Overview
Outlook
Data
Training
Description
Power engineers operate and maintain reactors, turbines, boilers, generators, stationary engines and auxiliary equipment to generate electrical power and to provide heat, light, refrigeration and other utility services for commercial, institutional and industrial buildings and other work sites. Power systems operators monitor and operate switchboards and related equipment in electrical control centres to control the distribution of electrical power in transmission networks. They are employed by power generation plants, electrical power utilities, manufacturing plants, hospitals, universities and government and commercial establishments. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Job Titles
- Apprentice power dispatcher
- Auxiliary plant operator
- Building systems technician
- Control room operator – electrical power systems
- Distribution control operator – electrical power systems
- Electrical power systems operator
- Energy from waste plant operator
- Nuclear generating station field operator
- Nuclear reactor operator
- Power dispatcher – generating station
- Power engineer
- Power plant operator
- Power plant stationary engineer
- Stationary engineer
- System controller – electrical power systems
Main Duties
Power Engineers
- Operate automated or computerized control systems, stationary engines and auxiliary equipment such as reactors, boilers, turbines, generators, pumps, compressors, pollution control devices and other equipment to generate electrical power and to provide light, heat, ventilation and refrigeration for buildings, industrial plants and other work sites
- Start up and shut down power plant equipment, control switching operations, regulate water levels and communicate with systems operators to regulate and coordinate transmission loads, frequency and line voltages
- Monitor and inspect plant equipment, computer terminals, switches, valves, gauges, alarms, meters and other instruments to measure temperature, pressure and fuel flow to detect leaks or other equipment malfunctions and to ensure plant equipment is operating at maximum efficiency
- Analyze and record instrument readings and equipment malfunctions
- Troubleshoot and perform corrective action and minor repairs to prevent equipment or system failure
- Respond to emergency situations if required
- Clean and lubricate generators, turbines, pumps and compressors and perform other routine equipment maintenance duties using appropriate lubricants and hand, power and precision tools
- Maintain a daily log of operation, maintenance and safety activities, and write reports on plant operation and non-compliance
- May assist in the development of operation, maintenance and safety procedures.
Power systems operators
- Operate and monitor computerized switchboards and auxiliary equipment in electrical control centres to control the distribution and to regulate the flow of electrical power in the transmission network
- Coordinate, schedule and direct generating station and substation power loads and line voltages to meet distribution demands during daily operations, system outages, repairs and importing or exporting of power
- Monitor and visually inspect station instruments, meters and alarms to ensure transmission voltages and line loadings are within prescribed limits and to detect equipment failure, line disturbances and outages
- Issue work and test permits to electrical and mechanical maintenance personnel, assist maintenance and technical personnel to locate and isolate system problems, and assist during routine system testing
- Complete and maintain station records, logs and reports.
Workplaces
- Electric power utilities
- Government and commercial establishments
- Hospitals
- Manufacturing plants
- Power generation plants
- Universities
Skills
- Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
- Troubleshooting
- Operation and Control
- Coordinating
- Critical Thinking
Abilities
- Selective Attention
- Auditory Attention
- Deductive Reasoning
- Multitasking
- Pattern Identification
Personal Attributes
- Attention to Detail
- Adaptability
- Analytical Thinking
- Collaboration
- Innovativeness
Similar Occupations
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- Civil engineers (21300)
- Mechanical engineers (21301)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (21310)
- Computer and telecommunications hardware engineers (21311.01)
- Network system and data communication engineers (21311.02)
- Chemical engineers (21320)
- Industrial and manufacturing engineers (21321)
- Metallurgical and materials engineers (21322)
- Aerospace engineers (21390)
- Agricultural and bio-resource engineers (21399.01)
- Biomedical engineers (21399.02)
- Engineering physicists and engineering scientists (21399.03)
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- Textile engineers (21399.05)
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be moderate for Power engineers and power systems operators (92100) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
- A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about Power engineers and power systems operators in Prince Edward Island:
- Power engineers and power systems operators mainly work in the following sectors:
- Food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing (NAICS 311, 312): 35%
- Hospitals (NAICS 622): 21%
- Utilities (NAICS 22): 17%
- Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 6%
- Chemical manufacturing (NAICS 325): 6%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 92% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 8% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 74% of power engineers and power systems operators work all year, while 26% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: more than 95% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: less than 5% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: 7% compared to 11% for all occupations
- high school diploma or equivalent: 14% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 30% compared to 11% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 37% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: 12% compared to 17% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $23.00 | $26.93 | $38.83 |
| Canada | $25.11 | $42.00 | $65.00 |
Training
There are no known training programs for this occupation in PEI. If you are aware of a local training program, please contact us.
More Info
View the full occupational profile with details on work characteristics, interests, employment requirements and more on the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS) website.