Distribution Operator

AES Corporation; Kentucky; On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

AES Ohio is seeking a Distribution Operator to control and operate the company’s distribution resources, including circuit breakers, switches, and voltage regulation equipment. You will ensure compliance with PUCO regulations and AES safety standards while coordinating switching operations on the mainline distribution system.

Under limited direction, you will implement real-time actions, mentor trainees, and support outage scheduling, system modeling, and contingency analysis to maintain

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or similar technical field preferred; associate degree accepted with math/electrical aptitude.
• Ability to understand complex instructions and electrical theory, and to work with little supervision.

Responsibilities

• Implements real-time actions, including shedding firm load under the transmission System Operator.
• Directs safety and reliability actions for the distribution grid and coordinates field crews.
• Oversees switching and tagging to achieve LOTO isolation on mainline equipment during outages.
• Responds to disturbances to ensure continuous electricity supply to customers.
• Communicates system status to colleagues and management during abnormal conditions.
• Monitors reactive reserves to maintain system reliability.
• Mentors Operator Trainees in the operator training program.
• Reviews and updates departmental operating procedures annually.
• Uses the system model to simulate removals and review contingencies.
• Transfers operations knowledge to Back-up Control Center when needed.
• Assists outage scheduling, writes switch orders, and analyzes load flow for outages.
• Develops and maintains tools for model updates, contingency analysis, EMS/ADMS tasks, and data quality.
• Maintains knowledge of substations, distribution/transmission systems, and safety requirements.

Skills

Communication

Electrical theory

Analytical thinking

Decision making

Grid operations

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Associate degree in math/electrical theory

Tools

Grid operations systems

Databases/Spreadsheets/Word processing

Job description

Are you ready to be part of a company that’s not just talking about the future, but actively shaping it? Join The AES Corporation, the largest US-based global power company with a team of 8,300 employees across 12 countries. AES has been ranked #1 by BloombergNEF in renewable energy sales to corporations in the US and Americas for five consecutive years, providing electricity for millions of people worldwide. We are proud to foster a strong workplace culture, earning prominent positions in Great Place to Work™ rankings across the markets where we operate. AES was also named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 13th consecutive year in 2026, highlighting our dedication to integrity, transparency, and responsible business practices. Our spirit of innovation continues to earn industry recognition. AES is the only seven-time winner of the Edison Electric Institute’s Edison Awards in the twenty-first century, a distinction honoring global leadership in advancing the electric power industry. If you’re ready to be part of a company that’s not just adapting to change, but driving it, AES is the place for you. We’re not just building a more sustainable future, we’re powering it.

AES Ohio serves approximately 500,000 customers across a 6,000 square-mile service area in Southwest-Central Ohio. This includes 14,800 miles of distribution lines and over 150 substations. Under limited direction, the Distribution Operator controls and operates the company’s distribution resources—including circuit breakers, switches, voltage regulating equipment, and other devices associated with the system. The role ensures compliance with PUCO regulations and AES safety and operating standards, while coordinating and directing all switching operations on the mainline distribution system.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Implements real-time actions, up to and including shedding firm load under direction of the transmission System Operator
• Directs all actions for safety and reliability of the distribution electric grid, including field crews, electrical equipment, and customers in matters that affect distribution grid reliability
• Directs all switching and tagging activities to achieve LOTO isolation on mainline distribution equipment for both scheduled and outage situations
• Responds to distribution disturbances within established regulatory, industry, and company standards to assure a continuous supply of electricity to customers
• On point to communicate to co-workers and management the status of abnormal system conditions
• Monitors and utilizes reactive reserves to ensure system reliability
• Mentor Distribution Operator Trainees through the Operator training program.
• Annually review and update department Standard Operating Procedures
• Utilize the system model to simulate removing distribution elements from service and review resulting contingency analysis to prevent any real time violations which may occur
• Responsible for being knowledgeable of the procedures to transfer operations to the Back-up Control Center and implementing if necessary
• Assist with outage scheduling – writing switch orders, coordinating resources, customer and, running load flow studies to evaluate outages and contingencies, planning projects and looking for conflicting outages, develop mitigation strategies for reliability concerns
• Assist with developing and maintaining department tools – support model updates, state estimator and contingency analysis troubleshooting, monitor and resolve solution cost or high iteration alarms, solve bad data problems, PI situational awareness displays, work with EMS staff on ADMS updates and model pushes
• Develops and maintains knowledge of the Company’s substation, distribution and transmission systems, relay protection schemes, safety requirements, electrical theory, field equipment capabilities and associated operating procedures and guidelines

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline is preferred but not required. Associate’s degree with demonstrated aptitude in math and electrical theory accepted, especially when paired with relevant work experience in electrical utility operations Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered Company-level training completion required
• Skills Strong written and verbal communication Ability to comprehend complex instructions and technical documentation Proficiency in algebra, geometry, and electrical theory Skilled in using databases, spreadsheets, and word processing tools Ability to make sound judgments and crucial decisions in short amounts of time Ability to understand and assimilate complex technical information Ability to work with little supervision and only general guidelines at times Ability to operate grid operations systems and other computer platforms Capable of interpreting diverse data sets to ensure grid reliability Able to solve practical problems with limited standardization Authorized to take real-time actions and shed firm load during emergencies Responsible for decisions impacting employee safety and equipment integrity Ability to perform physical tasks such as standing for extended periods and occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds Ability to work rotating shifts and respond effectively to changing system conditions Comfortable working in a control room environment with continuous monitoring responsibilities
• This position follows a 12-hour rotating shift schedule, with the department providing 24/7 coverage.

AES is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed to building strength and delivering long-term sustainability through diversity and inclusion. Respecting all backgrounds, differences and perspectives enables us to improve the lives of our people, customers, suppliers, contractors, and the communities in which we live and work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or expression, race, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. E-Verify Notice: AES will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s I-9 to confirm work authorization. Accelerating the future of energy, together Our people are our energy and have transformed AES into the type of energy company that the world needs today and in the future. Coming from all walks of life, our people share a passion for improving lives by advancing the energy sector through innovation, collaboration and action. We are working in an industry that requires new thinking and ways of working together to create solutions that are both economically and environmentally viable, not just one or the other. We are looking for passionate people to join us in our mission to accelerate the future of energy.