What are the responsibilities and job description for the Reliability Coordinator, System Operator position at Tennessee Valley Authority?
This is a NERC Certified System Operator - Reliability, 7x24 position responsible for real-time transmission reliability analysis and operations for the TVA Reliability Coordinator (RC) Area including real-time coordination of generation and transmission resources. Directs operational activities to ensure safe and reliable operation of the bulk electric system in the TVA RC Area in accordance with all applicable TVA policies, programs, and procedures as well as NERC standards. Operates and maintains state estimator (SE), contingency analysis, and real time data to ensure continued reliable system operations.
Principal Accountabilities:
- Coordinates reliability issues for the entire TVA Reliability Coordinator Area.
- Monitors the TVA RC Area and adjacent reliability areas in real-time, being aware of all operating issues. Monitors the TVA RC Area for operating security limit violations including thermal, voltage stability, and dynamic stability limits. State estimator/contingency analysis results are utilized to assess and monitor the system.
- Coordinates with external RCs to ensure that actions within the TVA RC Area are consistent with interregional reliability objectives. Coordinates with and provides oversight of TVA RC Area TOps and BAs.
- Following a contingency or any condition that results in an SOL or IROL violation, the RC immediately takes action through appropriate congestion management procedures including reconfiguring the Transmission System through predefined operating guides, reducing transactions, re-dispatching generation, or reducing load to return the Bulk Electric System to within limits as soon as possible.
- Monitors generation capacity, ACE and frequency of the TVA RC Area BAs and coordinates corrective actions.
- Communicates pertinent interconnection information to the TOps and BAs within the TVA RC Area (time correction, critical infrastructure, major forced outages, GMDs, etc.). RC communicates operating decisions to TOps and BAs within the TVA RC Area, and other RCs.
- Analyze current or forecast system conditions using available tools such as the SE or Powerflow in order to determine current or potential reliability issues. This analysis includes thermal, voltage or transient stability.
- Provide real-time troubleshooting of Reliability Coordinator tools, including solution quality and stability, software crashes, unsolved contingencies, data integrity, rating validation, etc.
- Evaluates operating events and disturbances in real-time to determine the system condition, and direct operating actions to ensure reliable operations.
- Holds highest level of operational authority for the safe and reliable operation of the bulk electric system for the TVA Reliability Coordinator Area, in accordance with NERC reliability standards. During normal and emergency conditions, the RC on duty has the authority to take or direct timely and appropriate real-time actions. Such actions may include shedding of firm load to prevent or alleviate System Operating Limit or Interconnection Reliability Operating Limit violations. These actions are performed without obtaining approval from higher-level personnel. Will act first and foremost in the best interest of the reliability of the overall reliability area and interconnected system before the interest of any other entity
Minimum Requirements:
Education. – Two year Associate Degree in electrical technology or B.S. Degree in electrical engineering; or equivalent education, training & experience is required.
Experience. - Must have several years of Bulk Electric System operating experience applicable to large power system, generators, breakers, relaying, and communications equipment. Experience as balancing authority system operator, transmission system operator, interchange operator or power system engineer is preferred.
Certification/License, etc — NERC certification at the Reliability Operator level is required. Must be able to obtain and maintain FFD program Integrity Clearance
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities — Good communication and team building skills needed. Must be able to make decisions under pressure and time constraints. This position may be required to work rotating shift schedules. Candidate may be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance based on position / access requirements and essential job functions.