Energy Systems Engineering Technology - Electrical
Program details
Credential: 3-Year Ontario College Advanced DiplomaThis three-year program meets the high demand for engineering technologists in electrical power generation, transmission and distribution as well as low-carbon energy systems, building systems and energy management.
The first two years of this program are similar to the Electrical Engineering Technology program with theoretical and practical experience in electrical fundamentals, motors and control, programmable logic controllers, solar photovoltaics and transformers. AutoCAD and Revit are also introduced in first-year.
Students are introduced to the economic analysis of energy savings, building automation systems, lighting systems, building science and residential/commercial/industrial energy auditing. Mechanical topics such as applied thermodynamics and fluid mechanics are introduced, and AutoCAD/Revit skills are applied to electrical and mechanical applications.
In the final year, students will specialize in conventional and renewable energy generation and use including distributed energy resources for Ontario’s low-carbon energy future. Topics such as power systems protection and control, grid transformation/smart grid, transmission and distribution, transformers, building/HVAC controls, industrial energy management and low energy design are developed.
Throughout the program, students gain experience in safety practices, safety standards and equipment, technical writing and project management.
Graduates have developed an applied theory and are prepared to perform technological functions in various aspects of electrical, power and energy fields at a technologist level.
Student availability & wage data
Conestoga College facilitates recruitment on an ongoing basis - there are no hard deadlines. Typical time frames for work terms are listed below.
Postings are accepted beginning four months before the start of a term until all students have secured employment provided the minimum 12 consecutive weeks of full-time work is met.
Work/Study Sequence
| Year | Fall (Sept - Dec) | Winter (Jan - Apr) | Spring (May - Aug) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Classes | Classes | |
| Year 2 | Classes | Classes | Work Term 1: $17.20–26 |
| Year 3 | Work Term 2: $17.20-26 | Work Term 3: $17.20-26 | Work Term 4: $17.50-27 |
| Year 4 | Classes | Classes |
Conestoga College collects data on hourly wages of co-operative education students and offers suggested ranges as a service to employers for the purpose of establishing fair and competitive compensation.
Our experience has been that employers increase wages as skills increase, particularly when employing students for more advanced work terms. The Co-operative Education Office can provide assistance to employers in establishing appropriate wage rates.
Work term capabilities
It is expected that due to the longer period of time with the employer, students will be given progressive responsibility and/or exposure to new challenges as their skills develop.
Work terms 1 - 4
- Demonstrate computer skills in Windows, Microsoft Office, AutoCAD and Revit
- Conduct simple troubleshooting and repairs of electrical equipment
- Apply soldering techniques and skills to projects
- Interpret schematic diagrams and construct related circuits for motor control applications
- Assist with energy auditing procedures
- Apply circuit measurement and analysis using both digital and analog meters
- Perform electrical assembly tasks
- Use standard test equipment to make accurate measurements
- Provide assistance to engineering teams on fundamental problems, extracting information from manuals and interpreting drawings and standards
- Perform Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/ QC) testing
- Assist with preventative maintenance
- Demonstrate troubleshooting skills for both AC and DC motors and controls
- Conduct maintenance on basic instrumentation systems
- Provide assistance to engineering teams for transformer testing
- Able to program various PLCs
Sample job titles
- AutoCAD or Revit Operator
- Electrical Energy Equipment Designer
- Electrical Technician
- Energy Auditor
- Energy Technician
- Maintenance
- Quality Assurance Assistant
- Preventative Maintenance Assistant
Program courses
To see a typical course list for this program, see the current program course information.
Post a co-op job now
Setup an account or login to Conestoga's MyCareer to post a job.
Contact information
Do you need help developing a recruitment plan or job posting, accessing wage information, or connecting with a talented co-op student? Contact:
Hemant Chauhan, P.Eng., MCPM
Employer Relations Consultant
hchauhan@conestogac.on.ca
226-898-1242