Utilities - Apprentice Lineperson

Utilities - Apprentice Lineperson

Salary

$46.27 Hourly

Location

600 S. 4th Street, Stoughton, WI

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

475

Department

Utilities

Opening Date

10/07/2026

Closing Date

10/21/2026 4:00 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits

SUMMARY OF JOB

Join the City of Stoughton as a Journeyman Lineman

The City of Stoughton, an equal opportunity employer, is seeking a skilled and motivated Apprentice Lineman to join our Utility Division. This is a great opportunity to work close to home, with a consistent schedule and excellent benefits.

Why Join Us?

• Regular work schedule with evenings at home and half-day Fridays*

Excellent benefits, including:

• Wisconsin Retirement System
• No premium for dental insurance
• Low medical premiums and out-of-pocket costs
• Free Anytime Fitness membership

About the Role

As an Apprentice Lineman, you'll work within the City of Stoughton and its surrounding service area-approximately 55 square miles-eliminating long commutes. You'll be part of a dedicated team of experienced professionals focused on maintaining a reliable and resilient electrical system.

This position requires residency within a 30-minute response time to the City of Stoughton.

Schedule & Standby Details

• Includes rotating standby duty with additional compensation
• During standby weeks, you'll respond to after-hours electrical calls*
• Occasional assistance may be requested outside of your standby rotation during major events
• Stoughton Utilities maintains a low volume of standby calls due to proactive maintenance and system reliability
• This is an Essential Position-you may be called in during citywide emergencies

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a self-motivated, responsible individual who thrives in a team environment. This role involves:

• Electrical distribution line construction, maintenance, and repair
• Working in the field for extended periods
• Accessing work areas via foot, ladder, or elevated platforms
• Performing duties in varying and sometimes hazardous environmental conditions

The purpose of this position is to efficiently and safely assist in performing electrical distribution line construction, maintenance, and repair tasks in accordance with Stoughton Utilities construction specifications and standards. Responsibilities for this position will increase in complexity and level of individual responsibility as the employee progresses through the State of Wisconsin Lineperson Apprenticeship Program.

This position is intended to provide education and on-the-job training leading to journeyman lineman status and requires continual progression, and is not considered a permanent employment status. Advancement to Journeyman Lineman status occurs upon completion of required classroom instruction, on-the-job training hours, and demonstration of job knowledge and competency.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are the primary duties of this position but do not compose an exclusive or all-encompassing list of duties. Other duties may be assigned or required to accomplish the main goals of this position:

• Assists in operating diggers, bucket trucks, hand tools near and around electrical distribution lines. Assists in operating live-line tools to connect and disconnect distribution lines and components.
• Operates diggers, bucket trucks, and hand tools near and around electrical distribution lines. Operates live-line tools to connect and disconnect distribution lines and components. Installs primary and secondary overhead and underground electrical systems. Performs all other industry-standard duties expected of an apprentice lineman.
• Prepares and secures safe worksites, including truck and equipment setup, placement of warning signs and cones, traffic control and direction, and more. Conducts tailboard meetings to review projects and safety.
• Operates the electric SCADA system to monitor system health, record data and equipment readings, operate controls, evaluate circuit performance and load, and investigate outage conditions.
• Responds to customer inquiries and complaints and performs corrective measures. Communicates with customers as required to resolve customer inquiries and complaints, and to provide notice of planned system outages.
• Performs work tasks at active job sites to plan, direct, and oversee system and equipment maintenance and repair tasks. Works onsite to recommend operational changes and safety improvements, and to evaluate safety compliance.
• Installs, repairs, and maintains municipal street lighting.
• Monitors system tree trimming and removal needs, and ensures clearance program compliance. Works with division employees to trim and remove trees and brush. Communicates with customers to provide notice of upcoming line clearance projects, and resolves line clearance complaints and inquiries.
• Participates in the utility's apprentice lineman program, including soliciting and receiving education and mentorship, and working towards advancement through the program.
• Attends and assists with utility-sponsored public events, prepares public educational materials and participates in outreach efforts, conducts system demonstrations and tours, and gives electrical safety presentations.
• Completes and maintains work orders, staking sheets, outage reports, timesheets, preflight checklists, tailgate meetings, inventory forms, and all other division paperwork, and maintains records and prepares reports as directed. Conducts system inspections and records findings.
• Maintains GIS software applications and databases, including electric service connection details, circuit identifications, overhead and underground system inspections, equipment maintenance tasks, and other records as directed.
• Maintains an ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate planned activities outside of the typical work schedule, including but not limited to planned customer outages or system maintenance work, as well as planned seasonal schedule changes and tasks.
• Maintains an ability to travel within Wisconsin to locations requiring overnight stays up to a week in length to complete the required apprenticeship classroom and hands-on training.
• Maintains an ability whenever possible to respond to utility emergencies and assist those serving on-call. As progression through the apprenticeship program occurs, maintains an ability to serve on standby on-call duty, scheduled on a rotational basis within the Electric System Division.
• Complies with all Stoughton Utilities safety programs, and guidelines and regulations set by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) and the National Electric Safety Code (NESC).

