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.