Distribution Operator

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Distribution Operator

SUMMARY:

AES Ohio. serves approximately 500,000 customers in a 6,000 square-mile service area in Southwest-Central Ohio.  This includes 14,800 miles of distribution lines and over 150 substations.  Under limited direction, the Distribution Operator controls and operates the Company's distribution resources including circuit breakers, switches, voltage regulating equipment and other devices associated with the system.  Also achieves and maintains operating standards in compliance with all existing PUCO regulations, plus company safety and operating standards.  Coordinates and directs all switching operations on the mainline distribution system.  This position works a 12 hour shifts with the department covering 24x7. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implements real-time actions, up to and including shedding firm load under direction of the transmission System Operator
• Directs all actions for safety and reliability of the distribution electric grid, including field crews, electrical equipment, and customers in matters that affect distribution grid reliability
• Directs all switching and tagging activities to achieve LOTO isolation on mainline distribution equipment for both scheduled and outage situations
• Responds to distribution disturbances within established regulatory, industry, and company standards to assure a continuous supply of electricity to customers
• On point to communicate to co-workers and management the status of abnormal system conditions
• Monitors and utilizes reactive reserves to ensure system reliability
• Mentor Distribution Operator Trainees thru the Operator training game plan
• Annually review and update department Standard Operating Procedures
• Utilize the system model to simulate removing distribution elements from service and review resulting contingency analysis to prevent any real time violations which may occur
• Responsible for being knowledgeable of the procedures to transfer operations to the Back-up Control Center and implementing if necessary
• Assist with outage scheduling – writing switch orders, coordinating resources, customer and, running load flow studies to evaluate outages and contingencies, planning projects and looking for conflicting outages, develop mitigation strategies for reliability concerns.
• Assist with developing and maintaining department tools – support model updates, state estimator and contingency analysis troubleshooting, monitor and resolve solution cost or high iteration alarms, solve bad data problems, PI situational awareness displays, work with EMS staff on ADMS updates and model pushes.

COMPETENCIES:

• Develops and maintains knowledge of the Company’s substation, distribution and transmission systems, relay protection schemes, safety requirements, electrical theory, field equipment capabilities and associated operating procedures and guidelines
• Strong sense of ambition, motivation, and confidence.
• Ability to work in a stressful and fast-paced environment.
• Ability to make sound judgments and crucial decisions in short amounts of time.
• Ability to understand and assimilate complex technical information.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with teammates.
• Ability to work with little supervision and only general guidelines at times.

QUALIFICATIONS:

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline is desired.  Associates degree showing an aptitude for math and electrical theory, to include previous work experience demonstrating basic electrical utility knowledge, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience related to the discipline.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES REGISTRATIONS:
Company level training completion required. 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions, correspondence, and memos
Strong oral and written communication skills

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to apply concepts of algebra and geometry, and basic electrical theory

COMPUTER SKILLS:
Working knowledge of various database, spreadsheet, and word processing software
Ability to use various computer systems

ANALYSIS AND PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY: 
Gathers and analyzes many complex variables to recommend decisions on complex issues under rapid and severe time constraints.  Combines complex data sets including weather, grid conditions, electrical voltages, customer load, system disturbance data, etc. to determine actions required to ensure continuous operation and reliability on the distribution grid.  Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

DECISION MAKING:
Has the authority to take or direct timely and appropriate real-time actions, without obtaining approval from the higher-level personnel within own operating authority vicinity.  During emergency operating conditions, has additional independent authority to shed firm load to prevent or alleviate Operating Security Limit violations without higher-level approval. 

SCOPE AND IMPACT:
As the authority in charge of control room operations, any errors in switching procedures, miscommunication, or errors in analysis could result in serious injury or death to field employees and damage to valuable equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Ability to stand up to 2/3 of the time.  Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Ability to accept the mental and physical rigors of rotating shift work, constantly changing system conditions, and varying operating guidelines. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Control room environment.

AES is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed to building strength and delivering long-term sustainability through diversity and inclusion. Respecting all backgrounds, differences and perspectives enables us to improve the lives of our people, customers, suppliers, contractors, and the communities in which we live and work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or expression, race, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. E-Verify Notice: AES will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.