Powerful Geography
Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers

Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers

Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers

I. JOB SUMMARY

Main Topic: Environment and Society
Secondary Topic: Places and Regions

Overview: Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers manage and distribute power from various sources including coal, gas, nuclear, hygro-electric, wind, and solar. Operators, distributors, and dispatchers must control equipment, read charts, monitor voltage, read meters, check equipment, adjust controls, and start or stop equipment, as necessary.  Electricity is a necessary resource for modern life.  Type of operators, distributors, and dispatchers include nuclear power reactor operators, power distributors and dispatchers, or power plant operators. Nuclear power reactor operators are specialized to manage nuclear power system, especially nuclear reactors. Power distributors and dispatchers or system operators focus on how power moves form the plant to homes and businesses including responding to emergency situations. Power plant operators manage consumer demand for electricity throughout the day. Most operators work for utility companies and some government agencies. Operators will have extensive training and, depending on the type of plant or system, may require licenses and certifications.

Geographers at work: Environmental geographer, physical geographer,

Recommended College Courses: Introduction to Physical Geography, Environmental Management, Introduction in Environmental Geography, Natural Resource Use and Management, Energy Resource Management, Urban Geography, Community and Regional Planning, Environmental Hazards,

Skills: geospatial technology, climate and weather forecasting, human resource management, watershed management, Quantitative methods, working with census data,

Occupation Group: Production

Learn more about Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/power-plant-operators-distributors-and-dispatchers.htm

Written by Alisa Hartsell

II. POWERFUL GEOGRAPHIC KNOWLEDGE

Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.