Press Release

PUC Chairman Brown Highlights #UtilityCareers During Pittsburgh Area Job Fair

Published on 8/10/2018

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater

MONACA – In conjunction with a #SafeDigging event in the Pittsburgh area, and underscoring the importance of calling 8-1-1 before any digging project to ensure that underground utilities are properly located and marked, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Gladys M. Brown also joined utility leaders in encouraging more skilled candidates to consider #UtilityCareers.

“There is a strong need for additional skilled utility workers across the state and country, driven by a combination of factors, including an aging current workforce as well as the growth of new systems and technologies,” Chairman Brown explained. “These opportunities are all around us, but they may be overlooked by students and other job-seekers who are either unaware of, or unclear about, the many #UtilityCareers options available to them.”

The PUC joined with utilities and organizations from across the state during an event at the Columbia Gas Training Center’s Safety Town in Monaca, Beaver County.  Chairman Brown gathered with leaders from Columbia Gas, Comcast, Duquesne Light, First Energy, Pennsylvania American Water, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the Pennsylvania One Call System, Peoples Gas, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, UGI Utilities, Inc. – Gas Division and the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers.

Pennsylvania’s utilities bring vital services to our homes and businesses, and they also represent tens-of-thousands of community-oriented jobs – with good wages, career growth and training opportunities, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are serving your neighbors.

Utilities participating in the #UtilityCareers event offered their perspectives:

“UGI continues to experience healthy growth within our service territory,” Eric Swartley, UGI Senior Manager, Pipeline and Public Safety. “To safely and reliably serve our customers and the many communities we serve, we work with education institutions offering technical training to ensure UGI is staffed by a well-qualified workforce.” 

“The utility career fair was a great opportunity for us to meet men and women interested in learning more about the training, benefits and career resources that utilities throughout the Commonwealth provide to these critical workers,” said Christine Whitaker, Regional Vice President, Comcast.

"Working at a utility like the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority offers a multitude of benefits like good pay, opportunities for professional growth and the ability to serve your neighbors by protecting public health,” said Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Chief of Administration Debbie Lestitian. “We encourage job seekers to check our employment webpage for openings and consider this rewarding career path." 

The Pennsylvania PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and videos of select proceedings. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov