Electric Distribution System Operator Apprentice

Bandera Electric Cooperative•Boerne, TX

About The Position

Bandera Electric Cooperative’s Energy Operations team is seeking an Electric Distribution System Operator Apprentice. Under the supervision of a System Operator, this position coordinates and directs electric distribution outage restorations, issues clearances and switching orders to field personnel, and creates, verifies, and monitors switching and tagging orders in accordance with BEC’s Lockout-Tagout procedures. The role also maintains detailed logs of daily activities, emergency restoration, and system events, and may assist BEC personnel with switching activities in coordination with the LCRA System Operations Control Center. The apprentice supports the integrity and reliability of the cooperative’s 24/7 real-time control system, helps direct safe restoration work during assigned shifts, and develops the knowledge and training to serve as a switching authority when assigned. The role involves monitoring and controlling the distribution grid under supervision, analyzing operational data and system conditions, troubleshooting abnormalities, coordinating across departments, and maintaining outage, substation, and system records. The position requires a flexible schedule to accommodate rotating shifts.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 6 months of related experience.
Valid Texas Driver’s License and related insurance.
Must pass background and drug screening.
Must maintain a flexible schedule that allows for adherence to a rotating shift.
Knowledge of systems operations and maintenance.
Knowledge of electric utility transmission or distribution system operations.
Knowledge and proficiency in the use of systems operations software and tools.
Strong knowledge of safety protocols and regulations related to systems operations.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong attention to detail.
Decision-making and judgment skills.
Highly reliable and dependable.

Responsibilities

Assist the department in supporting 24/7 real-time control system integrity to ensure operational reliability and system availability.
Provide efficient and safe direction of restoration activities during assigned shifts.
Gain the knowledge and training needed to serve as switching authority when assigned by the BEC Manager of Distribution System Operations.
Follow cooperative policies, operating instructions, and procedures.
Maintain accurate, safe, and current switching and tagging instructions for assigned operations.
Respond to system operation failures or abnormalities and create and assign Service Orders for corrective action.
Track, document, and assign errors found within the OMS (Outage Management System) mapping software.
Communicate daily with Member Relations, Engineering, Operations, and Technical Systems.
Perform troubleshooting, problem analysis, and resolution.
Analyze and validate data to maintain system integrity and support power restoration.
Develop, approve, analyze, and generate daily reports.
Under supervision, use SCADA software and equipment to control and monitor the cooperative distribution grid, including opening, closing, and changing normal configurations of SCADA-controlled devices.
Validate crew work locations against the closest upline protective device.
Place protective devices on hot-line tag or non-reclose settings to minimize adverse effects on equipment or personnel in the event of a fault.
Use one-line diagrams and system maps to create and issue switching procedures.
Use available software and operational data to minimize outage durations, including meter pings and on-demand reads, SCADA alarms, fault magnitude and probable fault-location data, lightning-strike data, crew assignments, transformer loading, and switching orders.
Initiate CVR (Conservation Voltage Reduction) as directed by management or in response to 4CP probability alerts.
Monitor conditions that could negatively affect reliability.
Monitor two-way radio communications for BEC personnel.
Prepare and approve switching orders that isolate work areas without causing power outages.
Receive power outage notifications by telephone or smart application and dispatch personnel as necessary.
Maintain outage, substation, and system records and provide them to other departments as needed.
Calculate power equations.
Complete Northwest Lineman College Year 1 System Operator Certification Program coursework within the first year of employment and continue work toward course completion.