Power Distribution System Operator I - EXAM

Columbus; Kentucky; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Columbus is seeking a dispatcher to monitor the Outage Management System (OMS) and SCADA, document day-to-day operations, and coordinate outage responses. You will dispatch field crews, enter outage information, and communicate with the public during emergencies.

Requirements include one year of electrical work experience; substitutions such as college coursework or NERC certification are allowed. A valid driver's license is required.

Qualifications

• One year of experience in electrical work.
• Substitutions: significant college coursework may substitute for the experience.
• NERC System Operator Certification may substitute for the required experience.

Responsibilities

• Monitors and operates OMS to detect outages and coordinate response.
• Troubleshoots incidents and guides field crews with information to restore power.
• Enters outage data into the work management system and tracks ticket progress.
• Communicates with the public and emergency entities during normal and emergency situations.
• Dispatches field crews for outage identification, diagnosis, and repair.
• Maintains real-time outage records and prepares outage/reliability reports.
• Monitors SCADA and coordinates with supervisors on alarms and conditions.

Education

Significant college coursework in power distribution, electrical systems, electrical engineering

NERC System Operator Certification (substitute for experience)

Tools

Outage Management System (OMS)

SCADA

Work management system

Geographic Information System (GIS)

Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

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