HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 Consideration to approve a Troubleman position and hire two Journeyman
AGENDA ITEM #12
Page 1 of 3
MEETING DATE: July 21, 2021
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Stephen Moore, Electric Operations Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration to Approve the Troubleman Position
APPROVED BY______________________________
Joe Horvath, Electric Utility Director/ Assistant General Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Approve the addition of a Troubleman position at Wage Range 37.
B. Approve the addition of a second Substation Lineman/Inspector at Wage Range 36.
BACKGROUND:
The District has identified opportunities to improve operational efficiencies by making changes to
the crew structure and positions within the Electric Department. The Electric Department
currently consist of the following outside crew assignments:
One (1) Service Crew consisting of 3 FTE’s;
Two (2) Line Crews consisting of 11 FTE’s; and
One (1) Substation Lineman/Inspector FTE.
The Service Crew structure is a concept relevant to electric utilities of the past. Though some
utilities continue to run Service Crews the District has found that it is inefficient and propose to
eliminate this structure. Service Crews typically field customer calls for secondary (low-voltage)
issues, attend customer construction meetings and perform connect/disconnect of customer
services for various reason. Some inefficiencies include crews making multiple trips to the same
address, trucks rolling with not enough personnel requiring crews to loan out crew members
unexpectedly or too many persons arriving on a job site resulting in unproductive staff time.
Staff proposes to reorganize existing outside crews to the following crew structure and job
assignments:
One (1) Troubleman FTE;
Three (3) four person Line Crews consisting of 12 FTE’s; and
Two (2) Substation Lineman/Inspector FTE’s.
This crew structure is shown on the attached organizational chart (Attachment 1). The
Troubleman position will improve efficiencies by allowing Line Crews to complete customer
installations in a single trip and increase crew productivity related to inspection, maintenance and
construction of the electrical distribution system. The Troubleman position will also improve
Page 2 of 3
efficiencies by properly assigning work to an experienced and capable independent Journeyman
Lineman. The service crew vehicle will be reassigned to new Troubleman position. This position
can independently perform such tasks as mark and locates, customer meetings, power trouble
calls and smaller customer requested connect/disconnects. In early 2021, staff collaboratively
worked with IBEW 1245 to develop and finalize the Troubleman job description, responsibilities
and relevant wage range for the Board’s consideration.
Changing from two Line Crews to three Line Crews will also allow the District to execute pole
replacements and line extension projects more efficiently while creating staffing redundancies
amongst the Line Crews. The addition of a third Line Crew requires a capital investment of a
third Digger vehicle at an estimated cost of $400,000 and useful life of 15 years. Further, with
long order lead times, the crew change necessitates the near-term rental of a Digger at cost
estimate of $4,000 per month. Changing from one Substation Lineman/Inspector to two
Substation Lineman/Inspectors will also improve efficiencies related to employee coverage,
availability to meet the needs of our customers for inspections and substation maintenance and
repairs while supporting the Line Crews as necessary for switching or other operations.
OBJECTIVES AND GOALS:
These items are in support of the following objectives and goals identified by the District:
1.05.020 Objectives:
6. Manage the District in an effective, efficient, and fiscally responsible manner.
1.05.030 Goals:
6.2. Employ a qualified and productive workforce.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No additional FTEs will be required for the proposed crew structure. The existing and proposed
crew structure each contain 15 FTEs. However, the proposed crew structure will result in a slight
increase to labor cost due to the Troubleman position at Wage Range 37 and having a second
Substation Lineman/Inspector position. The increase in payroll cost is estimated to be $7,134 in
wage labor, $1,712 in related overhead costs; for a total annual payroll cost impact of $8,846.
Rental of a Digger has an estimated cost of $4,000 per month. Rental for remaining 5 months of
2021 equates to $20,000. This unplanned expense is more than offset by lower expenses in
other areas of electric operations budget, excluding wildfire defensible space. The 1 month in
2022 of rental expense will be incorporated in 2022 Budget draft for Board approval.
A Digger capital investment of $400,000 equates to a 0.5% increase in electric utility plant (gross
fixed assets). Annually, with a 15 year useful life, the additional Digger will increase depreciation
expense $26,667, which equates to 0.9% increase in annual depreciation expense. Per
customer impact calculates as follows: $26,667 / 14,421 customers / 12 months = $0.15 cents
per customer per month.
The Digger capital investment will be incorporated in the 2022 capital expenditures plan (ordered
with Board approval in 2021, receipt of vehicle and cash outflow in 2022).
Page 3 of 3
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Proposed Crew Structure