PLAN No. 1204. ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COMPANIES
An electric light and power company is a corporation which generates and sells electrical energy for lighting and power. Because of the economies which result in the generation of electrical energy in large central stations, the demand upon these power companies is continually increasing. They can usually develop energy, transmit it over their lines, and sell it to the customer cheaper than he can, in his relatively small plant, develop it for himself. However, very large factories or plants may require such large power stations that they can generate for themselves cheaper than they can buy. To provide this central-station service, the stations and lines must be built; energy must be generated in the central station, transmitted over the lines to the consumer, and metered at the consumer’s premises. Hence, men of many vocations are required.
The different departments of an electric company, into which a large concern of this character is ordinarily subdivided include:
Manufacturing or power department.
Construction or distribution department.
Meter department.
Sales department.
Engineering department
Accounting department.
In addition there may be a “purchasing and stores department” and a “garage department.” But these will not be discussed specifically herein because the vocations involved are not, essentially, electrical.
Manufacturing or power department.—This department operates the steam or water power generating stations which develop the electrical energy. Where small substations, which transform the energy received from the large stations, are required these may also be under the jurisdiction of the manufacturing department. It handles the maintenance and operation of boilers, steam engines, turbines, generators, rotary converters, switchboards, and all power “manufacturing” equipment.
In the steam division of the power department work about the station which requires no skill, such as handling of coal, removal of ashes, washing of boilers, and similar tasks, is performed by laborers. In this division are employed also water tenders and engineers.
In the electrical division operators and their assistants maintain and operate the electrical equipment in the station. This includes generators, motors, rotary converters, switchboard, and the like. Switchboards must often be quite elaborate. This is necessary to provide for the proper electrical interconnection between the various machines in the plant, and the outgoing lines which feed the substations and the customer’s premises. A principal duty of a station operator is to “tend” the switchboard, operating the switches and devices on it as may be necessary. In general the control of all the electrical apparatus in the station is effected from the switchboard, by which machines are started and stopped, and circuits cut in and out.
Switchboard operating in the power department.—The qualifications of a switchboard operator are that he be familiar with the use and operation of the different machines and electrical equipment in the station. Particularly he should be familiar with the switchboard. He should understand something of electrical theory. The requisite training is obtained often by men working up from the ranks, through experience in the station. However, such knowledge can be acquired much more quickly and readily if one has had a short course in electricity such as that which may be obtained at a Federal Board school. Ability to handle the more important duties of these positions must, however, be acquired by experience on the job. A disabled man who can hear, see, move about, and throw switches quickly may develop into a good station operator.
The work is not heavy, and it is indoor work. Sometimes the shifts are 12 hours, but the tendency is toward eight-hour shifts. Promotions are from assistant operator to operator, and then to chief operator. The salary for an operator will range from $80 to $125 per month. A man who is familiar with steam as well as with electrical equipment will be qualified for promotion to the responsible position of chief engineer.