NERC Certified System Operator

The System Operator manages Balancing Authority (BA), Generator Owner (GO), and Generator Operator (GOP) operations, hourly optimization for the purpose of positively impacting the assets P&L, forecasting, hourly scheduling of interchange transactions, monitoring, and reporting of real-time functions from BHE Montana’s Network Operations Center (NOC).

These responsibilities include real-time operation of the Company’s balancing authorities, generation projects, and scheduling of third-party energy resources, while ensuring grid reliability and continuous compliance with all NERC, and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), BA, GO, and GOP reliability standard requirements. This position also requires compliance with Alberta Reliability Standards (ARS), and AESO ISO rules for dispatch of Generator Owner (GO), and Generator Operator (GOP) operations in Alberta.

Monitors and exercises independent judgment in the safe, reliable, and economic operation of generation assets based on guidelines provided by North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Operating Policies, Regional Council Policies and Operating Procedures, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC) Standards of Conduct for normal, emergency and restoration conditions.

Responsible for the coordination with third-party energy trading groups and as directed by third party trading groups, resubmittal of price/quantity pairs due to unplanned unit outages.

The System Operator position is also responsible for providing training to Associate System Operators.

The System Operator assists with the development, tracking, and monitoring of compliance training/programs, policies, procedures, and standards to meet compliance requirements.

The System Operator provides key information and operational reports to direct supervision and senior management.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Manage and execute an hourly resource strategy to optimally balance Company’s resource position within all NERC, FERC, WECC and other regulatory compliance obligations.
Reviews and approves substation switching, provides feedback to Field Personal, Site Manager and NOC Manager as required.
(35%) Ensure safe, reliable and economic operation of the Company’s facilities, balancing authorities and generation projects in compliance with applicable NERC and WECC BA, GO, and GOP reliability standards, and adhering to Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) security measures. Respond to system disturbances involving generation, substation, and transmission equipment, taking appropriate steps in conjunction with the Transmission Operator and Reliability Coordinator. Provide oversight for daily balancing authority reliability and comprehensive knowledge for the responsible operation of generation assets according to (Good Utility Practice) criteria and guidelines set by NERC, FERC, and the Regional Reliability Council. During both normal and emergency operating conditions, has the authority to take or direct timely and appropriate real-time actions. Has authority to curtail firm schedules to prevent potential NERC compliance violations due to unplanned outages. All these actions are performed without need to obtain approval from the company’s senior management.
(15%) Support the operations and maintenance activities by actively managing plant availability and reliability in conjunction with the Site Operations Managers and the Environmental team. Accommodate the Company’s environmental protection activities in conjunction with managing Control Performance Standards. Takes appropriate actions as needed during routine and emergency operations to ensure the reliability of the BA areas including those actions necessary to address operating emergencies, and energy emergencies, and to support the reliability of the Bulk Electric System.
(15%) Responsible for the review and submission to RC West next day generation plans and availability. Using SCADA operate plant within operational limitations for voltage control as directed by the Transmission provider to ensure regulatory compliance and reliability of the interconnected system. Coordinates requests for equipment outages through the RC West outage scheduler to ensure reliability of the inter-connected system.
(15%) Serve as liaison between reliability entities and commercial partners to ensure proper balance and optimization of assets given reliability constraints. Manage and purchase reserve positions and ancillary commercial products through bi-lateral contracts, system interfaces/markets, and/or reserve sharing group (RSG)/ Regional Area Control Error (ACE) control arrangements. Verify and confirm hourly and daily schedules through before and after-the-fact check outs and settlement review.
(10%) Responsible for third-party generation dispatch and scheduling services for other generation projects. Support reporting/settlement duties for the Company’s generation projects and third-party generation operations projects, as requested.
(5%) Provides training within the system operations department as well as to field personnel for writing of switching instructions. Supports the operations, work clearances, substation activities, and maintenance activities by actively managing plant availability and reliability, coordinating outages and including use of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and logging.
(5%) Perform any additional responsibilities, special assignments as requested or assigned.

Compliance and Other Functions

Ensure compliance with NERC and WECC reliability standards for BA & GOP as it relates to procedures, policies and guidelines, and real-time logging and other record-keeping procedures for NOC Operators/Operations, Work with the Compliance Team to implement new/updated reliability standards.
Support the implementation and utilize as required, Generation Management and Energy Management systems
Monitor, schedule, and manage BHE Montana switching operations and procedures.
Review company logging and work safety procedures and report any issues to management.
Provide feedback and revise procedures for NOC operations.
Assist in building third-party scheduling and integration services.
May represent BHE Montana’s grid and energy operations with external groups.
Support the operations and maintenance activities by actively managing plant availability and reliability in conjunction with the Site Operations Managers and the Environmental team
Support Asset Management and Environmental goals and activities through cooperation with the VP, Asset Management
May serve as liaison between reliability entities and commercial partners to ensure proper balance and optimization of assets given reliability constraints and forecast outages.
Support reporting/settlement duties for the Company’s generation projects and third-party generation operations projects, as requested.

Performance Expectations

Operate the company inter-connected generation assets in a highly reliable, safe manner in accordance with NERC and WECC reliability standards for BA & GOP as it relates to procedures, policies and guidelines, and real-time logging and other record-keeping procedures for NOC Operators/Operations.
Work with the Compliance Team to implement new/updated reliability standards.
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of NERC Operating Standards by maintaining the NERC Reliability or Balancing Interchange Certification exam. This certification has been established by NERC to provide standards for those who operate bulk electric power systems in North America. Certification must be maintained by obtaining the required minimum hours of NERC approved continuing education over a three-year period. 30 hours must include simulated operations and 30 hours of training on NERC standards.
Demonstrate high level of customer focus, with emphasis on ensuring that system event and outage information is accurate and available in a timely manner for communication to NOC Manager, senior management, and third-party asset owner/operators.
Follow department procedures and utilize available human performance tools to ensure that instructions and communications with field personnel are clear and understood.
Supervise the responsibilities of real-time system operators and handle many responsibilities of the NOC manager, within determined and sometimes very tight time frames and with a high degree of accuracy.
May serve as liaison between reliability entities and commercial partners to ensure proper balance and optimization of assets given reliability constraints and forecast outages.
Support reporting/settlement duties for the Company’s generation projects and third-party generation operations projects. Revise, provide feedback, develop, and create procedures, policies, and guidelines for NOC operations.
Establish and maintain effective work relationships within the department and the company; and maintain the professional competence, knowledge, and skills necessary for the satisfactory completion of responsibilities during normal and sometimes high stress conditions.
Participate on teams that result in contribution to achievement of team goals and objectives, sometimes in a lead role of a project.
Demonstrate leadership by exercising the implicit authority granted to the system operator to take or direct timely and appropriate real-time actions during emergency and restoration conditions.
Abide by Federal law and company policy, which require strict adherence to the Standards of Conduct under FERC Order 889 in the discharge of all duties.
Support team efforts; build a spirit of participation and belonging; build group cohesiveness by emphasizing team objectives and reinforcing cooperation.
Maintain sensitive and confidential information regarding company information. Provide technical input to assist in development of project planning.
Support the company’s employee policies and procedures, including workplace safety rules. Monitors and enforces all NERC compliance requirements for area of responsibility.
Performs direct operations of assets in a highly reliable, safe manner in accordance with NERC and WECC reliability standards for BA & GOP as it relates to procedures, policies and guidelines, and real-time logging and other record-keeping procedures for NOC Operators/Operations.

Qualifications/Position Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent combination of education and experience. (Typically, six years of related, progressive work experience would be needed for candidates applying for this position who do not possess a bachelor’s degree.)
One to five years of experience in electric operations.
Must maintain NERC certification status at the reliability coordinator or Balancing Interchange level. NERC requires this examination be successfully passed prior to allowing the individual to assume the responsibility of operating the bulk electric system within North America.
Technical knowledge related to the operation of the interconnected bulk electric system under normal, emergency and restoration conditions, including excellent understanding and familiarity with all areas of the company’s generation assets and, inter-connected Transmission system, as well as the EMS tools and network applications.
Demonstrate excellent understanding of balancing authority principles and practices, complex generation dispatch and NERC Compliance topics, and ability to train others on these topics.
Familiarity with the functioning of PI Datalink and/or PI Vision. Demonstrated ability to forecast daily generation, evaluate the best economic options to serve our customers, perform agency services, analyze trading activities savings, and multi-task during very stressful conditions. Experience with generation Energy Management Systems/Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition.
Knowledge of power system economics, especially economic dispatch and generator efficiency characteristics and real-time energy trading. Technical skills and knowledge related to understanding electric generation and power system operations.
Knowledge of applicable California ISO procedures and practices, with experience in one or more of the following energy markets preferred:
- WECC interconnection
- Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM)
- Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)
- Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
- Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
- PJM
Demonstrate problem-solving, resourcefulness and analytical skills to forecast and evaluate operational problems and optimize energy production while assuring reliability standard and guideline compliance.
This position is expected to operate any of the NOC Desk (Balance & Interchange Operator, Scheduling and AESO Dispatch) as assigned.
Familiarity with challenges of wind power generation, forecasting, and scheduling

Skills/Abilities

Strong communication skills; ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
Strong business acumen and ability to optimize variables.
Solid analytical skills
Ability to effectively manage and direct emergency operations.
Ability to perform well under tight deadlines and emergency conditions, and to make prudent decisions in a time-compressed environment
Ability to effectively coordinate/manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Excellent computer capabilities
Performs well under tight deadlines and emergency conditions, is capable of making decisions in a time compressed environment.
Must be adaptable to change and have the ability to prioritize responsibilities.

Working Conditions (Location / Conditions)

Company BA and GOP OC
CIP-compliant environment requiring implementation of limited access protocols and other security measures.
Must be on-call and available to support 24-hour operations
Must be available to work 12.5-hour shifts, with additional flex time work scheduling as needed.
Must be available to work a shift schedule that includes nights, weekends, and holidays

Physical Requirements

Ability to actively manage BHE Montana BA control systems and to communicate effectively with operational partners using phone, electronic, and written methods.
Ability to actively monitor and/or manage BHE Montana third-party scheduling services and to communicate effectively with counterparties using phone, electronic, and written methods.
Required to use a computer for extended periods of time.
Ability to lift 25 pounds.

Direct Reports

None