Diversity In Action

E.ON U.S. offers a progressive environment for engineers in energy

Grads with utility industry experience have an edge. Employees are encouraged to get appropriate professional licenses

Engineering grads can expect to work on cutting-edge solutions at E.ON U.S. (Louisville, KY), an energy company that “values a clean environment and community involvement,” says Renea McClure, manager of employee diversity and college relations.

E.ON U.S. owns two utility businesses. Louisville Gas and Electric Company serves 318,000 natural gas customers and 390,000 electric customers in Louisville and sixteen surrounding counties. Kentucky Utilities Company, based in nearby Lexington, serves 518,000 customers in seventy-seven Kentucky counties and five Virginia counties.

E.ON U.S. reports steady demand growth and is highly ranked among U.S. utilities for its efficiency. It has invested in clean coal research, carbon sequestration studies and improved energy efficiency programs.

In August 2009, E.ON announced that customers of both its businesses would receive part of their energy from wind power. Approval is expected in March 2010 from the Kentucky Public Service Commission for the Grand Ridge Energy Center in LaSalle County, IL to provide 109.5 megawatts of wind capacity for twenty years.

McClure notes that like many other companies affected by the current economy, E.ON is not hiring as many people this year. But opportunities are still available, and E.ON is especially interested in candidates with utility industry experience and knowledge.

“For current students, that would include performing well in applicable coursework and co-op or intern opportunities related to the utility industry,” McClure says. “We look for the ability to think critically and work effectively in a cooperative, team-oriented environment where different perspectives are welcomed and respected.”

The company typically hires EEs, MEs, CEs and computer engineers. “We launched a new customer care information system in 2009, so we keep an eye out for individuals with SAP experience as well,” McClure notes.

E.ON has partnerships with professional groups at local universities, including NSBE, SWE and SHPE. It has hosted and sponsored minority engineering society job fairs at local colleges and universities. The company’s charitable foundation funds minority scholarships at universities in Kentucky.

Internships and co-ops are available to sophomores and up, McClure says. “While we do not promise or guarantee any student a job, the goal of our internships and co-op programs is to give each party an opportunity to evaluate the other, with the ultimate outcome being a job offer,” she says. “We have used co-op programs very successfully to that end.”

Each student is assigned a mentor who helps with the co-op assignment and maintains contact when the student returns to school. “We’ve found that this relationship building is key to retaining students as possible new hires,” says McClure.

Once on board, new engineering hires must complete compliance training related to their discipline and job. They’re also encouraged to obtain professional licensing in their specialties.

Students can expect to work in a “highly progressive” environment, says McClure. Louisville Gas & Electric received an Exemplary Voluntary Efforts award from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2004. The award recognizes companies that have demonstrated significant efforts to create an inclusive workforce by increasing employment opportunities for minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and veterans.

“Our benefits, policies and programs take a holistic approach to providing for employees’ physical, emotional and financial well being,” she says. Among the benefits: dependent care reimbursement accounts, adoption assistance, a family assistance program, flextime, tuition reimbursement, a scholarship program for employees’ children, a home computer purchase program, a wellness program that includes fitness center fee reimbursement, and a “special needs” room for personal and health-related issues.

E.ON sponsors educational programs involving math, science and technology in public elementary, middle and secondary schools and public and private post-secondary schools.

Employees donate thousands of dollars to employee giving campaigns. They also volunteer to support charitable agencies and diverse interests, from sports and business activities to community festivals and fairs.

D/C