Power Plant Operators

What Does a Power Plant Operators Do?

Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
• 2Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
• 3Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
• 4Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
• 5Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
• 6Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes.
• 7Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units.
• 8Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power.

Required Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
• Continuous emissions monitoring systems CEMS
• Distributed control system DCS
• Email software
• Emerson Ovation
• Gas field monitoring system software
• General Electric Mark VI Distributed Control System DCS
• General Electric Mark VI Integrated Control System ICS
• Interlock shutdown systems
• Landfill gas analysis software

Power Plant Operators Salary