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How exposed to AI is a Power Plant Operator?

Of the 30 tasks O*NET lists for power plant operators, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 23 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Auxiliary OperatorControl OperatorControl Room OperatorMulticraft Operator (MCO)Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech)Plant Control OperatorPlant OperatorPower Plant OperatorStation OperatorUnit Operator
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
30
tasks rated for this occupation
13%
hold a degree, from a survey of 20
29k
people do this job in the US
21 of 107
least protected in production

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Only with software built on top

7
  • Communicate with systems operators to regulate and coordinate line voltages and transmission loads and frequencies
  • Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status
  • Record and compile operational data by completing and maintaining forms, logs, or reports
  • Receive outage calls and request necessary personnel during power outages or emergencies
  • Monitor well fields periodically to ensure proper functioning and performance
  • Prepare and submit compliance, operational, and safety forms or reports
  • Verify that well field monitoring data conforms to applicable regulations

Cannot be sped up

23
  • Adjust controls to generate specified electrical power or to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations
  • Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems
  • Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels
  • Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power
  • Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment
  • Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary
  • Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units
  • Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers
  • Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals
  • Clean, lubricate, or maintain equipment, such as generators, turbines, pumps, or compressors, to prevent failure or deterioration
  • Place standby emergency electrical generators on line in emergencies and monitor the temperature, output, and lubrication of the system
  • Make adjustments or minor repairs, such as tightening leaking gland or pipe joints
  • Operate, control, or monitor equipment, such as acid or gas carbon dioxide removal units, carbon dioxide compressors, or pipelines, to capture, store, or transport carbon dioxide exhaust
  • Operate, control, or monitor gasifiers or related equipment, such as coolers, water quenches, water gas shifts reactors, or sulfur recovery units, to produce syngas or electricity from coal
  • Operate, control, or monitor integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) or related equipment, such as air separation units, to generate electricity from coal
  • Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes
  • Examine and test electrical power distribution machinery and equipment, using testing devices
  • Collect oil, water, or electrolyte samples for laboratory analysis
  • Analyze the layout, instrumentation, or function of electrical generation or transmission facilities
  • Diagnose or troubleshoot problems with gas collection systems
  • Operate landfill gas, methane, or natural gas fueled electrical generation systems
  • Repair or replace gas piping
  • Trace electrical circuitry to ensure compliance of electrical systems with applicable codes or laws
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.