Exam Bulletin - Associate Hydroelectric Power Utility Engineer

Department of Water Resources

Exam Code: EX-1560

Examination Plans Included:

  • ASSOCIATE HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

ASSOCIATE HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER: $9,245.00 - $11,566.00 per Month

View the ASSOCIATE HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • ASSOCIATE HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1560

For ASSOCIATE HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01560

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00103675 - ASSOCIATE HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER

Graduation from college with major work in electrical, electronic, mechanical, or civil engineering. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.) And


Either 1

Two years of engineering experience in the electric utilities field and/or in the operation and maintenance of pumping and generating equipment at the Electrical Engineer, Range B, or Mechanical Engineer, Range B, level in California state service.

Or 2

Three years of engineering experience in the electric utilities field and/or in the operation and maintenance of pumping and generating equipment, at least two years of which shall have been comparable in responsibility to that of an Electrical Engineer, Range B, or Mechanical Engineer, Range B, in California state service.

Position Description

00103675 - ASSOCIATE HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER

This is the full journey level. Under direction, incumbents perform difficult engineering work relating to the electric utilities field and/or operation and maintenance of pumping and generating equipment, and other related work.

Additional Desirable Qualification

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a professional engineer.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Engineering theory and practices relating to power generation, transmission, distribution, and marketing
  2. Electric utility operation and management
  3. Functions, responsibilities, and procedures of regulatory and government agencies including the Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the California Energy Commission, in the electric utility field
  4. Planning, design, construction, and operation of major generating plants, power transmission systems and pumping plants
  5. Methods of determining the optimum capacity and energy output of generating plants
  6. Power marketing and economics, including the market for and value of electric power, methods of marketing power and rates, agreements
  7. Operating, maintaining and testing of electrical and mechanical equipment and systems for plants, switchyards, reservoir outlets and aqueduct control features
  8. Environmental issues and policies
  9. Unit operating and loading procedures and criteria
  10. Standards of the American National Standards Institute, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  11. Instrumentation and control circuitry and electrical protection
  12. Servo systems and governors
  13. Bearings
  14. Lubrication
  15. Metal working
  16. Machining and welding
  17. Nondestructive examination
  18. Alignment and balancing of rotating machinery including vibration measurement
  19. Methods of maintenance, repair, and testing
  20. Power system operation and control
  21. Power system studies, load flow, stability, and fault analyses
Ability to:
  1. Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
  2. Prepare clear and concise reports
  3. Prepare procedures and manuals
  4. Make feasibility studies
  5. Interpret, prepare and revise electrical and mechanical drawings and schematics and relay and control logic diagrams
  6. Assist and advise others on maintenance and repair procedures, materials, tools
  7. Negotiate, administer, and coordinate contracts such as for maintenance, repair, testing, and consultation
  8. Conduct and coordinate special test activities
  9. Use personal computers

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the ASSOCIATE HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Water Resources

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Associate Hydroelectric Power Utility Engineer Training and Experience Examination Preview

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position. In preparing your responses please note each exam item response textbox has a max of 1,000 character count.

Tasks
  1. Assisting with performing technical studies (e.g., engineering, economic feasibility, environmental, operational, rate forecast) to determine the feasibility of potential projects.
  2. Performing technical engineering calculations and evaluating data to make recommendations to management.
  3. Utilizing computer models, databases, and/or spreadsheet applications to analyze engineering data.
  4. Updating various technical documents (e.g., applications, engineering reports, plant and switchyard schematics, etc.) to ensure compliance with organizational standards.
  5. Assisting with the preparation of economic and/or engineering analysis for reporting to ensure the organization meets its regulatory requirements.
  6. Evaluating performance and operational data of electrical/mechanical equipment to aid in determining if there is a need for repair or replacement.
  7. Assist in testing electrical and mechanical equipment and systems to ensure they are performing up to standards.
  8. Providing technical advice to appropriate personnel (e.g., maintenance electricians, mechanics, technicians, etc.) to facilitate the performance of their functions.
  9. Preparing technical and/or engineering reports to inform interested parties.
  10. Interpreting contract language necessary to use agreements.
  11. Participating in periodic inspections to ensure plants or equipment are operating appropriately.
  12. Implementing equipment maintenance, repair, modification, or replacement to ensure facilities remain operational.
  13. Assist in developing electrical/mechanical instructions and work scopes pertaining to equipment repair, maintenance, and replacement.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Water Resources

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Water Resources
P.O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 653-4838

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Water Resources reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)