What Do Power Distributors and Dispatchers Do?

Position Description Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

Life as a Power Distributor or Dispatcher: What Do They Do?

• Distribute or regulate the flow of power between entities, such as generating stations, substations, distribution lines, or users, keeping track of the status of circuits or connections.
• Manipulate controls to adjust or activate power distribution equipment or machines.
• Record and compile operational data, such as chart or meter readings, power demands, or usage and operating times, using transmission system maps.
• Repair, maintain, or clean equipment or machinery, using hand tools.
• Implement energy schedules, including real-time transmission reservations or schedules.
• Respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.

Power Distributor or Dispatcher Needed Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Power Distributors and Dispatchers say are important on the job.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Journeyman Lineman
• Auxiliary Operator
• Substation Operator Apprentice
• Power and Recovery Superintendent
• Electric System Operator

Job Opportunities for Power Distributors and Dispatchers

In the United States, there were 11,600 jobs for Power Distributors and Dispatchers in 2016.

Power Distributor or Dispatcher jobs are decreasing by a rate of -2.5%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -300 jobs for Power Distributors and Dispatchers by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,000 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Power Distributors and Dispatchers are Texas, Georgia, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, New Jersey, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Power Distributor or Dispatcher

The average yearly salary of a Power Distributor or Dispatcher ranges between $54,670 and $117,860. The median salary for this occupation is $86,410.

How much do Power Distributors and Dispatchers make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Washington	$110,010
New York	$104,310
Nevada	$102,130
Oregon	$100,610
Kentucky	$99,030
Alaska	$97,430
Montana	$95,030
Wyoming	$94,850
New Hampshire	$94,760
Arizona	$94,020
Massachusetts	$93,690
Colorado	$93,280
California	$93,200
Idaho	$91,880
Nebraska	$91,090
Minnesota	$90,870
Connecticut	$90,690
Wisconsin	$90,210
New Jersey	$89,590
Michigan	$88,640
New Mexico	$88,210
Pennsylvania	$87,930
Alabama	$86,670
Missouri	$86,320
Utah	$86,170
Ohio	$82,050
Kansas	$81,630
West Virginia	$81,340
Oklahoma	$79,430
Arkansas	$79,270
Georgia	$78,600
Indiana	$77,140
Virginia	$76,230
Illinois	$75,780
North Carolina	$75,370
Florida	$73,570
Maryland	$73,060
Mississippi	$71,920
Tennessee	$70,680
Texas	$70,630
South Carolina	$66,770
Maine	$59,700

What Tools do Power Distributors and Dispatchers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Power Distributors and Dispatchers may use on a daily basis:

• Geographic information system GIS software
• Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel

How do I Become a Power Distributor or Dispatcher?

Are there Power Distributor or Dispatcher education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become Power Distributor or Dispatcher?

Where Power Distributors and Dispatchers Are Employed

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons