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On the grid: careers in energy.

Article Excerpt
Electricity is the fuel that powers the modern lifestyle. It eases the burden of daily chores and enhances our enjoyment of leisure activities. In business, electricity is critical to every aspect of manufacturing goods, providing services, and communicating with customers. And the development of new technology and products powered by electricity ensures continued demand into the future.

It's difficult for most of us to imagine what our lives would be like without electricity, but occasional blackouts give us a glimpse. On August 14, 2003, a series of power failures spread across the electrical

grid serving much of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Suddenly, more than 50 million people faced concerns that ranged from no traffic lights to lack of refrigeration. Many everyday activities came to a halt. By the time electricity was fully restored a few days later, financial losses were estimated at $6 billion.

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Luckily, such outages are not common, thanks to the efforts of people in the electric power industry. This article gives an overview of the industry. Then, it covers the job duties and other information about the employment, outlook, wages, and training for workers in electric power generation and distribution: line workers, operators and dispatchers, and technicians. The article also includes additional details to help you decide whether you'd like to work in the industry, followed by suggestions for where to find more information about energy careers. A box on page 38, "Renewable energy jobs: Green power," explains a fast-growing segment of the industry.

Why energy?

The electric power industry is constantly changing to meet the demands of the 21st-century lifestyle. Electricity use continues to rise each year, and new jobs are being created by a push for renewable energy. For trained professionals and new entrants alike, this growth points to opportunities in the future.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an overall decline in electric power industry employment between 2006 and 2016. Like many industries, however, this one is going through a transition as older workers leave and create openings for workers who will replace them. In fact, data from the 2006 American Community Survey suggest that about 54 percent of workers in the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution industry are aged 45 and older, of whom 17 percent are 55 and older. Many of these workers are expected to retire within the next 10 years. (See chart.)

Good news for career-minded jobseekers: Electric energy occupations pay well above the national median for all occupations, and most offer formal training on the job to workers with a high school diploma. (See table.)

And because nearly every part of the country has electrical power, the jobs exist in just about every location. Most electricity in the United States is produced from coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, or hydro power, but each region has its own way of generating this energy. For example, about three-fourths of the electricity produced in Washington State is hydroelectric; in contrast, none of Delaware's electricity comes from hydro power. And about one-fifth of U.S. electricity comes from nuclear reactors--of which 19 States have none.

What are the occupations?

This section describes the job duties of line workers, power plant operators and dispatchers, and technicians who work primarily in the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution industry.

Line workers

Power lines are essential to the electric power industry. Line workers build and maintain the network of power lines connecting the plants that generate electricity...