Utilities try to nab the best and brightest


High Voltage Maintenance Training Online

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 12 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$599
Coupon Price:
$499
Reserve Your Seat Today
The state's two major electric utilities are hiring hundreds of nuclear energy specialists in anticipation of a turnover of an aging nuclear work force.

Progress Energy and Duke Energy are not merely replacing retirees but expanding their nuclear divisions as they seek licenses to build new reactors. Jobs are being filled with technicians, operators and engineers, each category comprising a variety of job descriptions.

For example, the power companies require several types of engineers - nuclear, chemical, civil, mechanical and electrical - to operate a nuclear power plant. To compete for talent, Progress Energy and Duke Energy offer paid summer internships to nuclear engineering students and often offer jobs well before the students graduate.

Progress Energy's undergraduate interns in nuclear engineering are paid $17 to $23 an hour or as much as $11,000 for 12 weeks of work at a nuclear plant. By the time they graduate, some of the interns have worked three summers, rotating among nuclear plants.

"This is really our pipeline strategy for our engineers," said Dayna Herrick, Duke Energy's nuclear work-force development manager. "The intern program is really an extended job interview."

Additionally, both utilities have active pipelines of technicians who work part time at nuclear plants as they earn two-year associate degrees. The technicians perform maintenance, troubleshooting, instrument calibration and radiation protection functions.

To keep the pipeline flowing, Duke Energy helped introduce a program in radiation protection technology at Spartanburg Community College in South Carolina, with courses taught by the company's nuclear staff.

Related News

New England Is Burning the Most Oil for Electricity Since 2018

New England oil-fired generation surges as ISO New England manages a cold snap, dual-fuel switching,…
View more

Clean energy jobs energize Pennsylvania: Clean Energy Employment Report

Pennsylvania Clean Energy Employment surges, highlighting workforce growth in energy efficiency, solar, wind, grid and…
View more

Group to create Canadian cyber standards for electricity sector IoT devices

Canadian Industrial IoT Cybersecurity Standards aim to unify device security for utilities, smart grids, SCADA,…
View more

US Electricity Prices Rise Most in 41 Years as Inflation Endures

US Electricity Price Surge drives bills as BLS data show 15.8 percent jump; natural gas…
View more

Nova Scotia Eyes Offshore Wind for U.S. Power Markets

Nova Scotia is advancing offshore wind plans to meet rising electricity demand at home while…
View more

Taiwan's economic minister resigns over widespread power outage

Taiwan Power Blackout disrupts Taipei and commercial hubs after a Taoyuan natural gas plant error,…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Download the 2026 Electrical Training Catalog

Explore 50+ live, expert-led electrical training courses –

  • Interactive
  • Flexible
  • CEU-cerified