From individual home furnaces
to the bright lights of the big city…
keeping homes and businesses powered-up
takes round-the-clock operations
at power plants.
Whether from coal, gas, nuclear energy,
wind, or solar sources…
power plant operators, distributors,
and dispatchers control the systems
that provide electric power.
Nuclear power reactor operators
control nuclear reactors.
They monitor reactor equipment and systems,
adjusting controls as needed.
Operators may need to respond to
abnormalities, determine the causes,
and fix the issue.
They must be licensed by
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Power plant operators oversee machinery
to generate electricity,
and keep the system in balance
and under control.
They monitor instruments to maintain voltage
and electricity flows from the plant
to meet consumers’ fluctuating demand
for electricity.
Power distributors and dispatchers
control the flow of electricity traveling
from generating stations
to substations and to users.
They reroute electrical currents around areas
that need maintenance or repair,
and prevent further damage
during emergency outages.
Many of these workers operate in
highly secure environments,
and give their full attention
to monitoring controls during their shift…
occasionally walking rounds
to check equipment.
Work schedules are often rotating
8- or 12-hour shifts,
which can be wearing as living
and sleeping patterns change frequently.
While job requirements may vary
from a high school diploma
to a bachelor’s degree,
these jobs all require extensive
on-the-job training.
Candidates must pass background checks,
as well as drug and alcohol screenings.
An understanding of mechanical concepts,
spatial ability,
and mathematical ability are necessary.