System Operator I-Gas Control

PPL Corporation; Attleboro (MA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhode Island Energy is seeking a Gas Control System Operator to monitor and control the gas distribution system for safe, reliable deliveries. You will use SCADA and manual input to balance demand with available supplies and maintain system pressures.

Positions require coordinating with multiple internal teams, responding to SCADA alarms, and logging activities. Opportunities for field training and progression within the control room operations are available.

Qualifications

• Ability to assimilate data from multiple sources and act under stress.
• Understanding of gas operations concepts.
• Strong written and oral communication.
• Ability to achieve industry certifications including Operator Qualifications.
• Willingness to work rotating shifts with minimal notice.
• Familiarity with SCADA systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor the Rhode Island natural gas distribution system.
• Oversee safe and reliable gas flows using SCADA.
• Monitor daily supply requirements and inform Gas Supply, Planning, and Engineering teams.
• Coordinate field personnel to respond to SCADA alarms.
• Log shift activities in the Electronic Logging System.
• Contact after-hours support teams as needed.
• Participate in field training when available.
• Respond to emergencies and abnormal conditions to protect people and property.
• Maintain knowledge of emergency procedures and GIS records.
• Dispatch gas supplies from pipelines and peak shaving facilities.
• Monitor odorization equipment to ensure proper odorization.
• Follow all company processes for Control Room activities.
• Assist in preparing daily game plan.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

SCADA literacy

Analytical thinking

Written & verbal comms

Ability to work rotating shifts

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education/experience

Tools

Gas regulation equipment

Job description

Company Summary Statement

Rhode Island Energy provides essential energy services to over 770,000 customers across Rhode Island through the delivery of electricity or natural gas. Our team is dedicated to helping Rhode Island customers and communities thrive while supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future. Rhode Island Energy is part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient, and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. PPL is a positive force in the cities and towns where we do business, providing support for programs and organizations that empower the success of future generations by helping to build and maintain strong, diverse communities today.

Overview

The Rhode Island Energy Gas Control Operator is responsible for monitoring and controlling the flow rates of natural gas into the Rhode Island Energy gas distribution system to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of adequate customer supplies. This position utilizes the Gas Control Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and manual input to ensure that the system's gas demand requirements are balanced with adequate supplies from available resources and that the gas system can be operated safely, reliably, and efficiently. This position is responsible for ensuring that proper system pressures are consistently maintained and always optimized to meet operational requirements throughout the gas distribution system. This position directly reports to the Supervisor, Gas Control Operations.

Gas Control Operators recently voted to join UWUA Local 310B, and negotiations between the union and the Company are pending. Accordingly, the responsibilities, rate of pay, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment for this position are subject to change.

Responsibilities

• The Gas Control System Operator operates and monitors the Rhode Island natural gas distribution system.
• Provides oversight for the natural gas distribution system ensuring safe and reliable flows utilizing a SCADA.
• Monitors daily system supply operational requirements and advises other internal departments (Gas Supply, Gas Planning, Engineering, etc.) of load and weather changes.
• Communicates and coordinates field personnel to respond to SCADA Alarms.
• Logs all pertinent shift activities in the Electronic Logging System.
• Responsible for contacting after hours support such as Instrumentation and Regulation (I&R), SCADA Team, IT, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), and Gas Supply Teams.
• Participates in field training opportunities when available.
• Recognizes and responds to emergency and abnormal operating conditions on the distribution system in a manner that protects life, limb, and property and minimizes any potential impact to the distribution system.
• Maintains a working knowledge of the Gas Emergency Operating Procedures, Control Room Management plan, and facility locations using electronic GIS and facility record-keeping systems.
• Monitors system gas quality to ensure compliance and reports any issues to Chief Gas Control Operator and /or Supervisor Gas Control Operations.
• Confirms and dispatches natural gas supplies from physical interconnecting interstate pipeline suppliers and peak shaving facilities.
• Monitors and controls gas odorization equipment to ensure proper odorization at all times of gas supplied to the distribution systems.
• Follows all relevant Rhode Island Energy processes and procedures associated with the Control Room activities.
• Assists in preparing and distributing daily game plan.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

Please note: The successful candidate will be placed in the appropriate career level based on their qualifications and experience.

Gas Control System Operator I:

Required education: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education or experience.

Required experience:

• Ability to assimilate data from a variety of sources and quickly formulate and execute action plans during periods of high stress.
• Ability to understand technical concepts of gas operations.
• Excellent written communication, oral communication and inquiry resolutions skills.
• Ability to achieve and maintain industry related certification(s) including Operator Qualifications.
• Analytical skills required to correctly evaluate relevant data and demonstrate logical decision-making capability with the ability to manage and analyze risks.
• The ability to assess and analyze weather forecasts and patterns is required.
• Ability to work rotating shifts coping with minimal change of schedule notice.
• Ability to perform job tasks without direct supervision.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in engineering, science, mathematics or business is preferred.
• Working knowledge and experience in natural gas regulation, instrumentation, and gas conditioning equipment.

Gas Control System Operator II:

Required education: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience on a year-for-year basis and Ability to assimilate data from a variety of sources and quickly formulate and execute action plans during periods of high stress minimum of 2 years’ experience working with current SCADA systems.

Required experience:

• 2+ years in gas system operations or comparable technical operations experience.
• Ability to understand technical concepts of gas operations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to achieve and maintain industry related certification(s) including Operator Qualifications.
• Analytical skills required to correctly evaluate relevant data and demonstrate logical decision-making capability with the ability to manage and analyze risks.
• The ability to assess and analyze weather forecasts and patterns is required.
• Ability to work rotating shifts coping with minimal change of schedule notice.
• Ability to perform job tasks without direct supervision.

Preferred qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in engineering, science, mathematics or business is preferred.
• Working knowledge and experience in natural gas regulation, instrumentation, and gas conditioning equipment.

Licenses/certifications/other qualifications:

• The three required National Gas Association’s Operator Qualifications.

Gas Control System Operator III:

Required education: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience on a year-for-year basis and,

Required experience:

• 3+ years of gas system operations or comparable technical operations experience including at least 2 years of successful performance in an RIE system operator gas control role.
• Ability to understand technical concepts of gas operations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to achieve and maintain industry related certification(s) including Operator Qualifications.
• Analytical skills required to correctly evaluate relevant data and demonstrate logical decision-making capability with the ability to manage and analyze risks.
• The ability to assess and analyze weather forecasts and patterns is required.
• Ability to work rotating shifts coping with minimal change of schedule notice.
• Ability to perform job tasks without direct supervision.

Licenses/certifications/other qualifications:

• Successful completion of the three required National Gas Associations Operator Qualifications exams is required for entry into this role.

Preferred qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in engineering, science, mathematics or business is preferred.
• Working knowledge and experience in natural gas regulation, instrumentation, and gas conditioning equipment.

#RIE #INDRIE