The Distribution Network training program consists of eight levels, requiring 16 weeks of formalized training, spanning a period of four years. The eight training levels contain more than 130 modules administered in an individually paced format. Testing and competency demonstrations are arranged through on-site instructors. These same instructors also provide assistance during practice sessions; coordinate material, tool and equipment requirements; and evaluate as well as provide feedback on the employees’ progress.
The Distribution Network training program is divided into the following series, as well as the corresponding training topics and skills.
D-Series (Entry Level)
- Safe work practices
- Basic electricity
- Pre-job conference (tailboard)
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Care and testing of rubber gloves and sleeves
- Identifying job site hazards
- Identifying URD tools
- Work area protection
- Tying basic knots
- Enclosed space entry
- Enclosed space rescue
- Bucket truck rescue
- Operating generators
- Identifying conduit and materials
- Identifying URD primary cable components
- Preparing a loadbuster for use
- Rigging
- Preparing splice compounds
- Operating high-pressure press hydraulic tools
- Phasing/tagging new cable
- Fireproofing primary cable
- Splicing URD service
- Making a ploy hot cap termination
- Making a paper insulated lead covered (PILC) hot cap termination using heatshrink
- Making a hand wrap primary cable splice
- Making a straight PILC lead-wiped cable splice
- Develop knowledge of series and parallel circuits
- Building and installing 600 amp bolt T poly cable termination
- Setting transformer pads and padmounted transformers
- Making a 3-C PILC/3-C PILC heatshrink, coldshrink cable splice
- Making a PILC hot cap termination using lead
- Power calculations
- Installing vault/manhole hardware
- Installing fault indications
- Installing and making connections in service pedestals
- Installing a ground rod (new installation)
- Teamwork
C Series (Intermediate Level)
- Inspecting and repairing grounds and cable bonds
- Installing and removing grounds on conductors and equipment
- Inspecting grounding cables
- Insulating all terminations
- Operating a ground resistance tester
- Making a transition primary cable splice
- Installing crabs and moles
- Installing or replacing cable limiters
- Operating insulation testers
- Performing visual inspections in manhole/vault
- Spiking primary cable with remote cable spiker
- Overview of network protectors
- Pressure testing and housing adjustments on network protectors
- Review of basic electricity and introduction to basic AC circuits
- Performing general switching and tagging safety procedures
- Isolating faulted circuits
- Communication and leadership skills
B Series (Advanced Level)
- Servicing network protectors
- Making a wye paper insulated lead cable pilot wire (PILC) lead wiped 3-conductor cable splice
- Asbestos awareness
- Lead awareness
- Switching and tagging network equipment
- Operating digital low-resistance ohmmeter
- Transformer High Voltage termination chambers
- Fault locating
- Inspecting and repairing HV switches
- Introduction to network protector (NWP) relays
- Introduction to gasket materials