While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the unit, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this position and may be performed by other unit members.

• Disconnects electrical service to customers upon receipt of disconnection work orders due to delinquency or safety violations, and at customers' request. Conducts periodic reviews of disconnected properties for connection evaluation
• Installs electric meters, including current transformers (CTs) and voltage transformers (VTs) as necessary, at customer premises, including temporary and permanent services. Assists the meter technician with the maintenance and repair of electric meters, CTs, and VTs. Reconnects and transfers electric meters.
• Maintains grounds and facilities, such as painting surfaces, ice and snow removal, custodial tasks, basic carpentry, basic commercial electrical maintenance, basic plumbing, and similar tasks as assigned.
• Provides emergency after-hours support to the Wastewater and Water System Divisions, including basic system repair, traffic control and direction, site preparation and cleanup, equipment transport and operation, and other tasks as directed. Provides local and regional emergency disaster response.
• Performs routine vehicle maintenance.
• Performs other Stoughton Utilities tasks as directed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent, plus vocational or technical training in electrical systems, or a combination of education and at least 3-4 years of experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Successful completion of a 9-month electric power distribution technical course or enrollment in the State of Wisconsin Lineworker Apprenticeship Program preferred.
• Must maintain enrollment in the State of Wisconsin Lineworker Apprenticeship Program.
• Must have or obtain and maintain forklift certification and CPR/First Aid certification.
• Must have or obtain and maintain a commercial driver's license with tanker and airbrake certification.
• A valid motor vehicle operator's license is required at hire.
• Must be within 30 minutes drive of Stoughton Utilities when On Call.

JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Language Skills and Interpersonal Communication

• Ability to analyze and categorize data and information in order to determine the relationship of the data with reference to established criteria/standards. Ability to compare, count, differentiate measure, and/or sort data; assemble, copy, record, and transcribe data and information. Ability to classify, compute, and tabulate data.
• Ability to explain, demonstrate and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures, and standards, as well as the ability to follow specific instructions and respond to simple requests from others.
• Ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information such as work orders, staking sheets, maps, outage reports, hazardous materials lists, safety manuals and procedures, construction specifications, transformer manuals, PCB manual, timesheets, vehicle logs, accident reports, technical operating manuals, procedures, and guidelines.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, co-workers, law enforcement personnel, electricians, contractors, tree trimmers, and other city employees.
• Ability to graduate from a State of Wisconsin Four-Year Lineman Apprenticeship program.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; calculate percentages and decimals; interpret and develop basic descriptive statistical reports; and may require the ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions and algebra.

Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability

• Ability to carry out directives both with and without direct supervision. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
• Ability to apply principles of influence systems such as leading and teaching.
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory and/or judgmental criteria.

Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Position Functions

• Ability to operate equipment and machinery such as impact tools, aerial bucket truck, digger /derrick, forklift, wood chipper, chain saw, backhoe, roller, compression tools, cable cutters, nail gun, meters, hand and power tools, snowplows, and blowers, and other equipment requiring monitoring multiple conditions and making multiple, complex, and rapid adjustments. Ability to repair complex equipment and machinery.
• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing skilled movements such as high voltage electrical work.
• Ability to install and repair meters and perform coordinated activity around live electricity, potentially in tight spaces.
• Ability to exert regular and sustained heavy physical effort in very heavy work, typically involving some combination of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting, carrying, pushing, shoveling and digging, and pulling heavy objects and materials in excess of 100 pounds.
• Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of color, shape, sound, textures, and odor associated with job-related objects, materials, and tasks.

Environmental Adaptability

• Ability to work under uncomfortable and potentially unsafe conditions that require exposure to severe environmental factors such as temperature variations, high winds, rain and snow, odors, toxic agents, noise, vibrations, wetness, dusts, machinery, explosives, gas, vehicular traffic, and high voltage electrical currents. This exposure may cause discomfort and presents a high risk of injury or death.

