Power Plant Operator, Distributor, or Dispatcher
Power Plant Operator, Distributor, or Dispatcher
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What Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers Do
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.
Duties
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers typically do the following:
- Control power-generating equipment, which may use any one type of fuel, such as coal, nuclear power, or natural gas
- Read charts, meters, and gauges to monitor voltage and electricity flows
- Check equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems
- Adjust controls to regulate the flow of power
- Start or stop generators, turbines, and other equipment as necessary
Electricity is one of our nation’s most vital resources. Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control power plants and the flow of electricity from plants to substations, which distribute electricity to businesses, homes, and factories. Electricity is generated from many sources, including coal, gas, nuclear energy, hydroelectric energy (from water sources), wind, and solar power.
Nuclear power reactor operators control nuclear reactors. They adjust control rods, which affect how much electricity a reactor generates. They monitor reactors, turbines, generators, and cooling systems, adjusting controls as necessary. Operators start and stop equipment and record the data produced. They also respond to abnormalities, determine the causes, and take corrective action.
Power distributors and dispatchers, also known as systems operators, control the flow of electricity as it travels from generating stations to substations and users. In exercising such control, they monitor and operate current converters, voltage transformers, and circuit breakers over a network of transmission and distribution lines. They prepare and issue switching orders to route electrical currents around areas that need maintenance or repair. They detect and respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, which can cause cascading power outages over the network. They may work with plant operators to troubleshoot electricity generation issues.
Power plant operators control, operate, and maintain machinery to generate electricity. They use control boards to distribute power among generators and regulate the output of several generators. They monitor instruments to maintain voltage and electricity flows from the plant to meet fluctuating consumer demand throughout the day.
Work Environment
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers held about 47,300 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers was distributed as follows:
| Power plant operators | 32,200 |
| Power distributors and dispatchers | 9,600 |
| Nuclear power reactor operators | 5,500 |
The largest employers of power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers were as follows:
| Utilities | 73% |
| Government | 16 |
Operators, distributors, and dispatchers who work in control rooms generally sit or stand at a control station. The work requires constant attention. Workers also may do rounds, checking equipment and doing other work outside the control room. Transmission stations and substations where distributors and dispatchers work are typically in locations that are separate from the generating station where power plant operators work.
Because power transmission is both vitally important and sensitive to attack, security is a major concern for utility companies. Nuclear power plants and transmission stations have especially high security, and employees work in secure environments.
Work Schedules
Because electricity is provided around the clock, operators, distributors, and dispatchers usually work rotating 8- or 12-hour shifts. Work on rotating shifts can be stressful and tiring because of the constant changes in living and sleeping patterns.
Getting Started
How to Become a Power Plant Operator, Distributor, or Dispatcher
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent combined with extensive on-the-job training, which may include a combination of classroom and hands-on training. Many jobs require a background check and screenings for drugs and alcohol.
Nuclear power reactor operators also need a license.
Many companies require prospective workers to take the Power Plant Maintenance and Plant Operator exams from the Edison Electrical Institute to see if they have the right aptitudes for this work. These tests measure reading comprehension, understanding of mechanical concepts, spatial ability, and mathematical ability.
Education
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. However, employers may prefer workers who have a college or vocational school degree.
Employers generally look for people with strong math and science backgrounds for these highly technical jobs. Understanding electricity and math, especially algebra and trigonometry, is important.
Training
Power plant operators and dispatchers undergo rigorous, long-term on-the-job training and technical instruction. Several years of onsite training and experience are necessary for a worker to become fully qualified. Even fully qualified operators and dispatchers must take regular training courses to keep their skills up to date.
Nuclear power reactor operators usually start working as equipment operators or auxiliary operators, helping more experienced workers operate and maintain the equipment while learning the basics of how to operate the power plant.
Along with this extensive on-the-job training, nuclear power plant operators typically receive formal technical training to prepare for the license exam from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Once licensed, operators are authorized to control equipment that affects the power of the reactor in a nuclear power plant. Operators continue frequent onsite training, which familiarizes them with new monitoring systems that provide operators better real-time information regarding the plant.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Nuclear power reactor operators must be licensed through the NRC. They typically begin working in nuclear power plants as unlicensed operators, where they gain the required knowledge and experience to start the licensing process. To become licensed, operators must meet training and experience requirements, pass a medical exam, and pass the NRC licensing exam. To keep their license, operators must pass a plant-operating exam each year, pass a medical exam every 2 years, and apply for renewal of their license every 6 years. Licenses cannot be transferred between plants, so an operator must get a new license to work in another facility.
Power plant operators who do not work at a nuclear power reactor may be licensed as engineers or firefighters by state licensing boards. Requirements vary by state and depend on the specific job functions that the operator performs.
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers who are in positions which could affect the power grid may need to be certified through the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s System Operator Certification Program.
Advancement
With sufficient education, training and experience, power plant distributors and dispatchers can become shift supervisors, trainers, or consultants.
Licensed nuclear power plant operators can then advance to senior reactor operators, who supervise the operation of all controls in the control room. Senior reactor operators also may become plant managers or licensed operator instructors.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers is projected to decline 10 percent from 2022 to 2032.
Despite declining employment, about 3,200 openings for power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Although electricity use is expected to increase, technological advances and greater efficiency are expected to reduce employment in these occupations. Projected employment varies by occupation (see table).
Power plants are becoming more efficient and, in many cases, have higher electricity-generating capacity. Modernized control rooms in power plants also will provide workers with more information and will automate some tasks. As a result, power plant operators will be more efficient, which limits the opportunity for new jobs.
Similarly, efficiency gains are expected to impact nuclear power reactor operators’ employment. Nuclear power faces steep competition from renewable energy sources, making new, traditional reactors less attractive as many of the existing reactors reach the end of their lifecycles.
Employment of power distributors and dispatchers is projected to decline due to advances in smart-grid technology. Some dispatcher tasks, such as rerouting power during an outage, lend themselves to automation. However, some distributors and dispatchers will still be needed to manage the complex electrical grid.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about power plant operators, nuclear power reactor operators, and power plant distributors and dispatchers, visit
American Public Power Association
Center for Energy Workforce Development
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
For more information on nuclear power reactor operators, including licensing, visit
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
For information on certification for power distributors and dispatchers, visit
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators |
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators manage a system of machines to transfer or treat water or wastewater. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $51,600 |
|
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators |
Stationary engineers and boiler operators control stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $67,120 |
|
Construction Equipment Operators |
Construction equipment operators drive, maneuver, or control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, buildings, and other structures. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $51,050 |
|
Electricians |
Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $60,240 |
|
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers |
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers install or repair a variety of electrical equipment. |
See How to Become One | $64,190 |
|
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers |
Electrical power-line installers and repairers install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $82,340 |
|
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers |
Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive waste. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $46,690 |
|
Nuclear Technicians |
Nuclear technicians assist physicists, engineers, and other professionals in nuclear research and nuclear energy production. |
Associate's degree | $100,420 |