Whether or not electric utilities is a good career path for you depends on your interests, skills, and goals.
But let’s back up.
Whether it’s oil and gas, power, or renewables that is your chosen career path, our e-learning courses can help you get a leg up on the competition and get your food in the door.
We often hear from learners who successfully use our courses to prepare for the interview process. After all, you’re using the same courses that companies themselves use to prepare their teams.
As this student passed on:
I would like to thank you for your brilliant Oil 101 materials. I did use it to prepare for the recruitment process, and managed to take a new role in the oil and gas industry!
Get started with our Power 101 courses today!
What is an electric utility?
An electric utility is a company or organization that generates, distributes, and/or sells electricity to customers.
Electric utilities can be privately owned, publicly owned, or a combination of both.
They are responsible for producing electricity through various means, including coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewable sources like wind and solar power.
Electric utilities typically have a network of power plants, transmission lines, and distribution systems to ensure that electricity is delivered reliably and safely to homes, businesses, and other customers.
They also typically provide customer service to their customers, including billing and responding to inquiries and complaints.
Electric utilities play a critical role in providing electricity to homes and businesses, and they are often regulated by government agencies to ensure that they operate safely, efficiently, and in the best interests of their customers.
What does an electric utility do?
An electric utility is a company that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to homes, businesses, and other customers.
Here are some of the key functions of an electric utility:
- Generation: Electric utilities generate electricity using a variety of sources, including fossil fuels (such as coal and natural gas), nuclear power, and renewable sources (such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power).
- Transmission: Once electricity is generated, it is transmitted over long distances using high-voltage transmission lines to regional substations.
- Distribution: From the substations, electricity is distributed to local distribution lines, which deliver power to homes, businesses, and other customers.
- Maintenance: Electric utilities are responsible for maintaining the infrastructure required to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity, including power plants, transmission lines, and distribution lines.
- Customer service: Electric utilities provide customer service to their customers, including billing, outage management, and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
Electric utilities play a critical role in providing reliable, affordable electricity to homes and businesses.
They are subject to regulation by government agencies to ensure that they operate safely and provide fair and equitable service to their customers.
Is electric utilities a good career path?
Here are some factors to consider:
- Job prospects: Electric utilities offer a range of job opportunities, from engineers and technicians to administrative and support roles. The demand for workers in the electric utilities industry is expected to grow in the coming years as aging infrastructure is updated and as the industry continues to adopt new technologies.
- Potential earnings: Salaries in the electric utilities industry can be competitive, particularly for technical and management roles. However, salaries can vary widely depending on the specific job and location.
- Education and training: Depending on the role, a degree in engineering or a related field may be required. Certifications and specialized training may also be necessary to advance in certain roles.
- Work environment: Jobs in electric utilities can be diverse, from office-based work to field-based work in all types of weather conditions.
- Industry trends: The electric utilities industry is evolving rapidly, with new technologies and regulatory changes driving changes in the industry. It’s important to research industry trends and projections to assess long-term job prospects.
- Personal interest: If you are interested in the electric utilities industry, have a passion for engineering or technical work, and enjoy problem-solving, then a career in electric utilities may be a good fit for you. However, if the industry does not align with your interests, you may find it difficult to stay motivated and excel in the field.
In summary, electric utilities can be a rewarding career path for those with the right skills and interests.
It’s important to research the specific roles and industries within electric utilities and consider your personal goals and preferences before pursuing this career path.
What are common jobs in electric utilities?
Electric utilities offer a wide range of job opportunities across many different disciplines.
Here are some of the most common jobs in electric utilities:
- Electrical Engineer: Electrical engineers design, develop, and maintain electrical systems for generating and distributing electricity. They may also work on projects related to renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.
- Power Plant Operator: Power plant operators are responsible for operating and maintaining power generation equipment, such as turbines and generators, in order to produce electricity.
- Lineworker: Lineworkers install, maintain, and repair electrical lines and equipment. They often work outdoors and may be required to climb poles or work at heights.
- Substation Technician: Substation technicians maintain and repair the equipment used to distribute electricity from power plants to homes and businesses. They may also work on equipment used to manage the flow of electricity and maintain safety.
- Energy Auditor: Energy auditors assess the energy efficiency of buildings and make recommendations for improvements that can reduce energy consumption and costs.
- Energy Manager: Energy managers develop and implement strategies for managing energy consumption and reducing costs in buildings and other facilities.
