Power System Operator/Dispatcher

City Utilities of Springfield; United States; On-site; USD 96,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Recruitment allowance

Job summary

City Utilities of Springfield seeks a Power System Dispatcher to monitor and control the electric grid, ensuring reliability and safety. You will operate the EMS, coordinate with field crews, and maintain logs and reports.

The role requires NERC BIT certification and experience in generation/transmission operations, with rotating 12-hour shifts and potential relocation support. Relocation assistance may be offered; a recruitment allowance is possible depending on circumstances and the final

Qualifications

• Education: High school graduation; a bachelor’s degree in a technical or business field is required.
• Experience: 2+ years in power generation, transmission, or distribution operation preferred.
• Certification: NERC System Operator Certification at BIT level required.

Responsibilities

• Operate EMS to maintain reliability and manage power system conditions.
• Monitor and control transmission and load to meet system needs.
• Coordinate with field personnel and Reliability Coordinator (SPP) for outages and switching.
• Ensure adherence to NERC standards and company policies.
• Prepare and maintain operation logs and monthly reports.

Skills

NERC Standards

Power system operation

Analytical skills

Customer service

Team coordination

Safety conscious

Cybersecurity awareness

Shift work

Education

Bachelor's degree required

Power systems coursework

BIT Operator certification (NERC)

Tools

Energy Management System (EMS)

Microsoft Office

Enterprise software

AI-powered applications

Job description

Connect to a career at City Utilities! CU has been connecting our community to the services they need for every day life since 1945.

Pay Details

Salary Grade 59: Minimum: $96,257.05/ year Midpoint: $120,320.89 Maximum: $144,384.74
Work Schedule: Rotating 12--hour Shifts

Job Description

To help make your transition as smooth as possible, City Utilities may offer relocation assistance to candidates joining us from outside the Springfield metropolitan area and/or a key recruitment allowance depending on individual circumstances and final offer details.

Purpose of Position

Under the direction of Manager-Power System Operations or designee, controls generation and monitors tie line flow to meet Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Integrated Marketplace demands. Monitors status of City Utilities' transmission and distribution systems and performs switching functions to ensure safety and provide continuous service.

Essential Job Functions

1. Learns and follows North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards. Must possess and retain NERC Operator Certification at a minimum Balancing, Interchange and Transmission (BIT) Operator level.
2. Takes responsibility and authority to operate City Utilities' electric system in a safe and reliable manner, in accordance with NERC reliability standards. This authority includes directing City Utilities' personnel to take actions to protect the integrity of the bulk electric system.
3. Learns and follows City Utilities' Standards of Conduct concerning treatment of transmission operating information.
4. Operates the Energy Management System (EMS) to include functions such as: Inputting data, performing operational functions to maintain reliability of the bulk electric system, restoring power during disturbances or outages, mitigating equipment overloads, and maintaining bulk power system voltage at adequate levels. Monitoring and reporting changes or inconsistencies in system operational diagrams, maps, system alarm registers, and other pertinent operating information.
5. Observes load and voltage and implementing operational decisions to ensure adequate supply and distribution of electricity to meet power demands. Contacting power generating stations to adjust outputs according to internal load and bulk power system needs and/or conditions.
6. Monitors SPP Integrated Marketplace market interface for unit commitment Start/Stop notices, Automatic Generation Control modes, and notifies power stations of status changes in a timely manner.
7. Monitors and controls power transfers with the interconnected balancing authority areas to ensure compliance with NERC reliability standards during normal and emergency operations.
8. Ensures generators are loaded in accordance with economic dispatching principles to produce power at minimum cost, consistent with operational constraints.
9. Keeps constantly informed via situational awareness tools of the conditions throughout the power system. Records on daily log sheets and through the Energy Management System power system conditions, readings, and status. Ensures hourly electronic transmittal to SPP and interconnected utility partners. Preparing monthly operational reports. Keeping other necessary records.
10. Coordinates connection/disconnection of generating units with applicable power station personnel and with the Reliability Coordinator (SPP). Communicating with field personnel and maintaining action logs for hot line hold and clearance logs.
11. Reports known and suspected problems with energy management systems to proper support staff and cyber security personnel.
12. Controls and monitors all high voltage switching to include the removal from service and restoration to service of lines and equipment requiring repair or maintenance. Responsibility includes reporting all transmission outages for all bulk electric system facilities to the SPP Reliability Coordinator.
13. Takes trouble calls and coordinates corrective action with field personnel during off-hours for the electric system.
14. Takes all prudent action to restore service in a timely manner following outages and to minimize the effect of emergencies. Ensures, on a real-time basis, that the system is operated safely. Ensures all switching procedures are implemented per plan to ensure safety of the public and City Utilities' crews and maintain power system integrity.
15. Initiates appropriate emergency procedures, when directed or when necessary, based upon own judgment. Initiates Backup Control Center operation when conditions warrant. Notifies appropriate duty personnel when additional assistance is needed.
16. Maintains awareness of cybersecurity policies, standards, and requirements. Completes routine internal cybersecurity training.
17. Performs other related duties as required or assigned by management.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: High school graduate or equivalent is required. A bachelor’s degree in an applicable technical or business field is required. At least two years of college or vocational/technical courses in electricity/electric power systems with exceptional experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree on a year-for-year basis. Computer operating familiarity is essential. Two years of progressively responsible experience in power generation or transmission or distribution operation is required. Successful completion of the Power System Operator/Dispatcher training program within one year of employment is required.

