Modern economic realities allow a specialist with the education of a power engineer to successfully engage in commercial activities. Many companies, even quite large ones, prefer to repair and reconstruct their equipment by entering into contracts with specialized contractors. A specialist who graduated from a university with a degree in energy can create his own company and provide such services.

Contractors most often provide such services as:

• Installation of substation equipment with voltage up to 110 kV
• construction and overhaul of overhead lines up to 10 kV
• Maintenance of individual electrical installations and local power grids under the contract
• Design and calculation of electrical facilities
• Current and overhaul of equipment
• Completion of the fleet of spare parts and backup equipment at enterprises
• Carrying out high-voltage, hydraulic and metrological tests of equipment
• development, installation and commissioning of individual systems in operated networks – resource metering systems, automated control systems, measuring complexes, etc.

It should be noted that this type of activity is quite difficult for a young specialist. Without certain experience and qualifications, it will not be easy to perform high-quality work under the contract. Therefore, commercial activities in the energy sector are usually carried out by experienced specialists with the appropriate experience, knowledge and skills.

The main problem when starting your own business in the energy sector is the search for orders, the acquisition of the necessary equipment, machines, mechanisms and the selection of ordinary personnel. Most often, energy specialists who have been employed for more than one year go into "free floating". Such specialists know the whole "kitchen" of such a business from the inside, have relevant experience and reputation.

With all the difficulty of organizing one's own business, such activities bring considerable income to those who were able to organize it properly. The market for services on a contractual basis in the energy sector is very large. Its volumes are constantly growing. The services of contractors are used by large network companies, various enterprises and organizations, municipal authorities, management companies in the housing and utilities sector and individuals.

Advantages of this type of activity:

• High income with a skillful approach
• Demand in the market of services
• Independence from the employer
• Flexible work schedule

Disadvantages:

• the need to compete with other market participants (highly dependent on the region)
• Significant upfront equipment costs
• High intensity of work during the implementation of the project

For example, in the case of individual construction of a residential building, up to 10% of the project budget is spent on electricity supply. Moreover, if the house meets modern requirements, has autonomous heating, underfloor heating, and surveillance systems. The budgets of large companies and enterprises allocated for the maintenance of power grids amount to millions of rubles. A significant part of them is mastered by companies performing work under contractor agreements.

The number of heat and power supply facilities in the country is not decreasing. There will always be a need for its repair and maintenance. Therefore, the prospects for entrepreneurship in the energy sector are very favorable.