System Operator

JEA; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

JEA in Jacksonville, FL, seeks a System Operator to assist in planning, monitoring, coordinating, and operating the transmission and distribution system under policy and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include scheduling generation, managing outages, responding to alarms, and performing system dispatch to maintain reliability.

A Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering or equivalent plus relevant NERC certification and 2+ years of operator experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering required.
• 2+ years system operator experience in balancing/interchange, transmission, or bulk distribution.
• NERC certification required (Balancing & Interchange/Transmission Operator).
• Regular valid driver's license required.

Responsibilities

• Develops plans, monitors, operates and reviews outcomes for reliable system operation.
• Forecasts load and manages generation and interchange to meet reliability needs.
• Performs system dispatch and scheduling to ensure compliance with tariffs and regulations.
• Responds to alarms, analyzes issues and takes corrective action as needed.
• Maintains data records on load, generation and transmission service.

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Engineering-related Associate Degree or Military Power Training School (Electrical/ Electronic/ Communications/ Computer Technologies)

NERC Balancing & Interchange/Transmission Operator certification

Job description

Thank you for your interest in the System Operator position! This is a continuous recruitment, which means applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Candidates may be contacted monthly as we move through the evaluation process, and selections may be made at any time.

The hiring process currently includes:

We appreciate your interest and look forward to reviewing your application!

As a training role, with direct supervision assists in performing operational planning, monitoring, coordinating and operating the transmission and distribution system and the JEA balancing area in compliance with all applicable corporate policies and procedures and regulatory requirements, to include taking corrective action to mitigate pre and post contingency events to maintain a reliable JEA and interconnected system. Guidelines are available but are not completely applicable to the work or have gaps in specificity requiring independent action, judgment and decision making to interpret, analyze and adapt methods, techniques and procedures to specific cases or problems. Solves problems within established parameters and identifies and recommends responses to new and unusual circumstances. Completed work is evaluated for technical soundness, appropriateness and conformity with policies and requirements. Regular contact with individuals in other work groups and external organizations is required to plan, coordinate or advise on work efforts, resolve problems and communicate information.

• Develops plans, monitors, operates, controls and reviews outcomes to maintain an efficient, cost effective and reliable system through the performance of system dispatch, market coordination, switching, operating system equipment, and investigative tasks, consistent with JEA policies and procedures, tariffs and regulatory requirements
• Studies switching requests, authorizes based on reliability and safety considerations and monitors switching on transmission lines, switching stations, bulk power substations, and distribution circuits.
• Monitors system parameters and maintains proper voltage levels and energy flows within prescribed limits.
• Responds to alarms from substations and underground transmission line pump houses, analyzes problems and takes appropriate action including the issuing of malfunction reports.
• Performs incident management processes and documentation.
• Maintains continuous radio communication with field employees.
• Operates an Energy Management System and other data communications equipment and required software and hardware applications.
• Issues safety hold tags and clearances to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of electrical system lines and equipment.
• Performs coordination roles within JEA and other reliability organizations.
• Forecasts system load and variable resources, balances electric load and electric generation.
• Forecasts and estimates fuel and fuel delivery system requirements for electric generation.
• Performs scheduling functions to include generation on-line or off-line to meet load and reliability requirements, interchange between control areas pursuant to NERC and FRCC policies and emergency power to and from other utilities.
• Determines the need and implements emergency procedures that may include the curtailment of transmission services based on JEAs tariff requirements, purchasing of emergency power, switching, re-dispatch of generation devices, interruption of firm and non-firm load.
• Performs system dispatch, maintains, and schedules reserves, and market coordination tasks for the economic operation of JEA resources to meet JEA load and interchange requirements within operating, fuel, reliability or environmental constraints
• Monitors conventional and variable generation levels, operating capability, operating limits, ramp rate, control status
• Monitors security analysis programs, troubleshoots software system, takes corrective action to ensure security analysis tools are functioning properly.
• Operates study load flow and contingency analysis to test the system for changes in generation, interchange, tap changes, topology changes, and voltage schedules and develop mitigation plans to ensure transmission security in the operating horizon.
• Coordinates with other areas to develop maintenance schedules for transmission, distribution and generation facility outages in the operating horizon meeting reliability and other business considerations.
• Apply study results to approve or disapprove maintenance requests in the operating horizon
• Monitors online security analysis output, based on output utilizes study load flow and contingency analysis to develop mitigation plans to ensure adequate system security.
• Performs network studies, develops mitigation plans and takes action to ensure transmission security is maintained at acceptable levels in the operating horizon.
• Ensures adequate voltage schedules of balancing area generating resources.
• Evaluates impact protection systems being out of service and taking corrective action.
• Maintains accurate data records on load, generation, interchange and transmission service.
• Performs other job-related work as assigned.

Qualifications - External

• Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and two (2) years of system operator experience in one or more of the following disciplines: balancing and interchange, transmission or bulk distribution
• OR
• An Associate Degree in an engineering related discipline or successful completion of Military Power Training School in Electrical, Electronic, Communications or Computer Technologies and four (4) years of system operator experience in one or more of the following disciplines: balancing and interchange, transmission or bulk distribution
• A regular valid driver's license is required prior to employment and must be maintained during employment in this classification.
• North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Combined Balancing and Interchange/Transmission Operator or higher is required. (This certification is required!!)

The full salary range for this position is $110,406.40 - $136,364.80. Salary will vary based on education, experience, skills, and abilities.