SaskEnergy PDRs are up for a challenge

SaskEnergy Planning and Dispatch Representatives (PDRs) help coordinate daily activities and support emergency response for our Operations teams across the province. No two days are the same, which is why they all have one thing in common — they work well under pressure!

“A good PDR is adaptable, communicates well, and has the ability to stay calm when things shift quickly,” says Planning & Dispatch Representative Breanna Cattell who works at SaskEnergy’s Regina Service Centre. “You have to be able to reprioritize in real time without losing your footing.”

“Within the PDR roles there are a variety of responsibilities,” explains fellow PDR Brittni Panchyk. “From taking calls about customer concerns or emergencies to managing the scheduling for our operations activities to ensure efficient planning of work and quality service for our customers.”

“I think the most important part of my job is keeping all the people I deal with as informed as I possibly can,” says Jackie Mitchell, a PDR in SaskEnergy’s Saskatoon office.

“One call can change the entire day’s schedule, so you need to be able to think on your feet and make quick decisions so our Operations teams can get their work done efficiently.”

Prior to joining the team at SaskEnergy, Jackie's background included working dispatch for school buses, the oil and gas industry and agricultural sector, managing departments at multiple school districts, and running her own motor coach touring company. Her diverse experience has served her well as a PDR and she  is well known around the office for her ability to navigate complex situations while maintaining a customer-first approach.

“I like interacting with our customers,” she says. “We all work together as a team to make sure we are able to provide them with the service they expect.”

SaskEnergy’s PDRs come from a variety of backgrounds. However, they all share similar core skills that serve them well in their current roles.

“It was a pretty different world than a Crown utility, but it taught me to stay calm under pressure and to think quickly when things get unpredictable,” says Breanna, who formerly worked as a child youth worker. “A big part of being a PDR is effective communication and keeping things moving behind the scenes. More goes into it than most people realize!”

Brittni, who joined SaskEnergy less than a year ago, spent 11 years as a high school English teacher.

“On paper you might not think that being a teacher and a PDR have much in common,” she admits. “While there definitely has been a learning curve with the training and the company knowledge, the skills I rely on every day came from my time as a teacher. Multi-tasking, prioritizing tasks, empathy when providing customer service, and maintaining professionalism and a problem-solving mentality while under pressure are all critical in both roles.”

In addition to the skills and experience SaskEnergy’s PDRs bring with them, they are provided with on-the-job training in both practice and real-time environments. This helps to prepare them for their diverse responsibilities and integrate them into the tight-knit teams they’ll rely on every day.

“There are a lot of moving parts and it's really teamwork and communication that hold everything together, especially when things get busy,” says Breanna.

“That constant collaboration and teamwork have been of the biggest surprises for me in this role,” adds Brittni. “Although we are all working on different desks, everyone is so helpful and willing to assist one another. It’s my favourite aspect of the job — we’re always joking with one another and lifting one another up.”

Another defining trait of SaskEnergy’s PDRs? They’re always up for a challenge.

“I’ve been a PDR for eight years and it still keeps me on my toes,” Breanna says. “I applied for the job because I was drawn to the fast-paced, operational side of things. I like problem solving and adapting on the fly, and I love that it keeps me thinking every single day.”

“It can be a real balancing act, and sometimes we’re impacted by things we have no control over,” agrees Jackie. “While that can sometimes be challenging, I enjoy that the job is never the same and that each day brings something new."