- Customer Service Representative: Customer service representatives handle customer inquiries and complaints related to electricity usage and billing.
Overall, jobs in electric utilities can be diverse, with opportunities for technical, administrative, and customer-facing roles.
These jobs require a range of skills and education levels, and may offer opportunities for career advancement and growth.
What are entry level jobs in electric utilities?
Electric utilities offer a variety of entry-level jobs that provide opportunities for career growth and advancement.
Here are some examples of entry-level jobs in electric utilities:
- Apprentice Lineworker: Apprentice lineworkers assist experienced lineworkers with the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical lines and equipment. This role often requires working outdoors and may involve climbing poles or working at heights.
- Meter Reader: Meter readers visit homes and businesses to read electric meters and record usage data. This role often requires driving a company vehicle and may involve working alone or in teams.
- Customer Service Representative: Customer service representatives handle customer inquiries and complaints related to electricity usage and billing. This role may involve working in a call center or other customer-facing role.
- Field Technician: Field technicians work on power generation and distribution equipment, performing maintenance and repair tasks. This role may involve working in a variety of locations, including power plants and electrical substations.
- Administrative Assistant: Administrative assistants provide administrative support to various departments within an electric utility, such as engineering or operations. This role may involve tasks such as data entry, scheduling, and document preparation.
Overall, entry-level jobs in electric utilities provide opportunities for individuals to gain experience and skills that can lead to more advanced roles in the industry.
By developing technical expertise, pursuing further education, and seeking out new challenges and opportunities, individuals can build a successful and fulfilling career in this field.
What are the best paying jobs in electric utilities?
Electric utilities offer a variety of well-paying jobs, particularly in technical and management roles.
Here are some of the best paying jobs in electric utilities:
- Electrical Engineer: Electrical engineers in the electric utilities industry design, develop, and maintain electrical systems for generating and distributing electricity. They often earn a high salary, with a median annual wage of $103,390 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Power Plant Manager: Power plant managers are responsible for overseeing the operation of power plants, including equipment maintenance, safety procedures, and compliance with regulatory requirements. They often earn a high salary, with a median annual wage of $121,230 according to the BLS.
- Transmission and Distribution Manager: Transmission and distribution managers are responsible for overseeing the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical transmission and distribution systems. They often earn a high salary, with a median annual wage of $105,810 according to the BLS.
- Power Plant Operations Manager: Power plant operations managers oversee the operation of power plants, including equipment maintenance, safety procedures, and compliance with regulatory requirements. They often earn a high salary, with a median annual wage of $103,930 according to the BLS.
- Senior Electrical Engineer: Senior electrical engineers in the electric utilities industry are responsible for overseeing electrical engineering projects and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. They often earn a high salary, with a median annual wage of $106,860 according to the BLS.
Overall, the best paying jobs in electric utilities are typically in technical and management roles, and may require advanced education, specialized skills, and extensive experience in the industry.
What are the largest electric utilities in the US?
The electric utilities industry in the United States is dominated by a few large companies that provide electricity to millions of customers across the country.
Here are some of the largest electric utilities in the US:
- Duke Energy: Duke Energy is one of the largest electric utilities in the US, serving approximately 7.7 million customers in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the country.
- Exelon: Exelon is another large electric utility in the US, serving approximately 10 million customers in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware.
- NextEra Energy: NextEra Energy is a Florida-based electric utility that serves approximately 5.5 million customers in Florida, as well as other states.
- Southern Company: Southern Company is an electric utility that serves approximately 4.4 million customers in the Southeast region of the US, including Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi.
- American Electric Power: American Electric Power is an electric utility that serves approximately 5.5 million customers in 11 states, including Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company: Pacific Gas and Electric Company is a California-based electric utility that serves approximately 16 million customers in northern and central California.
Overall, these large electric utilities are responsible for delivering electricity to millions of customers across the US, and offer a range of job opportunities in areas such as engineering, operations, customer service, and management.
Be sure to check out our resources on ‘What do Energy Jobs Pay’ and ‘Is Energy a Good Career Path’ for more information.
Related Resources
Power 101
What is a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
Watts, Kilowatts, Megawatts, Gigawatts
Jobs Data
Global Energy Talent Index (GETI)
US Energy & Employment and Jobs Report (USEER)
Career Path in Energy Articles
Is Oilfield Services/Equipment a Good Career Path
Is Oil and Gas Production a Good Career Path
Is Electric Utilities a Good Career Path
Is Power Generation a Good Career Path
