Control Room Operator

Reading Municipal Light Department

Job Position Description

Job Title: Control Room Operator

Reports to: General Foreman Operations

Division: Operations

Work Location: 230 Ash St, Reading, MA

Revision Date: 9-23-20

Reviewed By: Janet S. Walsh

Under general supervision by the General Foreman Operations, assisted by the Assistant General Foreman Operations, performs operating tasks in the main Control Room located at 230 Ash Street including related to the safe and efficient support of the RMLD operations and customers. All functions related to integrated automation subsystems (SCADA, Outage Management System (OMS), Automated/Advanced Metering System, Integrated Work Order Management System, GIS, Distribution Management System (DMS), etc.),

communication systems dispatch (two‑way radio, cell net, IVR, etc.), emergency response, security monitoring and control, basic customer service after normal business hours and occasionally during business hours if deemed necessary. The position requires shift duty in order to provide 24/7 continuous coverage of system operations.

• Monitors status of substation and field switching equipment via SCADA.
• Operates switching equipment for routine or emergency work, Transmission owner, and REMVEC Operating Procedures, as directed by authorized Control Authority, in accordance with the RMLD Switching and Tagging policy.
• Monitors Outage Management System (OMS) for outage detection. Assists in the isolation and restoration via SCADA, if applicable, as directed by authorized Control Authority.
• Maintains, updates, corrects and distributes all required reports and records related to OMS.
• Maintains, updates, and monitors all required reports, records related to operation of the Distribution Management System (DMS) and its communication with substations and field remote devices.
• Produces outage management reports to support efforts such as troubleshooting, assistance in restoration efforts, prioritization, maintenance and engineering analysis.
• Monitors and reports the functionality of the fixed network and metering system and the fiber loop system.
• Maintains, updates, corrects and distributes all required reports, records related to operation of the distribution, fixed network, fiber systems and any RMLD distributed energy sources.
• Operates system and maintains records and logs for all communication systems (two‑way radio, cell net, IVR, etc.).
• Assists in the Work Order Management System to retrieve historic data and other pertinent data.
• Assists in the update and management of the GIS; queries GIS data to provide pertinent information and documents related to any distribution function including dig safes, system reconfiguration, outages, equipment profile, or any other GIS database information to support operations of the distribution system.
• Monitors the functionality and data input/export between all subsystems within the DMS.
• Assists in the development of technical training programs. Assists the General Foreman of Operations in the development, review and implementation of individual Career Development Program.
• Participates in tailboard switching briefings in accordance with the RMLD Switching and Tagging Policy. Provides any known data and input regarding hazards, etc. pertinent to a safe and successful Switching Order.
• Assists in enforcing all operational safety policies and procedures. Reports violations and assists in preparing lessons learned. Provides recommendations for improving the efficiency and/or safety of procedures to the General Foreman Operations and the Director of Engineering and Operations.
• Assists in ensuring compliance with applicable NERC security regulations, etc.
• Completes and maintains required reporting documents, including logging data, trending data etc. to support system reliability, maintenance of Asset Management database and overall accuracy.
• Ability to be qualified as a Switchman and Tagman.

Education: High school or electrical trade school graduate, with specialized courses in the electrical field or computer science. Associate degree in computer science, cartography, engineering, or equivalent as determined by the RMLD, preferred.

Experience: One-year technical experience in an electric utility distribution system or equivalent. Experience in troubleshooting support of electric distribution operations using control room computer systems assets, remote switching and/or dispatching of electrical distribution equipment via SCADA, preferred. Experience operating relatively complex communications systems related to system distribution, metering, safety, dispatch, etc. Familiarity with dispatching of Code Blue and/or activating other emergency operating procedures with accuracy, desired.

Familiarity with GIS mapping and editing, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of control room computer systems assets. Good command of the English language. Good writing skills, excellent record‑keeping skills,…