FULL-TIME BENEFITS: 32+ Hours per Week

Effective 1-1-2026

The following benefits are offered to regular full-time (32+ hours per week/1664+ annual hours minimum) employees. Please note that this is a summary, and benefits are not guaranteed. Review the GHC HMO Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) document for coverage details or contact GHC directly.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Coverage is effective the day after hire; premiums are deducted monthly from the 1st payroll of the month.

GHC HMO - benefits listed for in-network providers only.

Employee responsibility toward monthly premium:Family $75.26Employee & Spouse $50.99Employee & Child(ren) $44.91Single $24.27

GHC PPO - This plan is available exclusively to employees who do not have any GHC locations in their area.

Employee responsibility toward monthly premium:Family $101.60Employee & Spouse $68.81Employee & Child(ren) $60.62Single $32.79

In-Network Provider Coverage ONLY - See SBC for details

Deductibles are $500/single - $1,000/family

$0 co-pay for preventative services

$30 co-pay on office visits

$30 co-pay on urgent care visits

$100 co-pay on emergency room visits (co-pay waived if admitted to hospital)

Prescription drug co-pays:

$10/Tier 1

$35/Tier 2

$60/Tier 3

$200 Specialty drugs

$5 RX Outcomes

Out of Pocket Limit $2850 Single/ $5700 Family

Note: Employee out-of-pocket qualified medical expenses can be run through the flexible spending plan (Section 125), which is managed through Employee Benefits Corporation (EBC). Enrollment into this plan occurs only during annual enrollment, which is November/December.

DENTAL INSURANCE

Coverage is effective the day after hire. The City covers 100% of the premium for dental coverage.

Note: Full-time employees pay no portion of the dental premium.

Delta Dental benefits listed for in-network providers only

Delta Dental In-Network Coverage:

There is no deductible for dental coverage.

Per person, per benefit accumulation period is $1,000.

Diagnostic and preventive procedures are paid at 100%;

Basic restorative procedures are paid at 80%;

Major restorative procedures are paid at 50%;

Orthodontic procedures are paid at 0%.

Check Up Plus - lets you obtain diagnostic and preventive services - including examinations, X-rays, regular cleanings, and other related treatments without the costs of those services applying to your individual annual maximum. The full value of your annual maximum is applied to the benefits you receive for base and major restorative services.

RETIREMENT Provider: Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)

The 2026 Wisconsin Retirement Rate is 14.40% for general employees. The employer and employee shares are equal at 7.20% each.

The 2026 Wisconsin Retirement Rate is 22.00% for protective employees. The employer share is 14.80% and the employee share is 7.20%.

Eligibility to Participate- from the ETF Your Benefit Handbook (ET-2119) Rev10/13

Depending on when you began your job, your job will have to meet one of these two standards for it to be covered under the WRS.

• One-third standard -- A position that is subject to the one-third standard meets WRS participation standards if you are expected to work at least one-third of full-time (600 hours for non-teaching employees) for at least one year from date of hire. You will remain eligible even if your job subsequently drops below one-third.
• Two-thirds standard -- A position that is subject to the two-thirds standard meets WRS participation standards if you are expected to work at least two-thirds full-time (1200 hours for non-teaching employees) for at least one year from date of hire. You will remain eligible even if your job subsequently drops below two-thirds.

If you were a continuing employee as of July 1, 2011, your job must meet the one-third standard. You will remain eligible even if your job subsequently drops below one-third.

If you were hired after July 1, 2011:

• If you were a participating employee before July 1, 2011, left WRS service, and did not take
• A separation benefit, and are now returning in a new job, your job must meet the one-third standard.
• If you were a participating employee before July 1, 2011, left WRS service, took a separation benefit, and are now returning in a new job, your job must meet the two-thirds standard.
• If you were not a participating employee before July 1, 2011, your job must meet the two-thirds standard.*

If you are not expected to meet these eligibility criteria when you are hired, you will not be enrolled in the WRS at that time. However, if you subsequently work at least 12 months, and in any 12-month period you meet the hours requirement, you are prospectively enrolled in the WRS. In this situation, your WRS coverage is not retroactive.

WRS Mandatory Employee Contributions

If your employment is eligible to be covered under the WRS, you must make employee-required contributions. These contributions are credited to your individual WRS account. These contributions are vested immediately.

