ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR (DOQ)

Brownsville Public Utilities Board; Brownsville (TX); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Brownsville Public Utilities Board is seeking an Energy System Operator Apprentice to assist in operating the BES, including real-time SCADA supervision and coordination of outages under ERCOT and NERC guidelines.

You will monitor system parameters, support load forecasting, coordinate gas and energy purchases, and perform dispatcher tasks while learning BPUB procedures and safety standards in a rotating shift environment.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in an electrical field or related discipline.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
• Willingness to obtain NERC certification within required timelines.

Responsibilities

• Operate the BPUB BES and SCADA in real time following ERCOT/NERC rules.
• Coordinate outages and switching with ERCOT and local centers.
• Assist with load forecasting and energy purchases as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Ability to work rotating shifts

English proficiency

Education

Associate degree in electrical field

One year dispatching experience

NERC System Operator Certification (preferred)

Tools

SCADA system

BPUB GIS system

ERCOT Outage Scheduler

BPUB Customer Information System

Job description

Salary $29.70 - $53.46 Hourly, Depending on Qualifications

Job Summary

Under general supervision, performs skilled and technical work in the operation of the Brownsville Public Utilities Board ( BPUB ) Bulk Electric System ( BES ) for the delivery of electricity from BPUB’s generation resources to the transmission and distribution systems.

Responsibilities

Energy System Operator Apprentice

Operates the BPUB BES system in compliance with standard utility practices, BPUB procedures & department guides, Electric Reliability Council of Texas ( ERCOT ) Guides & Protocols, and North America Electric Reliability Corporations ( NERC ) Standards; Operates the electric system Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition ( SCADA ) computer system in real-time operation.

Monitors the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) system parameters and ensures that equipment is within operational limits, including but not limited to system frequency, and voltage levels; reports limit violations; mitigates operating emergencies to avoid uncontrollable failure of components or cascading outages of the interconnection.

Assists with coordinating outages and switching orders with BPUB personnel, ERCOT , and adjacent Local Control Centers LCCs.

Carries out dispatcher-related duties, such as answering customer calls, addressing customer inquiries, creating service requests and service orders from internal and external customers, dispatching field personnel as needed, and a variety of other clerical and receptionist duties related to the dispatch function.

Assists with creating an hour-by-hour forecast of energy required to meet the needs of all BPUB customers; adjusts load forecasts as needed.

Assists with gathering unit availability and unit cost from BPUB’s resources (Silas Ray, Sendero and Hidalgo) and reports it to BPUB’s Qualified Scheduling Entity ( QSE ) and works with QSE to schedule generation and energy purchases to meet BPUB’s load forecast while facilitating the sale of excess energy into the market.

Completes other job duties as assigned

Energy System Operator

(in addition to the duties listed above)

Coordinates outages with BPUB personnel, ERCOT , and adjacent Local Control Centers LCCs, before entering outages into the ERCOT outage portal for approval; Creates switching orders, and coordinates with personnel involved or affected by the switching.

Creates, coordinates, and directs switching orders for Transmission, Distribution, Generation outages, and load transfers with personnel involved or affected by the switching.

Calculates gas required, orders gas from gas supplier and sets up transportation for gas in order to run Silas Ray generation as scheduled by QSE .

Senior Energy System Operator

(in addition to the duties listed above)

Assists in coordinating severe weather drills, preparing annual Black Start Plan & associated tests, and with BPUB’s Compliance Responsibilities, ensuring ECC complies with industry standards and regulations, including NERC , ERCOT , Public Utility Commission of Texas ( PUCT ), and Texas Reliability Entity ( TRE ).

Provides system improvement recommendations based on Outage Coordination/Switching Procedure limitations.

Lead Energy System Operator

(in addition to the duties listed above)

Serves as a Subject Matter Expert ( SME ) for the Energy Control Center ( ECC ) NERC Compliance Program, and represents BPUB at ERCOT and/or NERC meetings and workshops.

Coordinates severe weather drills and prepares annual Black Start Plan and associated tests.

Assists ECC Manager with reports and projects and contributes to specific objectives and outcomes as directed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Energy System Operators have the authority and responsibility to take and/or direct timely and appropriate real-time actions. Such actions shall include, but are not limited to, cancelling outages, dispatching real and reactive power resources, and shedding of firm load to prevent or alleviate system operating limit violations or as needed to maintain the safe and reliable operation of the BES . These actions are performed without obtaining approval from higher-level personnel within the BPUB . May provide training and guidance to less experienced staff.

