Anyone work at an electrical power plant?

[elwesso]

So I am lightly considering trying to find a job at a power plant.. When I was in engineering school, thermodynamics and power generation was by far one of the most interesting things I did..

Right now I am a project engineer for a small company that makes vibrating equipment, mainly vibrating screens for sand/gravel applications.. Its not a bad job at all, and I am not "unhappy" there, however I don't really find what we do particularly interesting, so if another opportunity in this field popped up, I'd like to look into it...

From a practical stand point, the utilities industries is almost bulletproof to get into since people here in the US will always need electricity, so its we can outsource electricity generation overseas...

I am interested in many different types of power plants whether it be coal fired, natural gas, nuclear, etc etc...

Does anyone work in this industry specifically in a generating station.. How do you like it?? Give me your opinions...

[alms24sebring]

Intresting. I would like to work at an electrical power plant or in the Hoover Dam. The problem is is that alot of stuff now is run by computers and sensors eliminating the need for alot of people.

I dont know how they work on the inside but something in the engineering field would be fun, like more efficient power consumption, better designs, new power sources, etc..

[numbnuts240]

technically i work AT a nuclear power station right now. but i don't do anything with power generation (i've been in the can [containment/reactor building] plenty of times, though). the reactor i work around is in outage mode for refueling.

you're right when you say it's an ALMOST bulletproof industry. politics can kill it though. the plant i work at supplies half of ct's power. they have 2 working reactors, one is temporarily shut down, the other is running at 100% to take up the slack. the property can house 3 more reactors. the state wants to tax our power plants a total of $335mil/year, $344mil will be sought from the plant i'm at. the people who run the plant say they will cease operations before they dish out that kind of dough. my electricity doesn't come from that plant, but imagine if the sole source of power for half the state cut off the supply...

[ADDirishboy]

vibrating equipment

Ok, all joking aside, Tito hit it dead on. Politic's can ruin anything nuclear REALLY quickly. Those jobs are great, but can get screwed over quick just because people still seem to think that mining coal is better than nuclear power.

Not getting into political BS though, coal would be your best bet since half the countries energy is generated by it. I've never worked at a power plant of any sort, but have done rescues in them. Nuclear would be awesome if it wasn't so frowned upon.

[elwesso]

Yeah I'm not worried about the type, and I don't really want to get in that discussion, although for the time being coal is the best source of cheap power.

Does anyone have any direct experience working in this field?

[Bubba1]

Yeah I'm not worried about the type, and I don't really want to get in that discussion, although for the time being coal is the best source of cheap power.

Does anyone have any direct experience working in this field?

I understand working at a power plant can be interesting....

[MinisterofDOOM]

My dad works for a power company and does a lot of work with power plants. He technically has a desk job, but also spends a lot of time working with and at power plants. His job is primarily coal fuel related. I'd be happy to pass along any questions.