How Many Jobs Are Available In Public Utilities? (FAQs)

Public utility companies are firms that render a service to the members of the community. Government departments monitor these companies.

Firms in the public utility industry are responsible for providing water, gas, power and a host of many other services.

Moreover, public utility companies contractually handle construction projects and perform several other operations.

There are currently about 1.5 million jobs available in the public utilities industry. This is based on the statistics acquired from the Bureau of Labour Statistics.

Most of these jobs pay excellent salaries and offer an exciting professional experience.

Read on to find out about the top jobs available in public utilities.

Are Public Utilities Worth It?

Utilities are favored as a buy-and-hold investment since they are reliable and typically pay dividends on a consistent basis.

It is generally true that the dividend yields of utility companies are higher than those of other types of stocks.

During economic downturns when interest rates are low, investing in utilities might be a good idea. All members of a society and all of its institutions rely on the services provided by public utilities.

Each subset of this industry is responsible for making sure its services are accessible to customers when and when they need them.

Nonetheless, working for the government is a rewarding occupation. Since the work you do in public utilities would be to offer the most important items that people need to survive, it is a satisfying career that provides not only decent compensation and benefits but also a sense of fulfillment from your work.

What Are The Best Jobs In Public Utilities?

1. Power Plant Engineer

Power plant engineers are so familiar with the public utilities industry.

These professionals play a vital role in successfully providing power to communities.

As the name suggests, power plant engineers are in charge of ensuring that all operations of a power plant go according to plan.

They check systems for adequate functioning and monitoring.

Power plant engineers are one of the most prominent groups of professionals in the public utility industry.

2. Nuclear Licensing Engineer

Nuclear licensing engineers make sure that the plant and reactor run effectively.

They watch over all the systems and devices in the plant and ensure that there are adequately maintained when the time is right.

Moreover, these professionals are in charge of developing fresh designs to suit the demands of an existing nuclear facility.

The position of nuclear licensing engineer in the public utility industry is reserved for people with an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering or a field associated with it who have more than five years of experience in a nuclear engineering job.

3. Utility Manager

Utility managers ensure that valuable services are provided to members of the public at all times.

They monitor water supply services, electricity grid operations, and other public utility systems.

Utility managers possess excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills that help them perform their jobs effectively.

They also possess good communication skills, which enable them to relate adequately with their colleagues and staff that work under them.

Moreover, the position of utility manager in any public utilities company is always reserved for people with good leadership and teamwork skills.

Utility manager is one of the best-paying jobs in the public utilities industry.

4. Gas Controller

Gas controllers control and manage the finances of every gas, electric, and water utility in a city.

These individuals are responsible for gathering, evaluating, and presenting the statistics acquired to ensure no utility revenue goes amiss or is stolen by anybody.

Moreover, gas controllers are also responsible for delegating leadership responsibilities on several projects.

These experts are in charge of maintaining and checking the gas system for public utilities to ensure they are in the best operating conditions and working at maximum efficiency.

5. Pipeline Controller

Pipeline controller is one of the many jobs available in public utilities. These controllers are in charge of maintaining pipeline systems’ harmless and optimal functioning.

These professionals collaborate with engineers to develop pipeline designs and equipment that will boost the efficiency of pipelines.

Pipeline controllers also ensure that every device functions adequately, record every system repair done, conduct routine maintenance operations on pipelines, and carry out several other responsibilities.

Moreover, pipeline controllers organize all team members to perform their jobs effectively and ensure that all pipelines operate without harm.

These professionals also evaluate flow rates, watch overpressure levels, make required modifications to ensure pipelines run efficiently, and search for possible leakage areas for repairs.

6. Power System Dispatcher

Power systems dispatchers are responsible for the safe and efficient delivery of every public utility vehicle. 

These individuals counsel members of the public on some of the best public service utility operations to take, ensure that all equipment is in the best working condition, and ensure that safely operated.

