Power System Operator​/Dispatcher

Connect to a career at City Utilities! CU has been connecting our community to the services they need for every day life since 1945. From electricity to power our lives, clean water to be healthy, natural gas to stay warm, internet to keep businesses connected, to transit services to get them where they need to go.

Pay Details:

Salary Grade 59:

Minimum: $96,257.05/ year Midpoint: $Maximum: $

Work Schedule:

Rotating 12-hour Shifts

Job Description:

To help make your transition as smooth as possible, City Utilities may offer relocation assistance to candidates joining us from outside the Springfield metropolitan area and/or a key recruitment allowance depending on individual circumstances and final offer details.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

Under the direction of Manager-Power System Operations or designee, controls generation and monitors tie line flow to meet Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Integrated Marketplace demands. Monitors status of City Utilities’ transmission and distribution systems and performs switching functions to ensure safety and provide continuous service.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Learns and follows North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards. Must possess and retain NERC Operator Certification at a minimum Balancing, Interchange and Transmission (BIT) Operator level.
2. Takes responsibility and authority to operate City Utilities’ electric system in a safe and reliable manner, in accordance with NERC reliability standards. This authority includes directing City Utilities’ personnel to take actions to protect the integrity of the bulk electric system.
3. Learns and follows City Utilities’ Standards of Conduct concerning treatment of transmission operating information.
4. Operates the Energy Management System (EMS) to include functions such as:
Inputting data, performing operational functions to maintain reliability of the bulk electric system, restoring power during disturbances or outages, mitigating equipment overloads, and maintaining bulk power system voltage at adequate levels. Monitoring and reporting changes or inconsistencies in system operational diagrams, maps, system alarm registers, and other pertinent operating information.
5. Observes load and voltage and implementing operational decisions to ensure adequate supply and distribution of electricity to meet power demands. Contacting power generating stations to adjust outputs according to internal load and bulk power system needs and/or conditions.
6. Monitors SPP Integrated Marketplace market interface for unit commitment Start/Stop notices, Automatic Generation Control modes, and notifies power stations of status changes in a timely manner.
7. Monitors and controls power transfers with the interconnected balancing authority areas to ensure compliance with NERC reliability standards during normal and emergency operations.
8. Ensures generators are loaded in accordance with economic dispatching principles to produce power at minimum cost, consistent with operational constraints.
9. Keeps constantly informed via situational awareness tools of the conditions throughout the power system. Records on daily log sheets and through the Energy Management System power system conditions, readings, and status. Ensures hourly electronic transmittal to SPP and interconnected utility partners. Preparing monthly operational reports. Keeping other necessary records.
10. Coordinates connection/disconnection of generating units with applicable power station personnel and with the Reliability Coordinator (SPP). Communicating with field personnel and maintaining action logs for hot line hold and clearance logs.
11. Reports known and suspected problems with energy management systems to proper support staff and cyber…