Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Production and manufacturing / 51-8012.00

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

US jobs
8,520
Median wage
$106,730 a year
Job family
Production and manufacturing

Can agents do the work of power distributors and dispatchers?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Production and manufacturing: Unmeasured (no change in 12 months)

No direct benchmark gives a success rate.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 38%Operate energy production or distribution equipmentNot measured
  • 14%Plan work activitiesNot measured
  • 10%Maintain operational recordsNot measured
  • 8%Communicate with others about operational plans or activitiesNot measured
  • 8%Direct organizational operations, activities, or proceduresNot measured
  • 7%Determine resource needs of projects or operationsNot measured
  • 4%Monitor external affairs, trends, or eventsNot measured
  • 4%Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performanceNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in production and manufacturing, not always this occupation's tasks.

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Coordinate with engineers, planners, field personnel, or other utility workers to provide information such as clearances, switching orders, or distribution process changes.
  • Respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.
  • Control, monitor, or operate equipment that regulates or distributes electricity or steam, using data obtained from instruments or computers.
  • Direct personnel engaged in controlling or operating distribution equipment or machinery, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.
  • 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.
  • Prepare switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages, referring to drawings of power systems.
  • Monitor and record switchboard or control board readings to ensure that electrical or steam distribution equipment is operating properly.
  • Implement energy schedules, including real-time transmission reservations or schedules.
  • Calculate load estimates or equipment requirements to determine required control settings.
  • Track conditions that could affect power needs, such as changes in the weather, and adjust equipment to meet any anticipated changes.
  • Record and compile operational data, such as chart or meter readings, power demands, or usage and operating times, using transmission system maps.
Other job titles for this occupation (38)

Control Area Operator · Control Operator · Dispatcher · Distribution System Dispatcher (DSD) · DSO (Distribution System Operator) · Electric System Operator · Power System Dispatcher · Power System Operator · Systems Operator · Transmission System Operator (TSO) · Auxiliary Operator · Board Operator · Control Board Operator · Control Room Operator · Distribution A Class Lineman · Distribution Lineman · Distribution Operator · Distribution Systems Serviceperson · Electrical Energy Distribution Technician (Electrical Energy Distribution Tech) · Electrical Energy Storage Technician (Electrical Energy Storage Tech) · Feeder Switchboard Operator (Feeder SWB Operator) · Load Dispatcher · Motor Room Controller · Power and Recovery Shift Engineer · Real Time Operator · Station Operator · Steam and Power Panel Operator · Steam Plant Control Room Operator · Substation Operator · Switchboard and Control Room Operator (SWB and Control Room Operator) · Switchboard Operator (SWB Operator) · Transmission Operator · Utilities Operator · Utility Distribution Inspector · Utility Inspector · Utility Switchboard Operator (Utility SWB Operator) · Voltage Inspector · Water Distribution Operator