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Power Distributors & Dispatchers

Also called: System Operator, Dispatcher, Transmission System Operator, Electric System Operator

What they do:
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
On the job, you would:
  • Respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.
  • Prepare switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages, referring to drawings of power systems.
  • Control, monitor, or operate equipment that regulates or distributes electricity or steam, using data obtained from instruments or computers.

Knowledge

Safety and Government
  • public safety and security
Business
  • customer service
  • management
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal
  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Initiative

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Industrial control software
  • ABB MicroSCADA Pro DMS
  • OSI monarch/SGP
Map creation software
  • Geographic information system GIS software

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
associate's degree or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Registered Apprenticeship

Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$70,700
per year, on average
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Green
This work is part of the green economy.

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See more details at O*NET OnLine about power distributors and dispatchers.