Power Utility Work?

[jml]

Gentlemen,

I am a new member to this Forum and am looking forward to participating in many discussions with all of you.

I am an electrical engineer (2) years removed from college. I am presently working at a consulting company as an electrical designer. I am looking to shift to a job that more closely matches my skills. My educational focus and career interest is in the power industry. I have applied and have (2) upcoming interviews at Power Utility companies.

My question is: Is there anyone here that works at a utility company and can share some information as far as how you like the job? Anything to be aware of in terms of utility jobs?

FYI: I am under consideration for as a Level II engineer in the T & D department. I currently do electrical design work for commercial and military buildings.

Any info and advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[Dark Knight]

Gentlemen,
I am a new member to this Forum and am looking forward to participating in many discussions with all of you.

I am an electrical engineer (2) years removed from college. I am presently working at a consulting company as an electrical designer. I am looking to shift to a job that more closely matches my skills. My educational focus and career interest is in the power industry. I have applied and have (2) upcoming interviews at Power Utility companies.

My question is: Is there anyone here that works at a utility company and can share some information as far as how you like the job? Anything to be aware of in terms of utility jobs?

FYI: I am under consideration for as a Level II engineer in the T & D department. I currently do electrical design work for commercial and military buildings.

Any info and advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

I have worked for the power utility industry for 21 years. The last six as an engineer. Every company is different but the basis are the same anyways. I've worked for a all kind of companies (state owned, federal, municipal and private). In a municipal company you have to do a bit of everything. My experiences with federal and private?....you most likely became a specialist, and that is the aspect I don't like too much about private.

I have seen that municipal companies have a better work environment than the others. Probably because the small number of employees.

 

[jml]

I have worked for the power utility industry for 21 years. The last six as an engineer. Every company is different but the basis are the same anyways. I've worked for a all kind of companies (state owned, federal, municipal and private). In a municipal company you have to do a bit of everything. My experiences with federal and private?....you most likely became a specialist, and that is the aspect I don't like too much about private.
I have seen that municipal companies have a better work environment than the others. Probably because the small number of employees.

Excellent information. The Utility I am interested is a county utility. Probably meaning that I'll be exposed to more variety than with a larger or private utility.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[mudpuppy]

I work for a private utility and I think a public utility may be a whole different world so I'm not sure I can help you out much. But, I will point out that people

expect to have electricity 24/7 and depending on the nature of your job you may be called upon for work 24/7.

 

[Dark Knight]

I work for a private utility and I think a public utility may be a whole different world so I'm not sure I can help you out much. But, I will point out that people expect to have electricity 24/7 and depending on the nature of your job you may be called upon for work 24/7.

Yes you are right. That is one thing I do not miss from my old job. It was tough to leave my warm bed at 3 AM Saturday morning and drive thru the swamp(the people do not want the stations near the nice houses you know). But small utilities are different. The one I work for now has a small simple system.

 

[Wolverine]

There are benefits and reservations about working for any public utility (true for any company, to state the obvious).

The corporate personality of a company is important. The large southern utility I work for still maintains the family culture of it's smaller days. Safety is high priority, everyone looks out for each other, and everyone is expected to work together. That's good.

The negative side is that working for a big company is tantamount to working for the government, with all the inherent bureaucracy. Management is thick and it's hard to get things moving. Mentors are hard to find and talent development is painfully weak, especially as the aging work force retires.

The flip side to that is that an able bodied engineer, who actually works at work (as opposed to spamming EB, which is what I'm doing right now), and isn't afraid to make mistakes, can cut his own path and make a positive impact. Learning many different sides of the business is important. Learn from the pros, who have all been where you are. Stay fresh by being a lifelong learner, EIT/PE and beyond.

The big question I asked myself when job-shifting a while back was "Can I be successful here? Can I make a positive impact? Does this meet my expectations of a fulfilling career?" Answer that yes, and you've found the right place.