Power engineers and power systems operators

NOC

92100

Power engineers operate and maintain equipment to generate electrical power. Power systems operators monitor and operate switchboards to control the distribution of electrical power.

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Full NOC Description

Power engineers operate and maintain reactors, turbines, boilers, generators, stationary engines and auxiliary equipment to generate electrical power and to provide heat, light, refrigeration and other utility services for commercial, institutional and industrial buildings and other work sites. Power systems operators monitor and operate switchboards and related equipment in electrical control centres to control the distribution of electrical power in transmission networks.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Power engineers

Operate automated or computerized control systems, stationary engines and auxiliary equipment such as reactors, boilers, turbines, generators, pumps, compressors, pollution control devices and other equipment to generate electrical power and to provide light, heat, ventilation and refrigeration for buildings, industrial plants and other work sites

Start up and shut down power plant equipment, control switching operations, regulate water levels and communicate with systems operators to regulate and coordinate transmission loads, frequency and line voltages

Monitor and inspect plant equipment, computer terminals, switches, valves, gauges, alarms, meters and other instruments to measure temperature, pressure and fuel flow to detect leaks or other equipment malfunctions and to ensure plant equipment is operating at maximum efficiency

Analyze and record instrument readings and equipment malfunctions

Troubleshoot and perform corrective action and minor repairs to prevent equipment or system failure

Respond to emergency situations if required

Clean and lubricate generators, turbines, pumps and compressors and perform other routine equipment maintenance duties using appropriate lubricants and hand, power and precision tools

Maintain a daily log of operation, maintenance and safety activities, and write reports on plant operation and non-compliance

May assist in the development of operation, maintenance and safety procedures.

Power systems operators

Operate and monitor computerized switchboards and auxiliary equipment in electrical control centres to control the distribution and to regulate the flow of electrical power in the transmission network

Co-ordinate, schedule and direct generating station and substation power loads and line voltages to meet distribution demands during daily operations, system outages, repairs and importing or exporting of power

Monitor and visually inspect station instruments, meters and alarms to ensure transmission voltages and line loadings are within prescribed limits and to detect equipment failure, line disturbances and outages

Issue work and test permits to electrical and mechanical maintenance personnel, assist maintenance and technical personnel to locate and isolate system problems, and assist during routine system testing

Complete and maintain station records, logs and reports.

Also Known As

apprentice power dispatcher
auxiliary plant operator
building systems technician
control room operator - electrical power systems
distribution control operator - electrical power systems

electrical power systems operator

energy from waste plant operator

nuclear generating station field operator

nuclear reactor operator

power dispatcher - generating station

power engineer

power plant operator

power plant stationary engineer

stationary engineer

Requirements

Employment Requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.

Power engineers require a college training program in power engineering and several years of work experience. An exam is mandatory to move from one class to the other.

Power engineers require a provincial or territorial power engineering certificate according to class. There are five classes in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia while there are four classes in Newfoundland/Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut territories.

Power systems operators require completion of a three- to five-year power system operator apprenticeship program or over three years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in electrical and electronic technology.

Trade certification is available, but voluntary for power systems operators in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Trade certification is available, but voluntary for power engineers in Nova Scotia.

Control room operators at nuclear power plants require licensing from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

Provincial Regulation

Provincially Regulated: Yes
Compulsory: No
Red Seal: No

Regulation Body

Skilled Trades NB

Employment by Sex

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

7.9%

Female

92.1%

Male

Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

6.6%

15-24

23.3%

25-34

19.8%

35-44

21.1%

45-54

25.1%

55-64

4.0%

65+

Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

3.5%

No Certificate, Diploma or Degree

14.9%

High School, Diploma or Equivalent

15.4%

Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma

54.7%

College or University Below Bachelor Level

11.4%

University - Bachelor Level or Above

Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

37.4%

Utilities

32.6%

Manufacturing

6.6%

Public administration

23.3%

All Other Industries

Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

16.30%

Northeast

9.30%

Southeast

44.90%

Southwest

16.70%

Central

12.80%

Northwest

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Data legend

$96,000

Northeast

$73,000

Southeast

$110,400

Southwest

$94,000

Central

$79,000

Northwest

Economic Regions

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Salary

The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

Occupational Profiles