National Certificate in Electricity Supply

THE QUALIFICATION
National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Line Mechanic Distribution) (Level 4) delivered through Utilitech, Henderson
Organised by Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation (ESITO)
Phone: 0800 4 ESITO
Email: Email Esito
Web: Esito
Training costs: around $3000 a year; usually subsidised or fully paid by employer.
Hourly rate: around $18 to $21 an hour, depending on company


Qualified line mechanics (linesmen) are in demand globally. They provide the essential service of ensuring power supply, something Aucklanders are starting to treasure after the recent power outages. Line mechanics erect and replace power poles, join and splice cables and test lines and circuits.

Trainees need to be employed with an electricity supply company and signed up to the level four National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Line Mechanic Distribution) which takes a minimum of two years to complete. Although line mechanics are in short supply, openings depend on appropriate supervisors being available within individual companies because trainees require close supervision (two qualified staff to one trainee).

Training involves a combination of on-the-job training and assessment and block courses with modern apprenticeships available for 16 to 21-year-olds and traineeships for others.

In training, areas covered include jointing electricity network overhead conductors, installing and servicing street lighting, installing and replacing electricity network poles, evaluating faults on electricity supply network equipment and installing high voltage electricity network overhead conductors.

Preference is given to applicants with passes in English, science and mathematics at Year 11 level or equivalent.

Two pre-trade programmes are offered at WINTEC in Hamilton and CPIT in Christchurch.


THE GRADUATE
Taua Douglas
Qualified line mechanic
Northpower Silverdale (power supply, power management and line maintenance)

I have been here three years in November and have now got my lineman ticket. Northpower paid for that.

I did my off-job training through Utilitech in Henderson. The training involves five courses roughly six months apart. The first four are a week long, while the final course is two weeks and involves an exam.

We did a lot of theory but also did practical tasks like erecting lines in the outdoor yard. We were put through tasks day after day after day to drum into us how to do it in the safest and most efficient way.

We also covered electrical theory and regulations so when we're out on jobs we know what we can and can't do.

There are some things with electricity that you just can't learn to do on the job, like switching [isolating a section of high voltage line]. You wouldn't want to do anything with high voltage if you hadn't learned and practised operating a switch.

Before coming to Northpower I was boat building. What I like about this job is that I am working outside, constantly learning and having to stay mentally alert all the time. It is not a mundane job. We do things like finding power cables, supplying power to houses, working up poles, upgrading lines and doing general maintenance.

One thing you do have to be able to deal with is heights. I was a bit stiff initially until I learned to trust my gear and gang.

Northpower is really good about upskilling. We drive a lot of trucks so they pay for us to get our truck and forklift licences. We have refresher safety days every six months, including things like CPI and first aid.


THE EMPLOYER
Malcolm Rhodes
Northpower area manager

Qualified linesmen are like hen's teeth in New Zealand so Northpower spends a lot on training to get the skills we need.

Taua had the right attitude and skills. He had some idea about electricity, he wanted to work outside and he was looking for something that would be a career. He was also physically capable, didn't have a fear of heights and was not colour blind.

Taua's ticket makes him valuable to us and gives him something to show for his work. We hope it also creates loyalty because we put time into the training and continue to upskill our guys.

We use Utilitech for training because there is only so much on-job training we can do. There are a lot of safety measures trainees need to know before they even start so they study theory and then carry out practical work under close supervision in Utilitech's yard. Safety is vitally important with electricity supply. Electricity supply is a very dangerous industry at which you get only one chance.