What Do Power Distributors And Dispatchers Do

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Power Distributors And Dispatchers

Power Distributors And Dispatchers coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

Salary
$93260
Becoming One
Medium
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth
Low

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Power Distributors And Dispatchers coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

  • 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.
  • Direct personnel engaged in controlling or operating distribution equipment or machineries, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Power Distributors and Dispatchers monitor and record switchboard or control board readings to ensure that electrical or steam distribution equipment is operating properly. They control, monitor, or operate equipment that regulates or distributes electricity or steam, using data obtained from instruments or computers.

A typical day for a Power Distributor and Dispatcher will also include:

  • Inspect equipment to ensure that specifications are met or to detect any defects.
  • Distribute or regulate the flow of power between entities, such as generating stations, substations, distribution lines, or users, keeping track of the status of circuits or connections.
  • Record and compile operational data, such as chart or meter readings, power demands, or usage and operating times, using transmission system maps.
  • Repair, maintain, or clean equipment or machinery, using hand tools.
  • Direct personnel engaged in controlling or operating distribution equipment or machineries, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Power Distributors and Dispatchers also repair, maintain, or clean equipment or machinery, using hand tools. They may also respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Power Distributors and Dispatchers calculate load estimates or equipment requirements to determine required control settings. They might also prepare switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages, referring to drawings of power systems.

In addition, they coordinate with engineers, planners, field personnel, or other utility workers to provide information such as clearances, switching orders, or distribution process changes.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them implement energy schedules, including real-time transmission reservations or schedules.

To some Power Distributors and Dispatchers, it is also their responsibility to manipulate controls to adjust or activate power distribution equipment or machines.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

Demand for this career is not growing.

How much do they make

Average salary

$93260 per year

Average hourly wage

$45 per hour

Entry-level Power Distributors And Dispatchers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $58,450 to $75,850 per year or $28 to $36 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $129,010 $62
Senior (Top 25%) $109,260 $53
Median $95,100 $46
Junior (Bottom 25%) $75,850 $36
No experience (Bottom 10%) $58,450 $28

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Power Distributors And Dispatchers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Federal Executive Branch $106230 $51.07
Management of Companies and Enterprises $105650 $50.80
Natural Gas Distribution $98850 $47.52
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution $92750 $44.59
Local Government $85660 $41.18
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $74200 $35.67
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills $65210 $31.35

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Power Distributors And Dispatchers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Power Distributors And Dispatchers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 6320 $92750 $44.59
Local Government 1080 $85660 $41.18
Federal Executive Branch 750 $106230 $51.07
Management of Companies and Enterprises 700 $105650 $50.80
Natural Gas Distribution 500 $98850 $47.52
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 190 $74200 $35.67
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills 110 $65210 $31.35

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
0%

40 hours
61%

More than 40 hours
39%

Working schedule

46%

53%

2%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
10%

Every day
61%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
78%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
9%

Every day
81%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
57%

Once a year
28%

Once a month
14%

Once a week
0%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
15%

Slightly competitive
23%

Moderately competitive
30%

Highly competitive
32%

Extremely competitive
0%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
31%

Once a year or more
5%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
64%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
56%

Once a year or more
4%

Once a month or more
5%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
34%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
45%

Once a year or more
15%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
2%

Every day
38%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
74%

Once a year or more
13%

Once a month or more
2%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
11%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Medium
You will need previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an Associate’s degree, and one or two years of on-the-job training. Similar careers include Travel Agents, Agricultural Technicians, Court Reports, and Medical Assistants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
52%

Post-Secondary Certificate
18%

Some College Courses
15%

Associate’s Degree or similar
15%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
22%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
7%

3 to 6 months
1%

6 months to 1 year
1%

1 to 2 years
28%

2 to 4 years
16%

4 to 6 years
13%

6 to 8 years
7%

8 to 10 years
3%

Over 10 years
1%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
1%

3 to 6 months
14%

6 months to 1 year
20%

1 to 2 years
16%

2 to 4 years
20%

4 to 10 years
30%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
95%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
71%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
19%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
19%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
57%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
62%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
62%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
67%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
52%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
67%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
86%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
71%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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