Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) and Newfoundland Power, in partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, are launching a new education and awareness initiative to promote careers in the electricity industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. The goal is to educate youth in the province about the electricity industry and the associated career opportunities through the development of marketing and communications tools targeted at youth as well as curriculum that will be offered through the province’s high schools.

“As utilities, we hire people to work in nearly all locations of Newfoundland and Labrador. Attracting the skills necessary to fill positions, particularly in rural areas, is becoming more of a challenge,” says Gerard McDonald, Vice-President, Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness, Hydro. “It is our hope that by highlighting the many benefits of the industry in this province, more young men and women will become interested in the field.”

The initiative highlights seven careers in the industry: Hydro Plant Operator; Power System Operator; Power Line Technician; Industrial Electrician; Industrial Mechanic; Engineering Technologist; and, Engineer. The website and other resources, including the high school curriculum, provides information about the electricity industry, the education and career paths needed to pursue each career, as well as the benefits of working in the industry.

“We are excited to share the many career opportunities available in the electricity industry with students while opening their minds to new possibilities,” says Jocelyn Perry, Vice-President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer, Newfoundland Power. “Electricity is such an important part of people’s lives – it’s needed to ensure comfort in our homes, to run our businesses, our municipal water supplies, and our hospitals. The electricity industry in this province offers a rewarding, stable career, right here at home.”

The initiative carries the slogan SWITCH ON YOUR LIFE. The vibrant promotional material uses phrases like ‘you don’t have to leave home to go places’ – all focused on the benefits of working in the industry and sparking interest in potential future employees.

The Electricity Industry of Newfoundland and Labrador is made up of the two large electric utilities, Hydro and Newfoundland Power, combined with multiple contractors.

Hydro generates about 80% of the province’s required electricity and sells it to Newfoundland Power as well as industrial, residential, and commercial customers. Hydro distributes electricity to 38,000 residential customers in over 200 communities in Labrador and rural areas of Newfoundland and employs more than 800 employees to get the job done. www.nlhydro.com

With approximately 650 employees, Newfoundland Power distributes electricity to over 259,000 customers in approximately 600 communities on the island portion of the province. Newfoundland Power purchases approximately 93% of the electricity it sells from Hydro and generates the rest at its own hydroelectric stations across the island. www.newfoundlandpower.com

Together, Hydro and Newfoundland Power help produce and distribute electricity to just about every person in the province—almost 300,000 customers.

The electricity industry in Newfoundland and Labrador acknowledges funding from the Labour Market Partnerships Program of the Canada-Newfoundland & Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement.

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For further information, please contact:

Michele Coughlan
Manager, Public Affairs
Newfoundland Power Inc.
Phone: (709) 737-2821 / Cellular: (709) 682-1470

Erin Squires
Senior Communications Advisor, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
Nalcor Energy
Phone: (709) 733-5299 / Cellular: (709) 697-3418
ErinSquires@nlh.nl.ca