What Do Power Distributors and Dispatchers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

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



Job Description

Job Description

Power Distributors and Dispatchers coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam. They also respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.

Other tasks include:

  • 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 machinery, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.
  • Coordinate with engineers, planners, field personnel, or other utility workers to provide information such as clearances, switching orders, or distribution process changes.
  • 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.
  • Monitor and record switchboard or control board readings to ensure that electrical or steam distribution equipment is operating properly.

We asked Power Distributors and Dispatchers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

61%

How meaningful is this job

46%


61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

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 machinery, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.

We asked some Power Distributors and Dispatchers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 78% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 54% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 81% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 47% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 11% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 80% said yes

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.


Working life

Working hours

Standard 40 hour work week

Working schedule

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Power Distributor and Dispatcher, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Do Power Distributors and Dispatchers work in an office-style work environment?

Every day
64%


Never
31%


Do Power Distributors and Dispatchers work outdoors?

Never
45%


Every day
38%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Builders and The Thinkers

People who are suitable for this job tends 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.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Power Distributors And Dispatchers

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Related to Power Distributors and Dispatchers Job Description

Power Distributors and Dispatchers job description, what do Power Distributors and Dispatchers do, typical day for Power Distributors and Dispatchers, what is it like to work as a Power Distributor and Dispatcher, how many hours do Power Distributors and Dispatchers work, day to day work of a Power Distributor and Dispatcher

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/production/power-plant-operators-distributors-and-dispatchers.htm
http://www.publicpower.org/
http://www.ibew.org/
http://www.nerc.com/


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