PSE&G, Community College Partner to Create Utility Technology Degree Program

Three-year-old program, cited as an industry best practice, has applied for a Center of Excellence designation.

Even before the formation of the Utility Workforce Planning Network, electric and natural gas companies across the country had begun to work with local education institutions to develop programs to address the industry's skilled workforce shortage.

One such program is a three year old initiative in New Jersey that is a result of a partnership between Mercer County Community College and Public Service Electric & Gas. PSE&G now employs the first graduates of the college's associate degree program in energy utility technology, and the partnership has recently been cited by Chartwell's Best Practices for Utilities and Energy Companies.

Mercer County Community College and PSE&G have submitted a proposal requesting that the site be designated a Utility Workforce Planning Network Center of Excellence, allowing the program to join a nationwide initiative designed to address the utility industry's looming skilled workforce shortage.