Will AI replace Power Distributors and Dispatchers?
Estimated risk score: 55 out of 100
Moderate replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (36 to 74).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 15 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 51-8012.00 · Production
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 6 of its 15 rated tasks. In O*NET’s words.
- Calculate load estimates or equipment requirements to determine required control settings.
- Control, monitor, or operate equipment that regulates or distributes electricity or steam, using data obtained from instruments or computers.
- Distribute or regulate the flow of power between entities, such as generating stations, substations, distribution lines, or users, keeping track of the status of circuits or connections.
- Record and compile operational data, such as chart or meter readings, power demands, or usage and operating times, using transmission system maps.
- Implement energy schedules, including real-time transmission reservations or schedules.
- Monitor and record switchboard or control board readings to ensure that electrical or steam distribution equipment is operating properly.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 6 of its 15 rated tasks; the first 5 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Manipulate controls to adjust or activate power distribution equipment or machines.
- Respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.
- Tend auxiliary equipment used in the power distribution process.
- Direct personnel engaged in controlling or operating distribution equipment or machinery, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.
- Inspect equipment to ensure that specifications are met or to detect any defects.
What the job is
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
Also called: Power System Operator, Power System Dispatcher, Transmission System Operator (TSO), DSD, DSO, SWB Operator, Voltage Inspector, Real Time Operator.
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 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. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate