System Operator Trainee

Purpose

The System Operator Trainee operates the electric system efficiently and reliably. This includes management of all Restoration of Service in managing Outages, Switching, Tagging, and appropriate Documentation to provide safe working conditions in accordance with established policies, procedures, and instructions.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Required to complete a training program and become qualified as a System Operator within a reasonable amount of time. This training program will include technical material presented by EPB employees, on-the-job training, and research/study outside of work hours. System Operator Trainee's will be required to demonstrate mastery of the training material as measured by formal evaluations and by observation of the work being performed. The job is measured based on both quantity and quality of results achieved. Some examples of qualitative factors include wholesale costs, risk mitigation (how often automation or redundancy is in or out of service and when), logical analytical response to system events, proper analysis, and application of real-time data to mitigate issues, and ensuring all systems are updated and functioning properly. Quantitative factor measures include items such as reporting, system updates, or other measures of productivity.

• Responsible for monitoring electric system power flows, automation, switching, power quality, and any system anomalies.

• Analyze real-time data and make logical determinations of response to changing electrical and physical conditions.

• Manage wholesale power costs that are driven by power factors and demand by knowing the availability of system and customer resources and determining the proper time to call on these resources.

• Analyze the impact of requested system configuration changes (such as switching, cautions, etc), to determine the risks of each request. Appropriate steps must be taken to reduce risk based on the analysis.

• Update and maintain the accuracy of all electric system operations data. This includes real-time statuses of the configuration of the system, outage statuses, and other processes that are required for efficient operations. This also includes data that will be used for historical purposes to analyze the system for possible reliability improvements or answer inquiries from customers.

• Efficiently restore service to customers.

• Perform root-cause analysis of major outages and prepare formal reports that include a complete timeline of events, cause, conclusions, and corrective actions.

• Effectively communication concerning system changes and events, both internally and externally, is required.

• Use the field workforce efficiently to perform operation and restoration activities.

Education and Experience

• A minimum of a 2-Year Associates Degree in an Electrical Engineering discipline with a 2.5 GPA or higher (or equivalent education and experience as determined by EPB) is required.

• 3-5 years of experience in distribution utility operations is preferred.

• Strong computer, reporting, and analytical skills. These skills will be required to develop measures, retrieve data from systems, analyze that data, create reports, draw conclusions, and develop action plans useful for measuring and improving the performance of the electric system.

• Good working knowledge of electrical theory and electric power system operations.

• Capability to become certified as a NERC Transmission Operator. This is a potential future requirement of EPB operators or may be selected by EPB as the best option to comply with NERC regulations.

• The individual is subject to Continuing Education (including regular Refresher Training) and Proficiency Exams.

• Possess the ability to write detailed correspondence.

• Demonstrated ability to define problems, collect data (sometimes ambiguous), establish facts, be decisive, and make complicated sound decisions and conclusions in a noisy, sometimes stressful, fast-moving environment. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

• Working knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and proficient keyboarding skills to analyze and query data.

Certification(s) and Other Requirements

• A valid driver's license and demonstrate safe and responsible operation of motor vehicles. Must operate motor vehicles during normal working hours in order to perform various tasks assigned.

• Ability to write legibly, read and speak plainly to effectively communicate job results face-to-face, on the telephone, and the two-way radio using proper radio procedures; ability to read and comprehend complex instructions, correspondence, and memos.

• Ability to present information in one-on-one and small group situations to other employees of the organization.

• Ability to complete accurately the required reports, both written and on a computer, necessary for the operation of the Dispatch Center.

• Ability to interpret, read and understand all EPB primary maps, construction prints, and customer and substation one lines.

• Ability to learn to use all the necessary computer and communication equipment in the Dispatch Center.

• Ability to read, write and perform basic mathematical functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, using whole numbers, fractions and decimals.

• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

• Ability to use Algebra to analyze and solve problems as well as utilize Trigonometric and Vector Analysis functions.

• Ability to make quick, safe, and independent decisions

• Ability to work in a stressful environment with moderate noise.

Physical Demands - Additional Information

• The work environment is not a normal office environment. The employee must function in a sometimes stressful, noisy environment, performing shift work, along with being flexible to change both in the organization and processes.

• May perform other duties as assigned.

• All employees in the pursuit of their job duties should demonstrate the behaviors of the Professional Power Statement