Your contributions are calculated as a percentage of your WRS earnings. The contribution rates are different for each WRS employment category. The rates generally change from year to year based on the recommendation of the consulting actuary.

Your employer may have agreed to pay part or all of your employee-required WRS contributions on your behalf, pursuant to a contract or collective bargaining agreement entered into prior to June 29, 2011. In addition, certain employees retained the right to bargain with their employers after that date over who will pay the employee-required contributions. Please contact Human Resources for more information.

GROUP LIFE INSURANCE Provider: Employee Trust Funds (ETF)/Securian

The city pays for the basic premium: Premium based on salary and age. Each employee will receive $1,000 insurance for each portion of $1,000 in earnings the previous year.

Eligibility: First of the month following 30 days of employment (timely enrollment-within 30 days from hire). No evidence of insurability required if the employee files within 30 days from date of hire.

Coverage for spouse/dependent and additional units is available, as an employee deduction.

INCOME CONTINUATION INSURANCE Provider: Employee Trust Funds (ETF)

The city provides the 90-day waiting period without cost to the employee.

The 60 or 30-day waiting period is available with the employee paying the cost of the difference between the 90-day waiting period and the period selected. Eligibility: First of the month following 30 days of employment (timely enrollment-within 30 days from hire).

ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT Provider Employee Trust Funds (ETF)

Coverage is equal to the total amount of your group life insurance under the basic, supplemental and additional coverages. See The Wisconsin Public Employers Group Life Insurance Program Booklet ET-2101 Rev 1/2016 for further details.

VACATION

2 weeks + 3 days at hire and less than 4 full years of service (104 hours)

3 weeks + 3 days after 4 full years of service (144 hours)

4 weeks + 3 days after 9 full years of service (184 hours)

4 weeks + 4 days after 10 full years of service (192 hours)

4 weeks + 5 days after 11 full years of service (200 hours)

4 weeks + 6 days after 12 full years of service (208 hours)

4 weeks + 7 days after 13 full years of service (216 hours)

4 weeks + 8 days after 14 full years of service (224 hours)

• Vacation is effective as of January 1st each year*

Union-represented Police employees and Dispatchers have a separate vacation schedule.

SICK LEAVE is earned per month based on normally scheduled hours per day (i.e. 8 8-hour day earns 8 hours per month - 5-hour day earns 5 hours per month).

LENGTH OF SERVICE PAYMENT (longevity) The first length of service payment is $150.00 (for a 40-hour-per-week employee) after the employee has completed three full years of continuous full-time City employment prior to December 1 of the calendar year in which the payment is made. Subsequent length of service payments are increased by $50 for each additional year of continuous full-time employment. This amount is prorated for employees working less than a 40-hour week.

HOLIDAYS Employee is eligible for the listed paid holidays (in the Work Rules) based on the employees normal scheduled hours of work per week.

FUNERAL LEAVE Employee may take up to three (3) days for a death in the family based on the employees normal scheduled hours of work per week (family is defined in the Work Rules). 8 hours scheduled = 8 hours funeral leave per day, 6-hour regular day = 6 hours funeral leave per day.

HEALTH CLUB MEMBERSHIP Employees are eligible for a free membership to Anytime Fitness. Anytime also offers spouse and family discounts to City of Stoughton employees' families that reside in the same household. See the City of Stoughton Employee Health Club Membership Flyer in your new hire orientation packet. *This is not a guaranteed benefit and is subject to change at any time.

OTHER BENEFITS AVAILABLE The following benefits are available to employees and are 100% employee-paid if elected. These insurances are offered to complement our existing benefits package and to offer the group rates to all benefit-eligible employees.

• Flexible Spending (EBC) As stated above, eligibility for this benefit is only during annual enrollment in November/December for the next calendar year.
• AFLAC Short Term Disability, Accident, Cancer, etc.
• Legal Shield Legal advice and/ or ID Theft.
• Delta Vision (EyeMed) Vision Coverage.
• T-Mobile

Disclosure: Please note that this document serves as an overview and in no way should be used to determine coverage. Please refer to your plan documents and or contact the carrier for coverage, out-of-pocket expenses, co-pays, and insured amounts. This document is subject to change at any time and by no means serves as or is intended to serve as a contract.

Employer City of Stoughton

Address 207 S. Forrest St

Stoughton, Wisconsin, 53589

Phone 608 646 0272

Website https://www.cityofstoughton.com/hrrm