Program: Energy Utility Technology Degree Program
The Business Challenge
A needs assessment completed in 2002 indicated that the company’s workforce is rapidly aging. The average age of a utility employee in our company is 44 and approximately 27 percent of the workforce would be eligible to retire within the next five years. If the company did not take action, it could experience a significant loss of skills and technical experience as a result of retirements. The company also found that few young people were interested in technical trade careers and even fewer were able to pass the pre-employment tests associated with the technical jobs within the company. As a result, PSE&G faced a major staffing crisis.
The Solution
To address this serious concern, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), of which PSE&G is a subsidiary, partnered with the state’s community colleges, high schools and vocational schools to initiate a workforce development program. The business objective was to develop a continuous pipeline of diverse talent for employment in entry-level technical trade positions at PSE&G & PSEG Fossil and to establish a commitment to education that would generate renewed interest in the technical trade careers.
The Program
PSE&G created its first-ever Energy Utility Technology Associate Degree Program in partnership with Mercer County Community College in January 2003. Since its inception, the program has expanded to include Essex County College, Middlesex County College and public and vocational high schools in New Jersey. This year, the program is expanding to include Passaic County Community College. Students enrolled in the program are provided employment with PSE&G upon successful completion of the degree. Our partnership with the community colleges helps address the basic-skills gap of candidates interested in entry-level positions and targets colleges that are more affordable for inner city students.
The program curriculum combines regular classroom training with technical apprentice level training at PSEG’s Edison Training and Developmental Center. And company employees mentor students on the job and in the classroom. Nine apprentice positions are available through the program. If a student completes the utility degree, performs well in his/her internships and meets the company’s other requirements, he/she is offered employment at PSE&G.
This program also entices and benefits students in New Jersey’s urban high schools and vocational schools. Together with the community colleges, the company is teaching one of the program’s utility courses for college credit to seniors at the following schools: Newark Technology High; Essex County Vocational Schools, Trenton Central High School and Mercer County Vocational School.
Program Results
This program has exceeded the company’s expectations. To date, PSEG has hired 36 students from the program into its technical trades area, 50 percent of whom are black, Hispanic, or female. There are currently 51 students enrolled in the program.
Public Service Enterprise Group
PSEG is a $28 billion energy and energy services company with four major subsidiaries: Public Service Electric and Gas, a regulated electric and gas utility; PSEG Power, a US power producer; PSEG Energy Holdings, the parent of PSEG's other unregulated international and investment businesses; and PSEG Services Corp. Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) is one of the nation’s largest combined electric and gas utilities and New Jersey’s oldest publicly owned utility company. It services more than 1.6 million gas and 2 million electric customers in the State of New Jersey, covering 2,600 square-miles. PSE&G employs 6,400 people and its revenues total $4 billion. PSE&G is committed to delivering safe, reliable gas and electricity and improving the quality of life in the communities it serves.
