Grid Operator I or II - Portland, Oregon - #113477

POWER YOUR GREATNESS!

PacifiCorp is seeking customer-centric candidates to grow and sustain our commitment to a culture of customer service excellence, environmental sustainability inclusion & belonging.

General Purpose

The Grid Operator I continues to learn and participate in activities related to exercising unilateral authority for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the bulk electric system (transmission and generation) under normal, emergency and black start conditions, complying with the NERC and WECC reliability standards.  This position has the ability to work the Transmission Operator, Balance & Interchange, or the Energy desk under minimal supervision.

In addition to Grid Operator I, the Grid Operator II will exercise unilateral authority for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the bulk electric system (transmission and generation) under normal, emergency and black start conditions, complying with the NERC and WECC reliability standards.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Grid Operator I:

•  Under minimal supervision, operate the PacifiCorp transmission system in a safe and reliable manner, including emergency operations and black start restoration.
• Monitor and maintain bulk electric system equipment, transmission lines and paths within System Operating Limits, Interconnection Reliability Operating Limits, and schedule limits at all times, making schedule curtailments as necessary.
• Monitor path loading and bus voltage for actual and potential limit violations.
• Continuously monitor frequency, Area Control Error, interties, and other applicable values for indications of inadequate control performance and take corrective action as needed.
• Monitor and direct normal and emergency switching of Main Grid facilities.
• Maintain voltages at prescribed levels per the approved voltage schedule.
• Monitor all alarms in the Areas of Responsibility and take action to correct alarm condition.
• Monitor and Operate Remedial Action Schemes, Static VAR Systems, and phase shifters per established operating procedures.
• Monitor actual interchange telemetry for errors and make corrections as necessary.
• Monitor operation of the generation function and compliance monitoring guidelines within NERC/WECC reliability standards and procedures.
• Monitor and adhere to Control Performance, Disturbance Control Standards and Operating Reserve obligations at all times, updating the market as required.

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• Perform balancing functions as required to implement market and transmission schedules (e-Tag approvals, OASIS requests, actual/scheduled/inadvertent interchange confirmations).
• Perform energy imbalance market functions as required (monitor generating unit performance, adjusting/blocking ties, review availability of regulations and ability to meet the load, evaluating equipment outages, adjusting load for dispatch intervals).
• Implement Manual Dispatch as needed for projected resource changes on congestion, software problems, system reliability issues, and market modeling errors.
• Monitor transmission constraints and verify transmission limits are correct in the market model by conforming of lines and corridors.
• Make the required notifications of system conditions to the appropriate parties during normal and emergency situations.
• Monitor WECC Unscheduled Flow Procedures and associated curtailment tools.
• Operate in compliance with PacifiCorp internal Business Practices and Procedures.
• Continue to establish and maintain effective work relationships with internal and external contacts.
• Assist in the training of junior level operators.

In addition, the responsibilities of the Grid Operator II:  

• Independently operate the PacifiCorp transmission system in a safe and reliable manner, including emergency operations and black start restoration.

Requirements

The Requirements of the Grid Operator I:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field; or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• NERC Certified System Operator or will be required to obtain certification within six months of hire.
• Intermediate knowledge of distribution and transmission systems, the established practices and procedures of those systems.
• Communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work as a team member and to clearly communicate approved actions.
• Self-motivated and ability to work under limited direction.
• Proficient with the use of personal computers including spreadsheet, database, word processing, and presentation applications.
• Ability to complete the appropriate Job Task Analysis (JTA) and a management review panel before consideration for possible advancement to next level.

In addition, the Requirements of the Grid Operator II:

• One to five years of experience as a Grid Operator, System Operator or Electric Dispatcher, or in a related field.
• NERC Certified System Operator
• Strong knowledge of distribution and transmission systems, the established practices and procedures of those systems.
• Able to work the Transmission Operator, Balance & Interchange, or the Energy desk.

Preferences

• Expert knowledge of distribution and transmission systems, the established practices and procedures of those systems.
• Strong knowledge of NERC policies and procedures.
• Experience in the operation of transmission systems in the Western Interconnection (WECC).

Additional Information

Req Id: 113477 
Company Code: PacifiCorp
Primary Location: Portland, Oregon   
Department: Power Delivery 
Schedule: Full-Time
Personnel Subarea: Exempt
Hiring Range: $90,200 - $134,200 
This position is eligible for an annual discretionary performance incentive bonus of up to 15% - 20%

Benefits: Health care, retirement, paid time off, tuition assistance, paid short-term and long-term disability, paid bereavement leave. For more information, please visit: https://careers.pacificorp.com/content/New-Benefits-Page/?locale=en_US 

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without an accommodation.

PacifiCorp is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law.

Unless otherwise required by law, all offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening including for marijuana. While marijuana is legal in several states, including Oregon, a positive test for positions in Oregon may disqualify a candidate. The company complies with the laws of Washington and California and only obtains and considers positive tests for marijuana in safety-sensitive positions or those covered by U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.