Aaron Fries

As a Power meterman we install/remove all three phase meters in Ameren territory. We wire up all the potential and current transformers for voltage metering to our meters. We check on all our switchgears to see if they are operating correctly and efficiently. We also install primary metering clusters for street lights in the downtown area. We do all sorts of trouble shooting on all of our equipment when voltage drops or there is a problem with polarity. We also assist in storm duty in putting up single/three phase services for customers when they are out of power. We fix weatherheads and locate transformers on poles that are having issues suppling the power to our customers. Also, our day to day activities include meeting with customers to talk about issues they are having and what we can do to help them. We test all our meters to make sure they are operating within our standards and the MPSC. We collaborate with other trades on large industrial jobs or commerical on when we can come together to get power on as needed.

-As an SLD I deliver poles, transformers, reels of wire, crossarms, insulators, viper switches and any other items to the jobsite that are necessary to complete a project for the overhead line department and underground projects.

-My equipment use as an SLD includes a skid steer, fork truck and truck with boom.

-Delivery of the poles can include both composite and wood. They may be in length up to 60ft. and needed to be placed on a pole trailer for transport.

-Other duties that I perform include: pulling wire for new stringing jobs on new poles, setting poles and transformers to keep the projects moving at a steady pace.

As an Assistant Storekeeper at the Dorsett Warehouse I pick orders that need to be filled for our operating centers and load them on a semi truck for the drivers to take. I complete all necessary computer work to make sure that I give the right amount of items that they wanted and that they are on the right shipment. I drive a forktruck daily to move all the material around to load the items. I also work on the dock side which is receiving of all the material that comes into the warehouse. Once a shipment comes in I make sure it is the right amount of the item that we are suppose to get. Make sure it is not damaged in anyway and labeled correctly on where it is suppose to go in the warehouse for stock. All of this information i enter in through EMPRV. I also send emails to certain individuals to let them know that there item has came in and were it is located at. I handle anything from small nuts and bolts to crossarms and switch gears to pad mount transformers to pole.

My duties include many types of skilled work. I worked on steel services, mains, and transmission lines. We check the integrity of the pipe and for atmospheric corrosion. We fix leaks on all mains and services depending on what is needed.(For example: replace a piece of pipe, tighten up a compression coupling, etc.) If needed we could weld a new steel tee to provide service to a new building. Also using steel, if a contractor would come and create a leak either by ripping in to the main, pulling a tee off, or just damaging a service. We have to make a plan of attack on what is needed to stop the leak , while also limiting the amount of customers we would lose. Even if that meant shutting down valves , putting stoppers in, and a bottom out for a bypass, which ever may be needed at that time. With steel piping, we are phasing it out and replacing it with new plastic pipe. In replacing new plastic pipe, I would run new mains and services going into houses or an industrial building. In completing any task at Ameren, we were taught to do everything from digging the hole with a mini excavator, to a backhoe and also boring in the pipe with Vermeer equipment and Case. However, many of our jobs require manual labor including: shoveling, pipefitting, jackhammering, scrapping of the pipe to get ready for joining of the adjoining pipe using an electrofusion machine.

Another important part of my job includes service. We install and pipe fit new or old meters to the house. We also work on our regulator stations and on dismantling them as well as rebuilding them. We use anything from flanges, to welding, to black iron piping. Working on a one man truck, we are required to respond to leak calls that come in from customers all over our territory. These range from inside or outside leaks. These require checking the severity of the leak on the inside and providing a solution. (An example of this is to evacuate and shut down gas going to building because of a high concentration.)

We also classify the outside leaks on a scale from 1 to 3 depending if there is any immediate action required or if it is non emergent. The gas department is regulated by the ICC ( Illinois Commerce Commission). They dictate how we do our work and hold us accountable when there is an issue.

With that being said we have an O and M standard to follow for every procedure we do, basically stating that using the book is 100% what we do, no exceptions. With most jobs, we don't end when we remove a client's yard or street. We then do all repairs to their yard, street, driveway ourselves, leading to skills with concrete work, asphalt and yard work.

I was in charge of everyday disconnects and reconnects of electric and gas meters. I would change out meters for bad Tom's and faulty readings, as well as having to disconnect electric and gas meters for non payment.

As a laborer, regular maintenance and cleaning of all parts of the power plant, from the coal conveyors, to the units, were a daily part of my position. Regular cleaning of the turbines and control rooms. Physical cleaning out of the fly ash area while wearing full face respirators and supplied air. We were required to clean the four boilers during shut downs of each unit as well as cleaning out the intake of the water from the Missouri River and the cat walk. We would regularly accompany the electricians in the switch yard when needed to dig for conduit, and to help with the breakers. I was required to go where we were needed to assist any of the other trades which made it easier to get to the machine or part that needed maintenance.

I began my career at Ameren as a janitor cleaning the main office of Ameren Corporation. I took this position to get an entry level position and advance.

At Scott Lee Heating and Cooling, I did many of scopes of work associated with heating and cooling. I was considered a Service Tinner. I did service calls of non operating residential, and commercial units. I would diagnosis the problem and fix it. I installed new equipment and fabricated custom ductwork for it to work with the existing ductwork. I would work anywhere from new construction housing to warehouses where we would be installing roof top units with the help of a helicopter. We would also wire up zone boards for adding dampers to large ductwork so it would only let air go into certain areas when not in use. Most of that work was low voltage with Honeywell controls. I also had to tig weld ductwork for medical buildings that required isolation for tuberculosis.