Licensing/Certification: NERC System Operator Certification at the minimum Balancing, Interchange and Transmission Operator (BIT) level is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Working knowledge of: The problems and practices of controlling generation to match load, operate power stations, and maintain and operate transmission and distribution systems; Generator operating characteristics.
• Ability to: Work well with numbers.
• Identify, analyze, and solve system malfunction problems and communicate the solution.
• Work courteously with customers, co-workers, interconnected utility partners, and regulatory agencies.
• Provide exceptional customer service to coworkers and customers across phone, in-person, and other communication channels.
• Make sound judgments in stressful situations and work well under pressure.
• Effectively utilize a range of digital tools and platforms, including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite, enterprise software, artificial intelligence-enhanced applications, and self-service systems. Must possess a willingness and capacity to learn and adapt to emerging technologies, including mobile devices, cloud-based systems, and data-driven platforms relevant to utility operations.
• Willing to: Accept responsibility for making prudent and prompt decisions and taking corrective action.
• Work rotating 12-hour shifts that will/can include nights, weekends, and holiday periods.
• Maintain awareness of cybersecurity and threats.
• Familiar with NERC Reliability Standards.
• Maintain adherence to all company policies.

Physical Requirements

• Typically, sedentary work. Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word and receive detailed information through oral communication. Must be able to pass the Ishihara color vision test and/or be able to visually differentiate and identify colors on computer monitor.
• Substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers, and close visual acuity to operate a computer is required.
• Must be able to differentiate the colors red and green on a computer monitor in order to detect energized and de-energized equipment.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a control room with office environment conditions. During emergencies, there can be substantial noise from various alarm devices, radio transmissions, and telephone calls.

Miscellaneous Requirements

• Shift work is required.
• Must be able to work successfully with diverse groups of people.
• Must be able to pass a NERC background check.
• Employees must remain alert and aware of their surroundings at all times and maintain the ability to respond to changing circumstances in a timely manner.

Testing

Testing may be required.

EEO

City Utilities offers equal employment opportunities to individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, genetic information or marital status. Learn more about CU and EEO.

About Us

Here at CU, we pride ourselves on being a progressive, community-owned utility serving 320 square miles in southwest Missouri since 1945 with electricity, natural gas, water, broadband, and public transportation services. Our vision is to deliver world-class services and exceptional value to our customers. This can only be accomplished by hiring and retaining world‑class talent who embody our core values of safety, integrity, customer service, inclusion, leadership, and respect. These guiding principals support our vision and shape our culture and are used every day in everything we do while serving our community.