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Power Plant Operators

Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers

Production Occupations

Plant and System Operators

Adjust controls to generate specified electrical power or to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations.

Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.

Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.

Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power.

Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.

Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.

Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units.

Communicate with systems operators to regulate and coordinate line voltages and transmission loads and frequencies.

Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status.

Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers.

Power Plant Operators

Overview

Career

What Power Plant Operators Do

Other Job Titles Power Plant Operators May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Power Plant Operators

Overview

Career

What Power Plant Operators Do

Other Job Titles Power Plant Operators May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Power Plant Operators

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders