Provide effective and efficient dispatching services and power system operations to ensure accurate, real-time communication across all Cooperative departments and with external organizations. This position plays a critical role in maintaining the reliability, safety, and regulatory compliance of the Cooperative’s electric system.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Maintain working knowledge of all electric services provided by the Cooperative.
- Develop, implement, and direct switching and clearance orders for transmission and distribution lines, substations, and generation switchgear.
- Exercise real-time operational control of the Cooperative’s power system using analog and digital telemetry and SCADA interfaces.
- Coordinate all switching and clearance orders with interconnecting utilities and Member Cooperatives.
- Monitor system load, voltage levels, and power flows; take corrective actions to prevent overloads and ensure reliable system operation.
- Conduct state-of-system analyses, including the use of AC power flow modeling tools.
- Maintain detailed, chronological logs of:
- Outages and system conditions
- Switching and clearance orders
- Breaker operations and hotline orders
- Radio and phone communications
- Scheduled and future system outages
- Receive Member outage reports and direct field personnel or interconnecting utilities to restore service safely and efficiently.
- Notify and update the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) regarding:
- Scheduled and forced generation outages
- Applicable transmission switching within the Cooperative’s territory
- Prepare and submit daily Cooperative load forecasts to MISO for a minimum of five (5) future operating days; revise forecasts as necessary with emphasis on the upcoming operating day.
- Submit generation offer parameters and operational data to MISO reflecting the economic and operational capabilities of Cooperative generation assets.
- Procure and schedule natural gas fuel for generation assets, as needed.
- Start and operate the Alsey Gas Turbine(s) as directed by the Cooperative or MISO.
- Maintain authority under normal and emergency conditions to take timely, independent real-time actions, including firm load shedding, to protect system reliability.
- Ensure compliance at all times with applicable Electric Reliability Standards approved by FERC and enforced by NERC or its delegated Regional Entity.
- Work collaboratively with the Reliability Compliance Officer, Area Managers, supervisors, and departments to support compliance with Reliability Standards and approved Compliance Procedures.
- Report suspected non-compliance issues to the Reliability Compliance Officer.
- Assist with training and mentoring new Dispatchers and Cooperative personnel.
- Convey a complete record of shift activities to incoming Dispatchers during shift change.
- Utilize three-way communication techniques during all phone and radio communications.
- Maintain strict confidentiality in compliance with Cooperative policies, non-disclosure agreements, and anti-trust requirements.
- Perform routine housekeeping duties within the PPI Control Center.
- Remain familiar with and comply with all Cooperative policies and procedures.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.