What You’ll Do
The Role
What You’ll Do Day to Day
HV electricians and technicians ensure that electrical systems operating above 1,000 volts AC or 1,500 volts DC are installed, operated, and maintained safely and reliably. Every day presents different challenges, requiring strong technical knowledge, problem-solving, and an uncompromising commitment to safety.
Planned maintenance
Inspect, test, and maintain transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, substations, HV cables, and protection systems — testing insulation, checking protective relays, and replacing components before failures occur to maximise reliability and minimise outages.
Switching operations
Safely isolate equipment for maintenance, testing, or repair by following detailed switching programs, obtaining permits, completing risk assessments, and ensuring equipment is de-energised before work begins. Accuracy and attention to detail are essential.
Fault finding & emergency response
Diagnose failures using specialised test equipment and technical documentation, then repair or coordinate restoration of power — rapid response is critical for utilities, mining, and industry where downtime is costly.
Installation & commissioning
Construct substations, install transformers, terminate HV cables, test protection systems, and verify correct operation before energising — increasingly on solar farms, wind farms, BESS, and transmission projects.
Safety as the foundation
Participate in pre-start meetings, conduct job safety analyses, follow permit-to-work systems, wear specialised PPE, and comply with strict procedures — maintaining competency through ongoing training and Australian Standards.
Collaboration
Work closely with electrical engineers, protection technicians, control room operators, project managers, contractors, and operations personnel — communication and teamwork are vital during complex switching, shutdowns, and commissioning.
Varied environments
Substations, power stations, renewable facilities, mining operations, industrial plants, or remote transmission networks — some roles are local maintenance, others involve travel, FIFO rosters, or emergency call-outs.
Rewarding & essential
Technically challenging and varied work with advanced electrical systems, contributing directly to Australia’s essential energy infrastructure and keeping communities, businesses, and industries safely powered.