Skills & competences

Description

Power production plant operators operate, monitor and maintain switchboards and related equipment in electrical control centres which control the production and distribution of electrical or other power in transmission networks. The equipment operated includes reactors, turbines, generators and other auxiliary equipment in electrical power-generating stations.
Tasks include -
(a) operating, monitoring and inspecting various types of energy-generating power plants;
(b) operating and controlling power-generating systems and equipment including boilers, turbines, generators, condensers and reactors in hydro, thermal, coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants to generate and distribute electrical power;
(c) controlling start-up and shut-down of power plant equipment, controlling switching operations, regulating water levels and communicating with systems operators to regulate and coordinate transmission loads, frequency and line voltages;
(d) taking readings from charts, meters and gauges at established intervals, troubleshooting and performing corrective action as necessary;
(e) completing and maintaining station records, logs and reports, and communicating with other plant personnel to assess equipment operating status;
(f) cleaning and maintaining equipment such as generators, boilers, turbines, pumps and compressors in order to prevent equipment failure or deterioration.
Examples of the occupations classified here:
- Distribution control operator
- Electric power plant operator
- Generating station operator
- Hydroelectric power plant operator
- Nuclear power plant operator
- Power system operator
- Solar power plant operator

Some related occupations classified elsewhere:
- Steam engine and boiler operators - 8182