7244 – Electrical power line and cable workers

Electrical power line and cable workers construct, maintain and repair overhead and underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems. They are employed by electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies, electrical contractors and public utility commissions.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

• Apprentice line maintainer – electric power systems
• Apprentice lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Apprentice power line repairer
• Assistant transmission lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Cable installer – electric power systems
• Cable installer – electrical power
• Cable installer and repairer – electric power systems
• Cable jointer – electric power systems
• Cable line worker – electric power systems
• Cable repairer – electric power systems
• Cable splicer – electric power systems
• Cable splicer – electrical power
• Cableman/woman – electric power systems
• Conduit installer – electric power systems
• Construction lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Construction lineman/woman – electrical power line
• Distribution construction lineman
• Electric meter installer – electric power systems
• Electric meter setter – electric power systems
• Electrical cable splicer – electric power systems
• Emergency line repairer – electric power systems
• Emergency servicer – electric power systems
• High voltage lineman/linewoman
• High voltage lineman/woman – electric power systems
• High-voltage maintenance lineman/woman
• High-voltage power line patroller – electric power systems
• High-voltage tower lineman/woman
• Lead lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Lead lineman/woman – electricity production and transmission
• Lead splicer – electric power systems
• Line checker – electric power systems
• Line installation trainee – electric power systems
• Line maintainer – electric power systems
• Line patroller – electric power systems
• Line repairer – electric power systems
• Line servicer – electric power systems
• Lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Lineman/woman – electric streetcar
• Lineman/woman trainee – electric power systems
• Lineman/woman trainee – electricity production and transmission
• Lineworker – electrical power systems
• Maintenance lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Meter installer – electric power systems
• Power line maintainer – electric power systems
• Power line patroller
• Power line repairer – electric power systems
• Power lineman/woman
• Power lineman/woman – electricity production and transmission
• Powerline technician
• Repair lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Service lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Streetlight repairer
• Streetlight repairer – electric power systems
• Streetlight serviceman/woman – electric power systems
• Streetlight servicer – electric power systems
• Tower line maintainer – electric power systems
• Tower lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Traffic light repairer
• Transmission lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Underground cable splicer – electric power systems
• Underground lineman/woman – electric power systems
• Wire splicer – electric power systems

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems including overhead and underground power lines and cables, insulators, conductors, lightning arrestors, switches, transformers and other associated equipment
• Erect and maintain steel, wood or concrete poles, towers and guy wires
• Splice, solder and insulate conductors and related wiring to connect power distribution and transmission networks using splicing tools, related electrical equipment and tools
• Inspect and test overhead and underground power lines and cables and auxiliary equipment using electrical test equipment
• Climb ladders or operate hydraulic buckets when working aloft on poles and towers, or work in confined spaces such as trenches and tunnels to install power lines and cables and associated equipment
• Install and maintain street lighting systems
• Communicate with other workers to co-ordinate the preparation and completion of work assignments.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a provincial three- or four-year lineman/woman apprenticeship program or a combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in electrical technology is usually required for electrical power line and cable workers.
• Trade certification for powerline technicians is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• Trade certification for powerline technicians (construction) is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Trade certification for distribution construction linemen/women is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified powerline technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Additional information

• The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
• Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Exclusions

• Other linemen/women and cable installers (in 7245 Telecommunications line and cable workers)
• Power system electricians (7243)
• Supervisors of electrical power line and cable workers (in 7202 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations)