With above-average salaries, employee benefits, job stability, and advancement opportunities, working in public utilities is a really good career path.
The public utility sector is very diverse and can therefore employ many people with different skill sets and qualifications.
The public utility sector is composed of organizations that are responsible for providing electric power, natural gas, supplying steam and water, and also the removal of sewage material.
The specific activities connected with the utility services that are offered within this sector vary depending on the utility. For example, sewage removal includes the collection, treatment, and disposal of waste through sewer systems and sewage treatment facilities. Electric power includes generation, transmission, and distribution; natural gas includes distribution; steam supply includes provision and/or distribution; water supply includes treatment and distribution.
This is article will inform you of the pros and cons of pursuing a career in public utilities. It will also help you understand more about the actual jobs, and the links provided here will take you to the particular jobs that are available.
WHY IS PUBLIC UTILITIES A GOOD CAREER PATH? (Pros)
(A). You’ve got options
There are many different fields within public utilities, giving you lots of career options. For example, you can work with natural gas, electric power, water supply, sewage removal, and more.
(B). Easy opportunities.
Many public utilities jobs allow you to start working with only a high school diploma or an associate’s degree. This means you can easily land an entry-level job without much experience, with the added bonus of not racking up college tuition debt.
(C). higher than average salaries.
A large portion of jobs in public utilities consistently pay more than $60,000 per year, with some even paying as high as $80,000–$100,000. Combined with minimal education requirements, this is truly a great deal.
(D). Guaranteed benefits.
Almost all full-time jobs in public utilities will have benefits, and given that many of the jobs available are also state and federal work, these benefits can be amazing. You can expect a 401(k), PTO, health insurance, and more.
(E). Potential job growth
While some public utility jobs are more stagnant, jobs in wind and solar are experiencing explosive growth. That means you’ll have even more opportunities.
CONS/DISADVANTAGES:
(A). Risk factor
Many public utility jobs are characterized by a rather high degree of risk for safety and security. For instance, despite all the safety gear and training, being a power lineman is not what we would call a safe job to do daily.
(B) Repetitiveness
Public utility jobs, because of their critical nature, require you to follow a rigid set of guidelines and a code of conduct. As a result, the repetitive nature of some tasks can be a problem if you have a fire for creativity.
(C).Technological progress
Several advancements in the technology of public utilities have rendered many previous jobs useless. This might make your job less secure, especially if it is done physically with manual labor.
BEST JOBS IN PUBLIC UTILITIES
1. ELECTRIC POWER UTILITY SECTOR
(a) Power Plant Engineer
Salary: An average of $121,500 per year
Education requirements: a bachelor's degree in engineering.
Skill requirements
-Communication skills
-analytical abilities.
-technical skills
-leadership skills
Duties/Roles
A power plant engineer is generally in charge of day-to day operations at the plant, which include maintenance, inspections, and conducting tests.
(b) Electric Power Manager
Salary: An average of $96,000 per yearEducation requirements: a degree in electrical engineering
Skill requirements
Management and administrative skills
Technical skills
Duties/Roles
The electric power manager directs and manages the overall operation of the powerhouse. These include assigning work to crews, inspecting work in the field, and overseeing maintenance and repair activities.
(c) Power System Dispatcher
Salary: An average of $84,000 per year
Education requirements: a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and other similar degrees
Skill requirements:
-problem-solving skills.
-detail orientation.
DUTIES/Roles
A power system dispatcher directs the distribution of electricity between providers and consumers by monitoring generator systems to ensure optimal efficiency and determine how much power is needed for each day.
(D).Power Engineer
Salary: An average of $86,079 per yearEducation requirements: a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and other related engineering fields
Skill requirements
-Technical skills (electrical engineering skills)
-problem-ssolving skills.
-Communication skills
-leadership skills.
2. WATER AND SEWAGE UTILITY SECTOR
(a) Water Resources Engineer
Salary: An average of $72,500 per yearEducation requirements: A bachelor's degree in civil engineering
Skill Requirements
-Critical thinking skills
-Technical skills (chemistry and biology)
-Communication skills
Duties/Roles
Water resource engineers are responsible for developing equipment and systems for water resource management organizations.
(b) Water Treatment Specialist
Salary: An average of $61,151 per yearEducation requirements: A minimum of a high schscience, thisool diploma But a degree Ibiology,stry, biology or environmental science provides an added advantage.
Skill Requirements
-Communication skills.
-Technical knowledge.
-leadership skills.
(c) Inspection Manager
Salary: An average of $85,682 per yearEducation Requirements: A bachelor's degree in civil, mechanical, or chemical engineering
Skill Requirements
- Problem solving and analytical skills
-Strong interpersonal skills.
-Good communication.
- Knowledge of laws relevant to the office.
- ability to work as a team.
- - Problem solving and analytical skills
-Strong interpersonal skills.
Good communication.
- Knowledge of laws relevant to the office.
- ability to work as a team.
-honesty and confidentiality.
Duties/Roles
Make sure license applications are submitted and handled in accordance with standard operating procedure.
Verify with water resource users that the amount being abstracted complies with the license by inspecting the users.
Follow up with businesses to ensure that the wastewater released is safe.
gather water samples for a laboratory's additional examination.
Monitor catchment regions and suggest remedies if there is environmental deterioration Make sure defaulters are penalized and their water sources are shut off
conducting routine investigations to evaluate adherence to established standards for the management and development of water resources
creating recurring reports.
(d) Water Project Manager
Salary: An average of $73,847 per yearEducation requirements: a bachelor’s degree in business administration or management
Skill requirements
- communication
- leadership
- organisation
-critical thinking
-Problem solving
Duties/Roles
A project manager plans and manages the execution of a project from start to finish by preparing a budget, leading a team, creating a timeline for the project, and ensuring that the project is finished according to the timeline.
3. NATURAL GAS UTILITY SECTOR
(a)Project Engineer
Education Requirements: A bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field is required.
Skill requirements:
-Technical skills.
-Computer skills.
-Communication skills.
- supervision skills.
Project management skills
Duties/Roles
The project engineer is responsible for delivering projects that are safe, reliable, operable, and manageable in terms of cost by continuously identifying risks and developing preventive strategies.
(b) Environmental Health Officer
Salary: An average of $75,761 a yearEducation requirements: degree in environmental science and related areas
Skill requirements
-communication skills.
-Team work.
interpersonal skills.
solid analytical and problem-solving skills.
Duties/Roles
Environmental health officers monitor and enforce health and hygiene legislation.
Environmental health officers also conduct safety inspections and other investigations.
(c) Petroleum Engineer
Salary: An average salary of $10,290 per yearEducation requirements: a bachelor's degree in engineering, preferably in petroleum engineering.
Skill requirements
Analytical skills
- Creativity
Problem-solving skills
Interpersonal skills
Duties/Roles
-Designs equipment.
-Develops plans.
-Ensures that equipment is installed, operated, and maintained properly.
ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS IN PUBLIC UTILITIES (per sector)
1. ELECTRIC POWER SECTOR
(a) Power Electricians
Salary: An average salary of $68,574 a yearEducation Requirements: No college degree is needed, but one must at least have an electrician's training.
Skills requirements
-Technical skills.
-Teamwork.
-Problem-solving skills.
-Basic math skills.
-Customer service skills.
Duties/Roles
installs and repairs electrical wiring, systems, and fixtures in buildings. installs conduits and pipes to deal with electrical wires and cables. ensures piping complies with electrical codes. Installs circuit breakers and different electrical hardware and connects wiring to them.
(b)Substation Technician
Salary: An average of $73,810 per yearEducation Requirements:
a minimum of a high school diploma and a four-year apprenticeship program.
Skill Requirements
good computer skills.
Technical skills
problem-ssolving skills.
Duties/Roles
A gas-driven internal combustion engine powers an electric generator, and an electric substation technician performs expert and semi-skilled electrical and mechanical work in its repair, maintenance, monitoring, modification, and testing.
2. WATER AND SEWAGE UTILITY SECTOR
(a) Sewer and Drain Technician
Salary: An amount of $52,500 per yearEducation Requirements: a high school diploma or GED
Skill Requirements
Communication skills
Technical knowledge
Problem-solving skills
attention to detail.
Duties/Roles
Drain experts install and maintain pipes and valves, among other drainage equipment used in sewer systems. They carry out maintenance and repair tasks as well as design analysis to ensure the drainage system is installed correctly.
(b) Water Quality Technician
Salary: $39,725 per yearEducation requirements: a bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, chemistry, or another closely related field
Skill Requirements
Great analytical skills.
Communication skills.
Problem-solving skills.
Computer skills.
Duties/Roles
In order to make sure that the machinery in water filtration and treatment plants is operating correctly and that the water is safe to use, water quality technicians are in charge of monitoring and operating control systems.
3. NATURAL GAS SECTOR
(a) Driller
Salary: An average of $51,030 per yearEducation Requirements: A minimum of a high school diploma
Skill requirements
critical thinking skills
excellent communication skills.
Duties/Roles
Drillers are responsible for a variety of tasks, such as
locating additional wells based on geological research carried out by other staff members.
setting up and maintaining oil rig machinery such as pumps, motors, valves, and gauges
evaluating the state of machinery and equipment to make sure it is safe and functioning properly.
operating material-lifting and material-moving machines such as cranes
inspecting oil rigs and other machinery to make sure they are fit for usage
Putting up drill locations and keeping records of drilling activity are all part of taking part in the drilling process.
clearing undergrowth, building pits to store drilling materials, and erecting equipment at the drilling site to prepare it for drilling
(b) Gas Technician
Salary: An average of $60,253 a yearEducation Requirements: a high school diploma or equivalent
Skill Requirements
-interpersonal skills
solid technological skills.
Duties/Roles
Gas technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of gas lines and appliances.
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