The City of Farmington reserves the right to hire at the System Operator, Senior System Operator, or System Operator Trainee I/II level, depending on experience and qualifications.

SYSTEM OPERATOR: Works under the direct supervision of the System Control Supervisor. Has successfully completed the FEUS System Operator Trainee program, or has successfully completed an approved program at another utility. Is current with NERC Certification related to transmission operator functions.

SENIOR SYSTEM OPERATOR: Works under the direct supervision of the System Control Supervisor. Is current with NERC Certification related to transmission operator functions. Has successfully completed at minimum three (3) years as a system operator or equivalent experience in another utility.

SYSTEM OPERATOR/SENIOR SYSTEM OPERATOR:  Salaried positions, will work a mutually agreed upon shift schedule. Salary covers all scheduled hours; hours worked in addition to the scheduled hours will be paid at time and a half.

SYSTEM OPERATOR TRAINEE I:  Works under the direct supervision of the System Control Supervisor.  Trains, practices, and assists to improve in learning buying and selling of power, monitoring and maintaining reliability of the system, and knowledge in returning and restoring load. Completes studies and NERC Certified training.  System Operator Trainee I duration will be a minimum duration of one (1) years. The employee will be required to successfully complete the applicable trainee program(s). 

SYSTEM OPERATOR TRAINEE II:  Works under the direct supervision of the System Control Supervisor.  Trains, practices, and assists to improve in learning buying and selling of power, monitoring and maintaining reliability of the system, and knowledge in returning and restoring load.  Has one year of System Operator Trainee I or equivalent.   Completes studies and NERC Certified training.  System Operator Trainee II duration will be a duration of approximately one (1) year. The employee will be required to successfully complete the applicable trainee program(s).

SYSTEM OPERATOR TRAINEE I/II: Hourly positions, will work a mutually agreed to schedule. Schedule will include day and night shifts during training period. The employee will be required to successfully complete the applicable trainee program(s).  The employee must pass the NERC System Operator Certification Examination in Reliability (RC) or Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission (BIT) within the training period for Trainee I or Trainee II.  Failing to pass the exam on the second attempt will terminate the employee’s employment with the City of Farmington Electric Utility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

SYSTEM OPERATOR/SENIOR SYSTEM OPERATOR: The following duties are the responsibility of the System Operator on shift.  A Trainee I/II will perform, assist and learn these duties ONLY under the direct supervision of the System Operator as part of their training process.

Works under the direction of the System Operations Supervisor.

Ensures North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) reliability standards pertinent to system operations are consistently adhered to:

• Purchases and sells electrical power, on a real-time basis, to meet the needs of Farmington Electric Utility customers.
• Monitors, on a real-time basis, the grid for system ties to maintain reliability to FEUS and the bulk electric system.
• Monitoring and maintains, within acceptable limits, the FEUS transmission, sub-transmission, and distribution voltage.
• Use independent judgment in curtailing and restoring load.

FEUS System Operators have the full authority to take or direct whatever corrective actions are deemed necessary to protect and restore the electric system including but not limited to shedding load and operating any lines and equipment that are deemed critical to preserving the system and enhancing the restoration of the electric system following a disturbance or emergency condition pre or post contingency. These actions do not require prior supervisor approval and are at the primary operator’s discretion.

Assures NERC and WECC training requirements are met.

Ensures the reliability of the transmission, generation, and distribution system and shall exercise such authority to alleviate capacity in dealing with energy and reliability emergencies without being required to obtain prior management approval.

Dispatches energy over the electric utility system considering the load requirements, reliability of service and the most economical utilization of power resources.

Using excellent customer service skills, establishes and maintains effective working relation-ships with customers, co-workers, officials, and all members of the general public.

Updates hourly loads, power resource schedules and ensures hourly resource adequacy to reliably meet customer demand.

Ensures reserves are maintained as required by the Southwest Reserve Sharing Group.

Monitors, enters and verifies hourly loads and resources for reporting to reserve sharing group to verify reserve requirements are met.

Develops and executes arrangements within the WSPP agreement for power sales and purchases and any requisite wheeling and energy accounting requirements internally and externally.

Uses NERC tagging guidelines to develop, implement, and verify, through the Western Interchange Tool, all power schedules and transactions.    

Prepares, processes, and coordinates switching procedures for transmission and distribution for routine construction, maintenance and emergency work on the system.

Issues and records transmission and distribution hold tags and switching clearances.

Restores electric service or reconfigures the system in the event of an electric system disturbance or failure, safely and promptly in an orderly manner through SCADA and field switching by giving radio directions to field crews. 

Records other information including hourly and daily electrical load, disturbances, failures and relay breaker operations.

Monitors voltage, frequency, loads and Area Control Error (ACE) and performs minor adjustments using the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) to ensure a reliable and balanced electric system.

Manages FEUS reserves including requesting and activating reserves response for capacity emergencies within the Southwest Reserve Sharing Group (SRSG).

