Exam Bulletin - Hydroelectric Plant Electrician I

Department of Water Resources

Exam Code: EX-1738

Examination Plans Included:

  • HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ELECTRICIAN I - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ELECTRICIAN I: $8,128.00 - $10,075.00 per Month

View the HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ELECTRICIAN I classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ELECTRICIAN I - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1738

For HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ELECTRICIAN I, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01738

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00106455 - HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ELECTRICIAN I

Either 1

Completion of a recognized apprenticeship as a hydroelectric plant electrician. (Apprentices who are within six months of completion of their apprenticeship may be admitted to the examination, but they must present evidence of completion of their apprenticeship before they may be appointed.)

Or 2

One year of journeyperson experience performing electrical maintenance and repair work on the heavy equipment used in electrical generating or pumping plants.

Position Description

00106455 - HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ELECTRICIAN I

Installs, repairs, and maintains wiring circuits for electrical equipment, motors, and control devices; disassembles, repairs and reassembles, motors, generators, large transformers, oil circuit breakers, disconnect switches, voltage regulators, power switchboards, and other electrical equipment; performs electrical troubleshooting and diagnoses trouble under emergency conditions; installs conduit, pulls wire, and does control board wiring; instructs and leads unskilled assistants; tests and services storage batteries.

Additional Desirable Qualification

Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.


For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of high voltage electrical equipment including large generators, transformers, motors, voltage regulators and circuit breakers.
  2. Purpose and operation of equipment used in protective and control circuits.
  3. National Electric Code and Electrical Safety Orders of the Division of Industrial Safety.
  4. Mathematics normally required in this trade.
Ability to:
  1. Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance.
  2. Diagnose, locate, and correct trouble in control and relay circuits.
  3. Prepare rough sketches and cost estimates of electrical work.
  4. Keep simple records and make reports.
  5. Read and understand wiring diagrams and blueprints.
  6. Instruct and supervise unskilled assistants.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ELECTRICIAN I Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Water Resources

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Hydroelectric Plant Electrician I Training and Experience Exam Preview

Instructions:    

Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.  

  

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples.  Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.  

  

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, you have completed.  

  

PLEASE NOTE:  This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position.  All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position. In preparing your responses please note each exam item response textbox has a maximum of 1,000 character count.   

              

Tasks
  1. Identifying lock-out/tag-out procedures in accordance with safety clearance procedures.
  2. Troubleshooting malfunctions of electrical systems/equipment to determine corrective action to be taken.
  3. Performing maintenance of high voltage electrical equipment and apparatuses of hydroelectric equipment and/or installation, ranging voltage from 24 volts up to 230,000 volts (e.g. generators, transformers, circuit breakers, pump turbines) to ensure safe operational usage.
  4. Repairing high voltage electrical equipment and apparatuses of hydroelectric plants and/or facilities, ranging in voltage from 24 volts up to 230,000 volts (e.g. generators, transformers, circuit breakers, pump turbines) to return equipment to operational condition.
  5. Installing and maintaining circuits for electrical equipment, motors and control devices to support operational needs.
  6. Reassembling motors, generators, pumps and turbines, large transformers, power switchboards, and wiring and cable systems ranging in different voltages to maintain functionality of critical systems.
  7. Disassembling motors, generators, pumps and turbines, large transformers, power switchboards, and wiring and cable systems ranging in different voltages to identify equipment condition for maintenance.
  8. Interpreting diagrams and schematics to assist in the troubleshooting, maintenance, and layout for installation of electrical equipment.
  9. Creating diagrams and schematics to direct in the installation and maintenance of equipment.
  10. Reading technical documents (e.g. blueprints, wiring diagrams, manuals, instructions) to install, repair and maintain electrical equipment.
  11. Training apprentices in safe work practices (e.g. electrical maintenance troubleshooting, repair, and practical hands-on experience) to produce skilled and knowledgeable employees.
  12. Operating various equipment (e.g. lifts, gas trailers, wash trailers) to perform equipment maintenance.
  13. Operating various cranes (e.g. bridge, jib, gantry) using safe operating procedures to lift and maneuver equipment.
  14. Estimating equipment, material, and job repair time needed while working in close coordination with respective lead person to maintain original specifications and ensure completion is within established timeframes.
  15. Drafting reports to document work and equipment conditions while prioritizing maintenance execution.
  16. Recording basic work activities (e.g. timekeeping) using logs and spreadsheets to maintain a history of work completed and equipment conditions.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Water Resources

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@Calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Water Resources
P. O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 653-4838

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Water Resources reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)