System Operator

About the Role

As a training role with direct supervision, you will assist in performing operational planning, monitoring, coordinating, and operating the transmission and distribution system and the JEA balancing area. This includes compliance with all applicable corporate policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, as well as taking corrective action to mitigate pre- and post-contingency events to maintain a reliable JEA and interconnected system.

Guidelines are available but may not be fully applicable, requiring independent action, judgment, and decision-making to interpret, analyze, and adapt methods, techniques, and procedures. You will solve problems within established parameters and identify or recommend responses to new and unusual circumstances. Regular contact with individuals in other work groups and external organizations is required to plan, coordinate, or advise on work efforts, resolve problems, and communicate information.

Responsibilities

• Develop plans, monitor, operate, control, and review outcomes to maintain an efficient, cost-effective, and reliable system through system dispatch, market coordination, switching, operating system equipment, and investigative tasks, consistent with JEA policies, procedures, tariffs, and regulatory requirements.
• Study switching requests, authorize based on reliability and safety considerations, and monitor switching on transmission lines, switching stations, bulk power substations, and distribution circuits.
• Monitor system parameters and maintain proper voltage levels and energy flows within prescribed limits.
• Respond to alarms from substations and underground transmission line pump houses, analyze problems, and take appropriate action, including issuing malfunction reports.
• Perform incident management processes and documentation.
• Maintain continuous radio communication with field employees.
• Operate an Energy Management System and other data communications equipment, as well as required software and hardware applications.
• Issue safety hold tags and clearances to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of electrical system lines and equipment.
• Perform coordination roles within JEA and other reliability organizations.
• Forecast system load and variable resources, balance electric load and electric generation.
• Forecast and estimate fuel and fuel delivery system requirements for electric generation.
• Perform scheduling functions, including generation on-line or off-line to meet load and reliability requirements, interchange between control areas pursuant to NERC and FRCC policies, and emergency power to and from other utilities.
• Determine the need and implement emergency procedures, which may include curtailment of transmission services, purchasing emergency power, switching, re-dispatch of generation devices, and interruption of firm and non-firm load.
• Perform system dispatch, maintain and schedule reserves, and handle market coordination tasks for the economic operation of JEA resources to meet load and interchange requirements within operating, fuel, reliability, or environmental constraints.
• Monitor conventional and variable generation levels, operating capability, operating limits, ramp rate, and control status.
• Monitor security analysis programs, troubleshoot software systems, and take corrective action to ensure security analysis tools are functioning properly.
• Operate study load flow and contingency analysis to test the system for changes in generation, interchange, tap changes, topology changes, and voltage schedules, and develop mitigation plans to ensure transmission security in the operating horizon.
• Coordinate with other areas to develop maintenance schedules for transmission, distribution, and generation facility outages in the operating horizon, meeting reliability and other business considerations.
• Apply study results to approve or disapprove maintenance requests in the operating horizon.
• Monitor online security analysis output and, based on output, utilize study load flow and contingency analysis to develop mitigation plans to ensure adequate system security.
• Perform network studies, develop mitigation plans, and take action to ensure transmission security is maintained at acceptable levels in the operating horizon.
• Ensure adequate voltage schedules of balancing area generating resources.
• Evaluate the impact of protection systems being out of service and take corrective action.
• Maintain accurate data records on load, generation, interchange, and transmission service.
• Perform other job-related work as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering and two (2) years of system operator experience in one or more of the following disciplines: balancing and interchange, transmission, or bulk distribution.
• OR an Associate Degree in an engineering-related discipline or successful completion of Military Power Training School in Electrical, Electronic, Communications, or Computer Technologies and four (4) years of system operator experience in one or more of the following disciplines: balancing and interchange, transmission, or bulk distribution.
• A regular valid driver’s license is required prior to employment and must be maintained during employment in this classification.
• North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Combined Balancing and Interchange/Transmission Operator or higher certification is required.

Pay

The full salary range for this position is $110,406.40 - $136,364.80. Salary will vary based on education, experience, skills, and abilities.