Provides leadership, supervision, training, and guidance to all departmental staff. May assume the duties and responsibilities in the absence of a manager.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge important to perform the functions of the job include:

Knowledge of BPUB’s power delivery system and all related policies and procedures.

Knowledge of ERCOT Guides and Protocols.

Knowledge of NERC Standards and Compliance program.

Knowledge of the ERCOT Transmission Operator ( TOP ) Coordinated Functional Registration ( CFR ) Joint Registration Organization ( JRO ) responsibility matrix.

Knowledge of all occupational hazards, safety practices, and standards in the operation.

Knowledge of BPUB ECC Procedures (Black Start, Load Shedding, Emergency Plans, etc.)

Knowledge of equipment switching procedures.

Knowledge of electrical theory and power production.

Knowledge of basic radio codes and dispatch operations.

Knowledge of procedures involved in dispatching customer service.

Knowledge of basic office procedures.

Skills important to perform the functions of the job include:

Well-developed communication skills and above average customer service skills.

Above average reasoning and mathematical skills.

Skill in preparing clear and concise written reports and maintaining records in English.

Strong oral and written communication skills in English; Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Skill in the effective use of BPUB’s current SCADA system.

Skill in the effective use of the ERCOT Outage Scheduler.

Skill in the effective use of BPUB’s trouble call reporting system.

Skill in the effective use of BPUB’s GIS system, including add-ons developed by the GIS department. Skill in the effective use of BPUB’s Customer Information System.

Skill in the effective use of BPUB’s telephone and IVR system.

Skill in the effective use of BPUB’s informational paging system.

Skill in the effective use of BPUB’s radio communication system.

Skills in performing tasks using Microsoft Office programs.

Skill in responding quickly and calmly in emergency situations.

Skill in resolving problems or situations requiring the use of good judgment.

Skill in the operations of data entry equipment sufficient to perform basic data entry.

Interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers.

Abilities important to perform the functions of the job include:

Ability to understand complex, oral, and written instructions.

Ability to work under indirect supervision and capable of performing accurate work under stressful conditions.

Ability to work rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays.

Must have a high intellectual and problem-solving ability.

Ability to travel (all methods of transportation) for training and meetings as needed.

Ability to forecast the total electrical load (MWs) for all BPUB customers as a whole.

Ability to distinguish basic colors.

Ability to communicate effectively via radio using three part communication.

Ability to remain at work for multiple days during emergency situations.

Ability to develop, organize, and supervise the work of the personnel directly assigned to the ECC .

Ability to perform all BPUB Bulk Electric System ( BES ) tasks.

Education & Experience Requirements

Energy System Operator Apprentice

An associate’s degree in an electrical field, Information Technology, or a related field and one (1) year of dispatching, call center, or a related field are required. An equivalent combination of relevant education and related experience may substitute for the minimum requirements.

One (1) additional year of experience in Energy System Operations is required.

Four (4) additional years of experience in Energy System Operations are required.

Seven (7) additional years of progressively responsible experience in Energy System Operations are required.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Energy System Operator Apprentice

Requires a valid Texas Driver License or receipt of a valid Texas Driver’s License within 90 days of relocation to Texas and a safe driving record, as measured by company policy.

Employee must pass the NERC System Operator Certification test within one (1) year of appointment.

Energy System Operator

Must possess a current NERC System Operator Certification.

Senior-Lead Energy System Operator

Must possess a current ERCOT System Operator Certification.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Some physical effort may require lifting and carrying of moderately light and/or heavy boxes or objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Time is primarily spent in a control room environment with periods of high stress activity. Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time in front of a computer monitor. Work is on a 12-hour shift, rotating weekly, weekends and holidays included. Continuous voice communication via telephone and radio is required. Must be available to travel for training and meetings.

Eligibility for Employment

In addition to any and all other qualifications required for employment stated under the Brownsville P.U.B Personnel Policies and Procedures Policy No. 39:

• Prohibit the hiring of any person who is related to BPUB Executive Management within the third degree of Consanguinity or second degree by Affinity; and
• Based on certain prohibitions of the Charter and Statute on nepotism, no person can be hired who shall be related to any member of the Board of Directors or City Commission within the third degree of consanguinity or second degree by affinity