| Power generation operators or plant operators are at | | | | field, it requires a high school diploma but those who |
| the source of the electricity production controlling the | | | | have attended college-level courses and had prior |
| machinery that generates electricity. Power | | | | experience in a mechanical or technical job will be |
| generation operators are in charge of the control and | | | | preferred. As with most entry-level operators, you |
| monitoring of boilers, turbines, generators, and | | | | will start first as helpers or laborers. Candidates must |
| auxiliary equipment in power-generating plants. In | | | | also possess good skills in mathematics, science skills |
| detail, it means that these plant technicians have to | | | | and computer science. Selected candidates will follow |
| distribute power demands among generators, | | | | an extensive training program before starting their |
| combine the current from several generators, and | | | | duties as power generation operators. But they will |
| monitor instruments to maintain voltage and regulate | | | | also be given periodic refresher training consisting in |
| electricity flow from the plant. If the power | | | | simulating procedures and situations that might be |
| requirements change, power generation operators | | | | encountered at the trainee's plant. |
| have to start or stop generators and connect or | | | | In the U.S., there were about 47,000 power |
| disconnect them from circuits. | | | | generation operators or plant technicians in 2004. |
| For the operators working in plants with automated | | | | About two thirds of them worked for electric power |
| control systems, their work is mostly done in a | | | | generation, transmission, and distribution companies, |
| central control room and they are typically called | | | | 20% in local government and the balance for |
| control room operators or control room operator | | | | manufacturing companies producing electricity for |
| trainees or assistants. Whereas in older plants, since | | | | their own use. The job market for plant technicians is |
| the control for systems are not automated, | | | | very limited and very competitive because of the |
| switchboard operators have to control the flow of | | | | slow pace of construction of new plants and |
| electricity from a central point and equipment | | | | deregulation of the sector. That's why many potential |
| operators have to work throughout the plant to | | | | candidates are looking into opportunities of operators |
| operate and monitor the machinery that generates | | | | or electrician employment overseas. Overall the |
| electricity including valves, switches, and gauges. | | | | employment rate of power generation operators is |
| How does one become a power generation | | | | expected to decline through 2014. |
| operator? For the students who want a career in this | | | | |