Ensures FEUS Real-Time Analysis is conducted at least every 30 minutes. Ensure appropriate response to ensure reliability for identified contingencies in real time or next-day studies.

Provide on-the-job training to newly hired System Operator Trainee/System Operator/Senior System Operators to ensure initial training requirements are met and necessary competencies are verified prior to new hires being qualified to work independently.  Answers trouble calls by recording pertinent information in Operator Daily Logs and/or Report Forms and arranging for a repair crew as needed. 

Required to perform rotation shift work of days, evening and nights including weekends and holidays.

Regular attendance at work is an essential requirement of this position.

Travels as required for training for periods of up to one week. 

Operates a motor vehicle as directed to assist in carrying out the business of the division.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

SYSTEM OPERATOR TRAINEE I/II:

Works under the direct supervision of the System Control Supervisor.  Trains, practices, and assists to improve in the duties above performed by the System Operator. Upon successfully completing the training and obtaining NERC Certification, Trainee I/II will be eligible to promote to a System Operator.

The employee will be required to successfully complete the applicable trainee program(s). 

The employee must pass the NERC System Operator Certification Examination in Reliability (RC) or Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission (BIT) within the training period for Trainee I or Trainee II.

The employee will be required to perform shift work in a rotation of days, evenings and nights including weekends and holidays following the completion of the Trainee period.  The employee will work a 40-hour week, Monday through Friday, Days and Evening shifts during the Trainee period.  Graveyard shifts will be scheduled for training purposes as needed with advanced notice.  Full rotating shift coverage will be expected after passing the NERC Reliability Coordinator Operator test.

This position is covered by NERC CIP cyber security standards. Prior to being hired, promoted,
or transferred into the position, the candidate must successfully pass a Personnel Risk
Assessment, which includes identity verification and a criminal background check. Prior to being
granted unescorted access to cyber secure areas, the candidate must attend cyber security
training.

SYSTEM OPERATOR: Works under the direct supervision of the System Control Supervisor.
Has successfully completed the FEUS System Operator Trainee program, or has successfully
completed an approved program at another utility. Is current with NERC Certification related to
transmission operator functions.

SENIOR SYSTEM OPERATOR: Works under the direct supervision of the System Control
Supervisor. Is current with NERC Certification related to transmission operator functions. Has
successfully completed at minimum three (3) years as a System Operator or equivalent
experience in another utility.

SYSTEM OPERATOR TRAINEE I: Electric Utility background preferred, knowledge of
fundamental concepts and/or specific or job related traits highly desirable. Demonstrated
experience in a high stress environment. Specific training or course work in electric theory
and/or a related job qualification preferred.

SYSTEM OPERATOR TRAINEE II: Minimum of 2 years’ experience in electric dispatch or 2
years electric utility experience directly related to the operation of distribution and transmission
systems. Specific training or course work in electric theory and/or a related job qualification
desirable.

Preference may be given to candidates who meet the above requirements and have any the
following:

• Expert knowledge of distribution and transmission systems.
• Strong knowledge of NERC and WECC policies and procedures.
• NERC Certified System Operator.
• Completion of electric utility trades apprenticeship in transmission and distribution,
  generation, relay, or substation.

Education: Graduation from an accredited university with a bachelor's of science degree in
electrical or power related engineering preferred or a minimum of two (2) years of technical
training in basic electric power system design and operation.

Accept rotating shift work.

Must have a combination of classroom and on-the-job training in power system apparatus,
relaying, control, and system emergency response sufficient to sustain or maintain a stable and reliable electrical system.

Proficiency in SCADA systems including but not limited to resource/load balancing, var flow
and control and operation of power equipment through Remote Terminal Units (RTUs).

Experience in power system generation, including energy and voltage control; electric
transmission and distribution systems' operation; and, electronic scheduling tagging is required.

Experience and knowledge of interconnected power systems and emergency restoration
procedures.

Knowledge of telemetry used in Area Control Error (ACE) calculations, hourly integrations,
historical archiving and system load calculations.

Knowledge of power system economic dispatch and dispatching of generation for system
reliability and voltage control.

Experience with off-system sales and purchases preferred.

Experience with reserve sharing pools preferred.

Ability to react calmly, intelligently and efficiently under stressful conditions imposed by system
disturbances, customers and/or other emergency conditions.

Ability to direct field personnel.

Ability to communicate effectively with others verbally and written.

Ability to establish effective working relationships with others.

Know Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and software applications using a browser, OATI
tagging and on-line training such as S.O.S. If not knowledgeable, must learn within six (6)
months of employment.

Knowledge and understanding of basic math and basic algebra sufficient to reconcile
daily/hourly loads and resources, to calculate basic electrical concepts such as ohms, current
flows, voltages and power flows and to understand wheeling rates and contracts, losses and
interchange accounts and power purchase and sales agreements.

Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record for the past three years.

If required through federal or state legislation, obtain a valid passport for travel.

Extensive background check required.

The employee is required to perform shift work in a rotation of days, evenings and nights
including weekends and holidays.

About Farmington Electric Utility System

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