Hydro Plant Technician

Hydro Plant Technician

Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years, and our electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. Ameren Missouri's mission is to power the quality of life for our 1.2 million electric and 132,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. Our service area covers 64 counties and more than 500 communities including the greater St.

Louis area.

Duties:

Often working alone or under indirect supervision, working on a rotating shift or day schedule as required, to do a general range of power plant operation, electrical, mechanical and control systems work. Operating work includes items such as:

• Operating the main electrical control system of the Hydro generating stations and associated substations, together with their auxiliary equipment
• To start, stop, load and unload the various items of electrical equipment in accordance with directions from the Power and Transmission Dispatcher's offices
• To perform or direct switching and other corrective operations, in the event of emergency conditions affecting the Plant or Sub Stations
• Immediate responsibility at times for the working direction of an apprentice or trainee.
• Monitor remote indications and displays of operating equipment and initiate actions in response to abnormal conditions.
• Initiate emergency response procedures.
• Electrical work includes items such as generators, voltage regulator rheostats, exciters, buses and bus duct, transformers, circuit breakers, switches, power circuits, magnetic contractors, motors, motor starters, batteries, plant lighting, conduit, wiring, boxes, supports, and hangers.
• Mechanical work includes items such as machine work, welding, plumbing, rigging, sheet metal, carpentry work, metal spray, manipulating spill gates, head gates and stop logs.
• Control system work includes items such as calibration and adjustment of transmitters and transducers, troubleshooting using programmable logic controllers (PLC), and using the SCADA system.

Special Responsibilities:

In absence of supervision, the HPT is the key link in directing efforts in the implementation of Emergency Action Plans, Spill Control and Countermeasure Plans, and fire fighting. For initiating contact with and call out of personnel to respond to operating conditions or emergencies at assigned and other plants. For operating stability of service to the extent of the effect that the Generating Station may have on the total system operation.

In emergencies involving electrical failures, for initiating measures to restore or maintain service, at such times exercising their judgment as to the remedial measures and the operation of the station and associated substations with only general principles and standard practice as a guide. For the assigned group of station control equipment, to the extent of the possibility of preventing costly damage that would result in the case of faulty operating sequence, as well as the responsibility for detecting incipient damage to equipment, but this responsibility is considerably limited by the extent of protective relays and other automatic devices installed.

In emergencies, for segregating defective apparatus quickly and accurately or for applying available reserves in order to utilize the special effect of the Plants in maintaining system balance. For care and accuracy in all switching and synchronizing operations. For safety of others, on control of WPA for work on apparatus. Blackstarting the Main and House Generators. For carrying out prescribed safety precautions and safeguards for the protection of self and others.

For observing and insuring that those temporarily under his direction observe safety instructions issued or applicable. For performing work without disturbing other equipment. For executing orders quickly and properly. For accuracy of work within required tolerances or specifications. For special care and watchfulness to avoid errors in the repair and assembly of equipment. For proper use and care of a wide variety of tools, materials and equipment.

For disposition of surplus and scrap materials after each job and keeping areas where work is…