Summary for:
Power Distributors and DispatchersDescription:
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.Sample of reported job titles:
Sample of reported job titles: System Operator, Dispatcher, Transmission System Operator, Electric System Operator, Control Operator, Distribution Operations Supervisor, Distribution System Operator, Power System Dispatcher, Control Area Operator, Power System Operator
Tasks | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Activites | Experience | Example | Education | Work Style | Work Values | Related Jobs | Wage | Employment | Expected Growth | Expected Need
Tasks:
- Respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.
- Prepare switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages, referring to drawings of power systems.
- Control, monitor, or operate equipment that regulates or distributes electricity or steam, using data obtained from instruments or computers.
- Coordinate with engineers, planners, field personnel, and other utility workers to provide information such as clearances, switching orders, and distribution process changes.
- Direct personnel engaged in controlling and operating distribution equipment and machinery, for example, instructing control room operators to start boilers and generators.
- Distribute and regulate the flow of power between entities such as generating stations, substations, distribution lines, and users, keeping track of the status of circuits and connections.
- Monitor and record switchboard and control board readings to ensure that electrical or steam distribution equipment is operating properly.
- Track conditions that could affect power needs, such as changes in the weather, and adjust equipment to meet any anticipated changes.
- Manipulate controls to adjust and activate power distribution equipment and machines.
- Calculate and determine load estimates or equipment requirements, in order to determine required control settings.
Knowledge:
| Problem Sensitivity ó The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. |
| Oral Comprehension ó The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
| Oral Expression ó The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
| Written Comprehension ó The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
| Written Expression ó The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
| Deductive Reasoning ó The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
| Near Vision ó The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
| Inductive Reasoning ó The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). |
| Information Ordering ó The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
| Speech Clarity ó The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
Skills:
| Getting Information ó Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates ó Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| identifying Objects, Actions, and Events ó identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings ó Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Analyzing Data or Information ó identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Making Decisions and Solving Problems ó Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Interacting With Computers ó Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards ó Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Processing Information ó Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Documenting/Recording Information ó Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
Abilities:
| Telephone ó How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? |
| Electronic Mail ó How often do you use electronic mail in this job? |
| Face-to-Face Discussions ó How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
| Consequence of Error ó How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? |
| Freedom to Make Decisions ó How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? |
| Responsible for Others' Health and Safety ó How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results ó How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company? |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate ó How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? |
| Work With Work Group or Team ó How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? |
| Contact With Others ó How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? |
Work Activities:
| Title | Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed |
| Overall Experience | Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. |
| Job Training | Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. |
| Job Zone Examples | These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents. |
| SVP Range | (6.0 to < 7.0) |
| Education | Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree. |
Work Style:
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Decline slowly or moderately (-3% to -9%)