Navigating Portland General Electric Internships: A Comprehensive Guide

Portland General Electric (PGE) offers various internship programs designed to provide college students and recent graduates with real-world experience in the energy sector. These internships aim to foster professional development and expose young talent to diverse opportunities within the utility industry. PGE is committed to supporting the next generation of energy professionals who will contribute to Oregon's sustainable future.

PGE's Internship Program: An Overview

PGE’s internship programs provide hands-on opportunities to learn about different careers available at a utility company, including power system engineering. PGE sees its internship program as an excellent way to tap into new ideas and perspectives, while helping to set up students for future success. It’s a win-win for the students and PGE!

Hands-On Experience

Recently, PGE interns invited Portland State University engineering students to tour one of PGE’s battery storage facilities and get a first-hand look at power system engineering at its best. Battery energy storage systems help PGE provide reliable power by storing excess energy from sources like wind and solar, making it available during times of high demand to quickly deliver electricity to customers whenever it’s needed.

Dressed head to toe in safety gear, 17 students toured the facility, getting a glimpse of powering system engineering at its best. Portland State University Electrical and Computer Engineering professor Dr. Robert Bass said it was a learning opportunity students can only get in person.

Benefits of Interning at PGE

Interning at PGE offers several benefits, including:

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Competitive pay.
Networking opportunities to meet other students throughout the summer program.
Outstanding training opportunities in a dynamic and rapidly changing industry.
Valuable work experience for your resume.

Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program (MECOP)

PGE offers internship opportunities in cooperation with the Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program (MECOP), a college internship program that provides hands-on job experiences for students at Oregon State University, Portland State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, and University of Portland.

The MECOP program, which PGE has supported since 2008, offers students two separate six-month internships - both placements providing a unique experience. PGE System Protection Engineering manager Jill Heintz, who oversees the MECOP program at PGE, said this program is a perfect opportunity for students who aren’t sure what they want to do for a career.

Why MECOP at PGE?

“MECOP is a chance for students to get real work experience to help them find a career best suited for them,” said Heintz. “Interning at PGE is unique, in that, no one thinks about working at their utility, but once students start learning more about the opportunities available, they get inspired.”

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for PGE's Internship program, you must be at least 18 years old and have met one of the following criteria:

A high school senior that has enrolled in a college or trade school
A current college or trade school student who is returning to college or a trade school as a full-time student
A recent college graduate

You must provide verification of your student status by submitting your college transcript (an unofficial one is acceptable) or letter of acceptance to a college or trade school with your online application. You will have the opportunity to upload your documents during the online application process.

Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering and Civil Engineering students who attend PSU, OSU, U of P and OIT may be eligible for the MECOP and CECOP programs. If you are an engineering major student at these schools, please connect with your student center to learn more. Engineering Work Experience is a PSU structured internship program for undergraduate students in Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Civil & Environmental Engineering.

How to Apply

Application Process

Ready to join our team? Here’s where you’ll find all our current job listings. Or, if you’ve already applied, you can check the status of your application.

Positions are typically posted in January and applications will be accepted through March or until positions are filled.

Required Documents

Apply: Submit your resume, cover letter, proof of high school graduation or GED, and documentation of passing Math 60 (algebra) within the last 36 months or being placed in Math 65 or higher in the last 36 months.

Selection Process

Application review: If all required documents are included, the Pre-Apprentice Committee will review your application. If selected, you’ll proceed to the next phase.

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NJATC Testing: A 69-question aptitude test (33 Algebra, 36 Reading Comprehension) requiring a score of 4 or higher to advance. If you passed the test within the last 24 months, you’ll move directly to the yard assessment. If not, or if a retake is needed, the test will be scheduled at our Sherwood Training Center.

Yard assessment: Conducted over two days. Successful candidates from Day 1 advance to Day 2. The assessment includes four stations testing climbing, digging, strength and tool use, completed over a 4-hour period. Wear long pants, boots, gloves and long-sleeved shirts. Breaks and water are provided.

Sit-down interview: A pre-determined set of behavioral interview questions to assess your experiences in various scenarios.

Decision and offer: Decisions are made on the Friday of the last week of sit-down interviews. Your recruiter will inform you of the results. If offered and accepted, the start date is typically 1 to 2 months later.

Pre-employment checks: Pre-employment checks include background investigation, DOT level drug-screen / physical and DOT driving clearance.

Career Paths at PGE

Where you start out in your career is usually not where you end. For many, the journey takes them to different companies, different states, different communities. One of the amazing things at PGE is the number of people who found what they were looking for right here.

Variety of Jobs

Last count we had over 237 different types of jobs at PGE, from white collar to blue collar and every collar in between. If variety is the spice of life, your career at PGE will be anything but boring.

Specific Roles

Journey Lineman: Are you someone who thrives on hard work, is skilled with a hot stick, and is passionate about your profession and helping the community? If so, we need to talk. We’re on a quest for exceptional line workers to join our crews.

PGE Project Zero

With a focus on education, workforce development and the environment, PGE’s Project Zero empowers young adults on their journey to create a clean energy future. With PGE’s Project Zero, we’re helping more and more youth from front line communities find ways into the green jobs of tomorrow.

Benefits of Working at PGE

At PGE, we know life isn’t all about work, work, work. Our benefits will help provide the support you need to be your best self as you serve our customers and our communities. We’ve designed our benefits to keep you and your family thriving across multiple dimensions of health including physical, emotional, financial and social. We're proud to provide these valuable advantages.

PGE: An Overview

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 950,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE was ranked the No. Customer Experience Index and is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. In 2024, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.5 million and volunteered nearly 23,000 hours to more than 480 nonprofit organizations.

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