Power Distribution System Operator I - EXAM

Columbus; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Columbus seeks an entry-level utility operator to monitor the Outage Management System and SCADA, document day-to-day operations, and support field crews during outages. You will track outages, dispatch crews, and relay information to the public and emergency entities.

Applicants should have at least one year of electrical work experience, hold a valid driver's license, and be prepared to follow safety protocols.

Qualifications

• One year of experience in electrical work.
• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Experience with outage management and field dispatch activities.

Responsibilities

• Monitors OMS to detect and respond to outages and keeps field crews informed.
• Troubleshoots OMS incidents and assists in determining repair timing.
• Enters outage data into work management systems and tracks restoration progress.
• Communicates with public and emergency entities during incidents.
• Dispatches field crews for identification, diagnosis, and repair.
• Maintains real-time outage records and prepares outage reports.
• Monitors SCADA and supports safety lock-out/tag-out procedures.
• Assists GIS in updating power system records.
• Takes field readings and can operate controls when SCADA is unavailable.

Skills

OMS operations

SCADA monitoring

Electrical work

Communication skills

Safety procedures

Tools

Outage Management System (OMS)

SCADA

Job description

Under immediate supervision, is responsible for monitoring detection systems, such as the Outage Management System (OMS), and documenting the day-to-day operations of the power distribution and transmission control system; performs related duties as required (Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all of the duties that may be performed.)

• Monitors and operates the Outage Management System (OMS) to detect and respond to power distribution outages;


• Troubleshoots and promptly acts on OMS incidents to locate the trouble; assists the field crews in troubleshooting outages by providing available information; calls in emergency utility locating tickets; assists in determining if possible damage/problem should be repaired on an emergency basis or during regular work hours;


• Enters trouble tickets and outage information into computerized work management system(s); monitors progress on trouble tickets and provides accurate restoration information, as needed;


• Answers questions and collects and relays information via phone and two-way radio to others;


• Responds, orally and in writing, to a high volume of communications from the public sector, general public, and emergency entities during normal and emergency situations;


• Dispatches field crews to identify, diagnose, and repair problems on the transmission and distribution system;


• Records and maintains up-to-date real-time reported power outages, problems in distribution of power supply, and crew locations;


• Prepares and maintains daily operations and crew logs; assists in the preparation of major outage reports for system reliability history and statistics;


• Performs call-outs for field crews, system operators, and/or supervisors during off-hours emergencies;


• Monitors the transmission and distribution Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and notifies supervisor or management of unusual conditions and alarm statuses; learns to operate SCADA;


• Actively tracks locations of field personnel to serve as central control for the Division's lock-out/tag-out system and to secure safety for crews and others working on or near energized circuits;


• Follows prescribed safety rules at all times;


• Monitors and responds to concerns in ancillary systems such as the Interactive Voice Response (IVR), telephone, radio, fire alarm, and security systems;


• Assists the GIS section in updating power system record maps;


• Manually takes readings in the field for controls of the distribution/transmission system in order to facilitate emergency operations and when SCADA is unavailable; may manually operate controls in the field.

One (1) year of experience in electrical work.

• Substitution(s): Significant college coursework (twelve (12) semester or fifteen (15) quarter hours) in power distribution, electrical systems, electrical engineering, or a closely related field may substitute for the experience.


• Proof of completion of the classroom curriculum for a vocational educational program in power distribution or electrical theory may substitute for the required experience.


• North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) System Operator Certification may substitute for the required experience.

Possession of a valid driver’s license.

The City of Columbus is an Equal Opportunity Employer