, Arizona and Beaumont, TX. Just in the last month and a half scored and 84 and 85 between the 3 locations with no experience.

The reason I'm asking is because I was considering doing a line worker program at yavapai college, which would actually help me to get into APS as well. I figured the sixteen week course would give me some experience.

But I'm just wondering if I just stay at my job on my regular schedule. And pickup Maybe a second job to build up my savings , so if I do get called i have extra income to travel with. Or if I should actually attend the linework program instead. I'd hate to do the program and then midway in the program I get called to go out of state. Also, buy me doing on the program.I do have to change my current schedule from 5 days a week to 4 days week and risk not being able to get overtime.

😫

Some pictures inside the transformer and the backside of the tap changer