From classroom to control room: Jefferson State DSO class with Alabama Power energizes future workforce

Ten weeks. Eight graduates. Dozens of new skills. One big opportunity.

The latest graduating class of the Jefferson State Community College Distribution System Operator Training Program crossed the finish line this week, marking the latest chapter in how Alabama Power is preparing the next generation to help keep electricity flowing across the state.

The workforce development partnership between Jefferson State, Alabama Power and the company’s Power Delivery operations was designed to answer a growing need with a fresh approach. Instead of waiting until candidates are hired to introduce them to the electric grid and control center operations, students spend 10 weeks building a foundation that prepares them for the company’s formal distribution system operator training program. This is the third such class held at the school.

Think of it as a head start.

“The electric utility industry has changed so much in the past 15 years, and the amount of technology and innovation is going to continue,” said David Freeman, Alabama Power Distribution Control Center manager. “These programs are very important to help develop new talent and keep our workforce moving forward and staying up with the advancing technologies.”

Students entered the program with little or no electrical experience. By graduation, they had explored everything from how electricity travels from the generating plant to a customer’s home to operating distribution systems through simulations that mirror real-world scenarios. Along the way, they learned about outage management, switching procedures, substations, customer communications and the technology that helps operators monitor and manage Alabama Power’s electric system.

They also visited the Distribution Control Center (DCC), spent time learning alongside experienced operators and even took a turn in the seat, experiencing the fast-paced decision-making required to safely operate one of the state’s most critical systems.

Lucas Stokes from Pelham was one of the eight graduates from the latest class. He said the combination of classroom material and practical experience was valuable.

“It was a lot of hands-on training at the Alabama Power building downtown,” Stokes said. “We were using ADMS, which is the Advanced Distribution Management System, and it was a challenge learning that. It’s a very useful skill, and a lot of utilities use something similar, so it was a blessing to learn that.”

The curriculum was intentionally built to mirror the knowledge and skills new distribution system operators need before entering Alabama Power’s formal training. Students also sharpened practical skills through resume preparation, interview coaching and structured evaluations designed to identify candidates who are ready for the next step.

The result is more than a graduation ceremony. It’s a stronger pipeline for one of the company’s most critical positions.

Distribution system operators work behind the scenes around the clock, directing the flow of electricity across Alabama, coordinating planned work, responding to outages and helping restore power safely and efficiently when severe weather strikes.

Stokes said he enjoyed learning the role the DCC plays in power restoration efforts, working in conjunction with the linemen in the field.

“The operator is kind of the Oz behind the curtain, they do a lot to help the line crews, and in some cases they get the lights back on themselves,” Stokes said. “Whether it be de-energizing the lines, so the linemen can work on it, or just getting lights back on without anybody doing any manual labor. That’s what an operator does.”

As Alabama Power looks to the future, the Jefferson State partnership has proven to be a repeatable model that can grow alongside the company’s workforce needs. It also strengthens ties with higher education while giving students a direct pathway into a career supporting reliable electric service for millions of Alabamians.

“Our goal with the Workforce Education Department here is really to tailor our programs specifically designed around business and industry needs in our community, so having crucial partners, such as Alabama Power, makes that possible for us to meet the needs of those workforce opportunities in our community,” said Britney McClung, director of Workforce Programs at Jefferson State.

The Alabama Power program with Jefferson State was recognized as a Regional Work-Based Learning Best Practice and was a contender for the Alabama Seal of Excellence in Work-Based Learning.

For the graduates, the accomplishment is significant. They now possess a certificate that should make them a more attractive hire for any electric utility in the country.

“We’re fortunate at Alabama Power, we have an industry-leading operation, and they can take the skills they’ve learned here and be valuable anywhere across the nation,” Freeman said. “They’re going to be well positioned for the future.”