SCE Interns: Turning Passion Into Purpose

Meet the summer interns at Southern California Edison who are gaining an early start to a fulfilling career.

Growing up along the Massachusetts coastline, hydropower is something Southern California Edison intern, Natalie Ho, knows well.

"I've sailed since I was seven and it plays a major role in my passion for water and environmental systems," said Ho. "My connection to the waves inspired me to pursue hydropower on a larger scale."

In high school, she developed a turbine that harnesses wind and ocean tides, creating enough energy to power her local yacht club. Now, the Cornell University environmental engineering student is spending summer in the back country of Big Creek, living in a remote part of SCE's service area that few people get to experience.

Ho is interning with SCE's Hydro Licensing and Implementation team, where their primary focus is overseeing the nine powerhouses, 11 dams and reservoirs that comprise the Big Creek Hydroelectric System, which generates clean power.

Ho is just one of 125 SCE interns whose passions are driving innovative projects across the company. SCE has a variety of positions, all with different areas of focus, so the opportunities are vast. Interning at Edison can place you on a path that allows growth within the company, with opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career.

Mihir Kulkarni is a fellow intern - a California native, racing to the top of his field, studying mechanical engineering at University of California, Los Angeles, and building electric Formula One-style cars for fun as part of the Bruin Formula Racing Club.

His interest in the electric automotive world led him to SCE where he's getting a look under the hood of clean power.

"I love working with electric cars in my personal life, so it's fun to pursue that passion in a professional setting," Kulkarni said. "I would've never guessed I could be doing that at a utility."

Kulkarni is interning with SCE's Generation Catalina Operations and Strategy team on Catalina Island. He's helping model the impacts of electrification and supporting SCE's first utility-owned rooftop solar installation on the island, which will help power EVs.

By doing meaningful work, even at the intern level, students are better prepared for the workforce they are about to enter and can make impactful contributions at an early age.

"We've created our internship program to mirror what a real day in the life at SCE would look like," said Tricia Joyner, SCE principal manager of Talent Acquisition. "We want to set our interns up for success, preparing them for an opportunity as a full-time team member and make that transition as seamless as possible."

After this summer, Ho plans to continue her work, pursuing a career building technologies that provide people with clean energy.

It may be just a few months they'll spend at SCE, but a lifetime of real-world experience they can use to make a difference.

"I want to take what I've learned about turbine technology and see if it can be scaled up using tidal waves," said Ho. "I'm excited to see if it could contribute to our clean energy future."

For more information about SCE internships, visit edisoncareers.com. Internship positions are typically posted in the fall.