Power Supply Update #3

Training was a key element in Mervyn Davies’ recommendations to the Northern Territory Government earlier this year, following an extensive investigation into the Power Networks business.

Already, Power and Water has achieved a great deal in bringing better training and skills development to our employees, in line with Mervyn Davies’ report.

Power Networks has improved the way it trains employees. It is recruiting new staff and ensuring all employees improve their technical understanding of equipment they are working with every day.

“This may involve working on employees’ skills as they test and monitor the condition of equipment using infrared or high voltage testing equipment. ”Much of this takes place in our workshops, on the job and often involves bringing in expertise from outside the Corporation,” says Training Manager, Carl Thompson.

Ongoing learning and development is a part of daily life at Power and Water with staff taking on advanced training in a number of areas as they build their skill levels to best practice.
In the future, this may include a short rotation with other power providers interstate. The opportunity to train on new power circuit equipment in Alice Springs recently even prompted one staff member to change annual leave dates to attend.

Putting some of these high level skills into practice over the past week has seen staff work throughout the night at the Snell Street Zone Substation to complete essential work. The was done when energy demand is low so the substation can be de-energised.

The task at Snell Street was a little more complicated than most as it is located next to a concrete batching facility. The combination of a fine coating of cement dust and high humidity created a concrete crust on sensitive electrical equipment that had to be removed first.

It’s hardly a task that appears in the training manuals but it’s just another example of the way Power and Water employees adapt to often difficult conditions across the Territory.

For more information: Progressing Power and Water