Electric cooperatives have been a hot topic in Delaware lately.
A recent report from Deloitte Consulting estimates that as many as 3,400 people are employed by the Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEEC), which is the largest electric utility in the state.
The report also indicates that electric cooperatives are one of the top 10 occupations in Delaware, which includes retail sales, information technology, and accounting.
The DEEC employs about 10,000 people, according to its website.
The jobs include: electricians, plumbers, electricians/electricians of any type, electrician/pulverizers, and mechanics/electrician.
The average annual salary for a plumber is $47,300, according the report.
The salaries range from $17,000 to $44,500, and the average pay is about $28,000 per year.
The work environment is also challenging.
While many cooperatives offer a salary and benefits package, the majority of them are not unionized.
Some cooperatives also do not pay overtime, meaning they are not required to pay for workers to do other jobs, like sick leave.
The Delaware Public Service Commission, the state’s labor department, is investigating the DEEC and other companies that are unionized, but the agency has yet to release any findings.