Alaska Village Electric Cooperative

The Alaska Vocational and Technical Center (AVTEC) in Seward is offering a basic Power Plant Operator course March 17 through May 11, 2010. An Advanced Power Plant Operator training course will be held in the fall.

The beginner course lasts for 40 training days with a curriculum that consists of, but is not limited to: engine theory, maintenance, and troubleshooting; electrical system theory maintenance and troubleshooting; generator theory and maintenance; introduction to electrical distribution systems; operation of diesel electric sets; control panels; paralleling generator sets; load management; fuel management; waste heat recovery; plant management skills; and plant safety.

Students spend 60% of the course operating and maintaining diesel generator sets representative of installations in rural Alaska. The remainder of the course is spent in classroom instruction.

The State of Alaska, through the Denali Commission Training Fund, will pay for a limited number of students at AVTEC. This includes their tuition, deposit, room and board (includes meals in the cafeteria) and training-related materials (one pair of boots and one pair of coveralls).

The State also pays for transportation expenses to and from Seward. The students are usually bunked two people to a room and must bring their own bedding, clothing, toiletries and towels. There are 19 apartments for families but the state does not pay for family lodging.

Since the village plant operators who attend training don't receive payment for performing operator duties while they are out of town, AVEC's board approved a resolution offering a training stipend fee. The board took this action to encourage plant operators to attend training to improve their operator skills. Current power plant operators in AVEC villages attending approved training classes will be paid a weekly stipend of $100 upon completion and verification of training/education.

Travel by a village power plant operator for training must be approved in advance so arrangements can be made for power plant operations as needed during the absence of a primary operator.

The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) enrolls students in these training classes and arranges all of the logistics. For more information about the training program or to receive an application, call Monica Moore with AEA toll free at 1-888-300-8534. Or visit AEA's Website: http://www.aidea.org/aea/programtraining.html.

Or call Bill Thomson, AVEC's Technology & Training Superintendent, at 800-478-1818.

More information is available on AVTEC's Website: www.avtec.alaska.edu.