Ted spends a day on the water with his family at Yuba Water's New Bullards Bar Reservoir.
Yuba Water Agency's hydro operator, Ted Weaver, is part of the team that monitors and controls all of the agency's hydroelectric power generation facilities to ensure that electricity is continuously being generated and water continues to flow down the river. Scroll to learn more about Ted, his essential duties and some of his background.
What does your average day look like? Or what are some of your essential duties?
When I step on site at any Yuba Water facility, safety, compliance and efficiency (in that order) are my primary duties. The day starts by assessing any concerns from the prior shift. From that point on, my average day involves trying to stay one step ahead of everything that may come my way. This could be anything from responding to an issue with one of the agency's dams, water conveyance, electrical issues inside and outside the facility, mechanical issues, compliance reporting, responding to natural disasters, coordinating maintenance or hydrological activities and much more. There’s a saying about the job that “it’s hours of boredom interrupted by minutes of organized chaos!”
Do your duties differ throughout the year? And if so, how?
Operator duties are constantly changing. Hydropower plant maintenance schedules, weather, electrical grid conditions, power markets and hydrology all play a part in how we respond and plan our duties throughout the year.
Photo: Ted snaps a selfie next to the Yuba River.
How did you get involved in your current career path?
During one summer break, I got a job as a laborer where I dug ditches for a company that was building a geothermal power plant at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center near Ridgecrest, California. Each day, I would have to go to the control room to get my digging permit from the control room operators. After digging ditches for 12 hours in 100-degree heat, it seemed like those guys had it made. Upon graduation from college, I decided to take a temporary job at a biomass power plant in Humboldt County, so I too could “have it made.”
What do you enjoy most about working for Yuba Water Agency?
What I enjoy most is the tremendous opportunity to build something significant that will have an impact on the community. Even though Yuba Water had been around a while, I quickly realized upon being hired that we are really building an agency from the ground up. Up until now, I’ve always worked for shareholders in some far-away place. This experience is completely different, knowing what you are doing can make a change in your own community. The agency also has some stellar people. Hands down, this is just a great group of folks to be around.
Before working for Yuba Water, what was the most interesting job you had?
The first power plant I worked at in Humboldt County was extremely isolated, so the operators had to fabricate parts, overhaul and maintain equipment, as well as operate the plant. It was an extremely challenging and rewarding experience for my first “real job.”
What's the most recent app you downloaded on your phone?
The most recent app that I downloaded is called “Watch Duty.” Need to keep an eye on those wildfires!
What are three words you would use to describe Yuba Water?
Boutique, transitional and dynamic.