A Day in the Life of a Substation Working Foreman
Did you know our substation department plays a crucial role in providing power to our customers? They oversee all substations across the islands we serve, including performing routine maintenance on transformers, handling new installs, and responding to trouble calls.
In December, I had the opportunity to join Chad Oda, one of our working foremen on Oahu, for a substation ride-along where I got a glimpse of what they do each day! Chad has been with Hawaiian Electric for over 20 years, joining the company in 2004 as a journeyman electrician. Through his extensive knowledge and experience, he worked his way up to his current role, where he drives his own truck and leads a crew of three to four employees.
For my ride-along, I met up with Chad at 8:30 a.m. at our Ward baseyard. However, his day started much earlier at 7 a.m. where he completed his morning tasks such as doing safety checks on his truck. At 8:30 a.m. we departed the baseyard and headed to downtown Honolulu. That day, Chad and his crew of five were assigned to complete routine maintenance at the old Walmart vault, located just off King Street near Fort Street Mall.
As soon as we arrived at the work site, the crew wasted no time setting up for the day. Safety was their top priority, and they quickly set up the necessary equipment before heading underground into the vault. Once it was safe for the crews to head down, three crew members went inside the vault to inspect and test the protectors, ensuring the relays work properly. While the crews were in the underground vault, Chad and a substation technician stayed on the street level to help lower tools into the vault. Throughout this process, the team stayed in constant communication using handheld radios.
Once the team finished their inspection, the crew members underground came back up, and everyone gathered for a quick debrief before cleaning up the work site. I was really impressed by how smoothly the team worked together. Everyone knew their roles and communicated clearly like a well-oiled machine with safety top of mind. After wrapping up, the team headed back to the baseyard to take on their next job for the day.
Having this opportunity gave me a deeper understanding for the work our substation department does every day! It was a great reminder that our greatest asset is our people, and their commitment to service is what keeps the lights on for our communities.
About the Author: Emily Miyashiro
