Occupation
Substation technician
Substation technicians install, test, and maintain the transformers, breakers, switchgear, and protection relays that step voltage up and down across the grid. The work happens around high-voltage equipment, so isolation, grounding, and permit discipline matter as much as technical skill. Fault call-outs can mean working outdoors in poor weather at unsociable hours.
Also known as: Substation electrician · Substation maintainer · Power system electrician
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Occupation content
Part of Utilities, energy, mining and resources
A visual day in the work
What the work involves
Inspect and service transformers, circuit breakers, disconnects, and battery banks.
Test and calibrate protection relays and metering against schematics and setting sheets.
Carry out switching operations under permit to isolate and ground equipment before work starts.
Trace faults using single-line diagrams, relay targets, and event records after a trip.
Terminate control wiring and commission new or modified substation equipment.
Record test results, defects, and asset condition in the maintenance management system.
Entry-route stepper
How people commonly enter
An electrical or powerline apprenticeship followed by a substation specialisation with a utility.
A college diploma in electrical engineering technology or electrical power systems.
Transferring from an industrial electrician role and adding high-voltage switching and protection training.
A utility technician trainee programme combining classroom instruction with supervised field work.
Typical training: Apprenticeship
Licensing: Regulated in most jurisdictions. Confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Work-context map
Typical work context
- Outdoors
- Physically active
- Team based
- High responsibility
- Shift work
Outdoors · Physically active · Team based · High responsibility · Shift work
Related interests
- Realistic (hands-on)
- Investigative (analytical)
Realistic (hands-on) · Investigative (analytical)
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
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Utilities, energy, mining and resources: education pathways
Some roles in Utilities, energy, mining and resources may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Utilities, energy, mining and resources: licensing
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