SWEDE – May 2, Austin Tommy Nylec Austin Energy Knowledge Transfer and Design Training

Austin Energy Statistics  >400,000 Customers  >2,800 MW Generation  > 50 Distribution Substations  > 10,000 miles of Distribution  >1,600 Employees  Serve 437 square miles including Austin city limits and neighboring areas  Started in 1887

Identified Problems  Generational Gap  Advancement Opportunities Required Someone to Retire  Employees Not Adequately Prepared  Needed Way to Fast Track Learning

Lineman Advancement Program  Issue first identified in field personnel groups  Employee satisfaction was low due to lack of advancement  Mandatory participation  3 tier training program  Each level requires classroom and OJT  End of each tier ends with test and promotion if passed

Design Generational Gap  Same issues were present in design groups as construction  Faced with high turnover due to upcoming retirements  Approximately 50% eligible for immediate retirement with 75% in next 5 years.

Program Overview  Define competency levels for each design title  Recommended Training Courses from NLC or outside source  On Job Training to display competency  Include current city training programs as required by policy  Flexibility to accommodate new emerging technology  Increase employee satisfaction by creating self-paced program

Design Development Program

Current Status  Approved by design managers  Eagerly awaited by design staff  Supported by senior management  HR understands needs & supports initiative  Pending HR approval

Knowledge Transfer  Distribution Design Guidelines  300+ pages of distribution design best practices  Considered technical manual  Does not provide for every instance  Design Criteria Manual  120+ pages of service requirements  Covers most instances  Adopted as city ordinance  Distribution Construction Standards  Includes over construction estimating units

10 Questions?Questions?