• Energy companies generate, transmit, and distribute power in the form of electricity, natural gas, and steam in every corner of Northeast, MN and Northwest, WI.
• The electric power and gas industries offer a variety of roles including information technology, communications, marketing services, and engineering and operations.
• There are career laddering choices, apprenticeship programs, wages that are well above regional averages, and job opportunities throughout the region.
• In 2006, the average Northland median hourly earnings for electrical power-line installers and repairers was $26.21; for electrical engineers, $38.89; for power plant operators, $25.79; www.mnpower.com/about_electricity, $27.88, electricians, $24.18; mechanical engineering technicians, $20.47; and electrical and electronic engineering technicians $22.96 per hour.
• Since electricity and gas are produced and used continuously throughout each day
• About Electricity (www.mnpower.com/about_electricity)
• Learn who the leading Electric providers are in the region. (PDF)

Projected types and number of openings in construction over the next 10 years.


• Job opportunities for electrical and electronic engineering technicians, electricians and computer systems analysts, and mechanical engineering technicians are expected to grow faster than average in our region between 2002 and 2012.
Persons with college training in advanced technology will have the best opportunities.

Links to schools/training programs in the northland with aerospace and aviation preparation courses.


• High school graduates qualify for most entry-level production jobs and some customer service jobs. There are typically opportunities to advance by going through an apprenticeship program and from gaining experience on the job.
• Most technicians have at least two years of formal education after high school.
• Computer systems analysts, managers, and engineers often require, at minimum, a four-year degree.
• Skills include effective communication, ability to demonstrate technical competence, and work well with teams.

  Visit These Links for Training Programs – The northland offers a variety of preparation and training programs:

• College of St. Scholastica
• Duluth Business University
• Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
• Hibbing Community College
• Lake Superior College
• LCO Community College
• Mesabi Range Community & Technical College
• Northcentral Technical College
• Northland College
• Rainy River Community College
• University of Minnesota-Duluth
• University of Wisconsin-Superior
• Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Visit the links below for specific information about career opportunities in energy and options in the northland.

Minnesota


• Minnesota Power (www.mnpower.com)
• East Central Energy (www.eastcentralenergy.com)
• Lake Country Power (www.lakecountrypower.com)
• Mille Lacs Energy Co-op (www.mlecmn.net)
• Cooperative Light and Power (www.clpower.com)
• North Itasca Electric Co-op (www.northitascaelectric.com)
• Arrowhead Electric Co-op (www.aecimn.com)
• North Star Electric Cooperative (www.northstarelectric.coop)
  
  Wisconsin
  
  
• Xcel Energy (www.xcelenergy.com)
• Superior Water, Light and Power (SWL&P) (www.swlp.com)
• Polk-Burnett Electric (www.polk-burnett.org)
• Barron-Electric Co-op (www.barronelectric.com)
• Jump River Electric (www.jrec.com)
• Bayfield Electric Co-op (www.bayfieldelectric.com)
• Price Electric Cooperative (www.price-electric.com)
  
  Local Associations and Alliances
  
  
• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives (touchstoneenergy.cooperative.com)
• Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (www.mapp.org)
• Minnesota Rural Electric Association (www.mrea.org)
• Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (www.mmua.org)
  
  BLS - 2006-07 Career Guide to Industries: Utilities - (http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs018.htm)