Power Engineering: What Can You Expect from a Career in Electrical Power?

[JCEdmonds]

I'm in school for electrical engineering right now looking at taking coursework for electrical power, like power plants and such. I did have a few questions about it, and was hoping someone would be able to answer:

Are there engineers involved in maintaining existing equipment, or is it mostly planning and designing?
Does this type of engineer work for local governments, private companies, or both?
What kind of working hours are there? (consistant / changes from week to week; amount)

Thanks!

 

[Aaron Bex]

Yes, there are engineers involved in maintaining existing equipment. Depending on the employer, they may be the same engineer who was responsible for designing and planning for the system, or a separate engineer who specializes in maintenance and operations. These engineers can work for local governments, private companies, or both. The working hours will vary depending on the particular job and employer; some jobs may involve consistent hours each week while others may require shifts on a rotating basis.

 

[piercas]

I can provide some insights into the field of power engineering. Power engineering is a diverse field that involves planning, designing, and maintaining various types of power plants, such as nuclear, hydro, and thermal power plants. Therefore, there are engineers involved in both maintaining existing equipment and planning and designing new power systems.

In terms of employment, power engineers can work for both local governments and private companies. Local governments often hire power engineers to design and maintain power systems for their cities and towns. On the other hand, private companies such as utility companies, power plant operators, and consulting firms also employ power engineers.

In terms of working hours, it depends on the specific job and employer. Some power engineers may have a consistent 9-5 schedule, while others may have varying hours depending on the demands of the project or power plant. Additionally, power engineers may also have to work on-call or during emergencies, especially if they are involved in maintaining existing equipment.

I hope this answers your questions and provides some insights into the field of power engineering. Best of luck with your studies!