Power system dispatchers are in charge of ensuring that all power system devices are working at total efficiency.

These professionals are in charge of conducting routine check-ups of machines, assessing equipment, and reporting any issues affecting the power system to the appropriate quarters.

Power system dispatchers also collaborate with other professionals to ensure that all repair operations are effectively carried out, and any beneficial modifications are made to the systems.

7. Water Resource Specialist

Water resource specialists coordinate with professionals in the public utility industry who are devising and assessing new ideas for water utilities across a city.

These experts relate with customers to know what they want and the issues that they are facing.

To perform this job well, water resource specialists must possess good leadership skills and can find new development opportunities for the companies they work for.

Water resource specialists play a significant role in ensuring public utilities reach customers.

8. Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer

Nuclear criticality safety engineers are professionals in charge of ensuring that nuclear facilities are working at optimal safety conditions.

These professionals ensure that they run adequately without causing any form of harm either to themselves or their immediate environment.

Nuclear criticality safety engineers play a crucial role in atomic facilities’ design, development, running, and maintenance to ensure they are not causing environmental destruction.  

These professionals collaborate with other professionals to decide if a new device should be set up in an already-functional facility and the best technique field worker can take to stay safe if there is a catastrophe.

Moreover, most nuclear criticality safety engineer job openings in the public utilities industry are reserved for people with a degree in nuclear engineering or a field associated with it, good experience working in nuclear power plants and related systems, and a good knowledge of maths and physics.

Nuclear criticality safety engineers make much money off the public utilities industry.

9. Radiation Engineer

Radiation engineers are in charge of ensuring that radioactive elements and substances are adequately utilized.

These professionals ensure that the substances do not cause harm or endanger the immediate environment.

Radiation engineers also assist in ensuring the professionals that work with such substances do so effectively without placing anyone in harm’s way.

Radiation engineering is reserved for people with excellent technical capabilities, and anyone taking up this job in the public utility industry makes so much money off the drive.

10. Substation Engineer

Substation engineers are responsible for designing and setting up sub-transmission and distributing line equipment and devices.

To execute this job effectively, one must understand electrical engineering systems and their concepts.

Substation engineers also possess the expertise to solve serious field challenges.

This job is reserved for people with at least an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering or its associated field, not less than four years of experience, and at least two years of experience working as a design engineer.

11. Power Transmission Engineer

Power transmission engineers are in charge of organizing, designing, and developing transmission systems.

These professionals also maintain transmission systems.

To excel in this job, power transmission engineers must have a solid knowledge of engineering and a good level of experience in the field of power transmission.

This explains why most public utility companies always look to employ professionals with not less than five years of experience working on power transmission systems for this role.

Moreover, power transmission engineers carry out electrical evaluations and systematic assessments.

They also observe and assess the equipment’s functionality conditions to ensure they are working safely.

12. Power Systems Engineer

Power systems engineers are professionals that take part in planning, developing, and setting up electrical power systems.

These engineers possess an excellent knowledge of technical and commercial segments of power systems engineering to perform this job.  

This job is reserved only for people with good experience working in every single segment of power systems planning and development.

To take up this job, an individual must possess at least a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a field associated with it. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) On Jobs Available In Public Utilities

How many types of public utilities do we have?

We have many public utilities, such as airlines, telecommunications, natural gas, oil, solid waste collection and disposal, electricity, and others.

How many public utilities companies are there in the US?

The US has more than 1,600 public utilities companies.

What are the most common utilities?

The most common utilities are electricity, water, and gas bills.

What is the most prominent utility company?

The number one utility company is NextEra Energy, with a market worth of about $150 billion.

Conclusion

There are currently about 1.5 million jobs available in the public utility industry of the United States.

The public utility industry offers job stability, exciting work experience, and an attractive income.

However, to secure any of the best-paying jobs in this industry, you must have a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or its related field.

Moreover, you must also develop good problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.

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