Grid Coordinator

AES•Indianapolis, IN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general guidance, the Grid Coordinator is responsible and accountable for the continuous safe, stable, reliable, economical, and environmentally correct operation and/or maintenance of an assigned functional area within Grid Operations for the AES Indianapolis Distribution area. This role provides supervision, leadership, and training to others through day-to-day contact, and offers technical advice and counsel for difficult projects. The Grid Coordinator prioritizes, directs, monitors, and evaluates the performance of direct reports within the reporting organization. They prepare, control, and administer project budgets to achieve maximum business results relating to overall performance, cost efficiency, and reliability. The Grid Coordinator is responsible for complying with NERC, FERC, RFC, IURC, and MISO requirements and directing field personnel through switching operations involving the mainline distribution system and the Bulk Electric Transmission System. They will also provide assistance to Transmission System Operations during normal and emergency operations as conditions may require.

Requirements

High school graduate.
Must successfully pass pre-screening EEI exam System Operator/Power Dispatch (SOPD).
High degree of electrical and mechanical aptitude.
Available for all System Operations shifts (24-7).
Ability to pass NERC Certification exam within 6 months.
Computer proficiency and effective verbal and written communication skills are requirements.
Ability to work in a real-time operations environment on all shifts and as a team member.
Understanding of power substation equipment, power system electrical fundamentals, and the ability to interpret substation one-line diagrams and electrical schematics.
Proficient in the English Language.
Electric utility job related experience or training.

Nice To Haves

Accredited post secondary education in an engineering or technology related field.
Current NERC Certification.
Electric Utility experience in transmission and/or distribution operations.

Responsibilities

Makes complex operating, engineering, and economic decisions involving the restoration of customer service following system emergencies and coordinates the distribution system effort with the Transmission Control Center and the Distribution Operations Control Center.
Maintains a work environment that promotes good customer service, striving to economically meet customer requests within the timeframe requested.
Maintains a safe, professional work environment that offers employees challenging and meaningful work and opportunities to develop their skills and talents.
Directs the preparation and execution of contingency plans for operating the distribution system during natural disasters, civil disturbances, and in other critical situations.
Directs, plans, and arranges work schedules to meet both unscheduled and regular work; participates in long-range Company planning with other departments and outside the Customer Operations.
Directs departmental personnel regarding assignments; reviews records, reports, and analyses related to the department’s work; participates in such work as may be required to meet normal and emergency conditions.
Directs Grid Operations office personnel representing the Company to the customer in all matters regarding Company business and operation of the customer’s service during those hours when the main offices are closed.
Works closely with the Customer Service Team during regular working hours.
Forecasts a significant portion of the operation and maintenance budget and subsequent control of those expenses.
Receives, analyzes, schedules, routes, directs, and assigns emergency and routine work to maintain continuity of electric service to customers; determines capabilities of substations and circuits so as not to overload conductors, distribution transformers, underground risers, breaker current transformers, substation transformers, voltage regulators, and line reclosers, including tabulating connected KVA to be transferred, calculating connected amperes, and applying proper load factors for day and night peak loads.
Initiates and issues the necessary switching orders and operations to repair and restore electric service continuity on the overhead and underground distribution systems, including customer switchgear and breakers served at distribution voltage levels, and requires knowledge of transformers, voltage regulators, circuit breakers, capacitors, switchgear, and reclosers; directs work on underground distribution areas and complexes, the operation of single and three-phase underground feeds and pad-mounted transformers.
Reads, interprets, analyzes, and corrects distribution and street lighting maps; uses a basic understanding of line fuse coordination while monitoring and reporting incorrect applications and a full understanding of distribution circuit and street lighting operations in order to use the Outage Management System, office maps, and descriptive data received from the field to analyze various trouble information to help determine the probable point of trouble where a circuit is faulted or open.
Interprets and relays maps and operating record information to assist field personnel and provide shared safety responsibilities.
Compiles and prepares reports incident to Distribution Operations.
Maintains a Grid Operations log, recording abnormal conditions, outages on the distribution system and their causes; authorizes and records “hold cards” for safety of workers when taking out or putting into service distribution and street lighting circuits or equipment.
Receives, relays, and records intra-company, inter-company, police, and fire department communications.
Performs timekeeping and payroll work and processes case jobs and damage claims.
Operates two-way radio in accordance with FCC regulations and AES Indiana Distribution Operations working rules.
Directs field switching operations performed by authorized personnel including Substation Inspectors/Switchmen, Substation Mechanics, Electricians, Linemen, Relay/SCADA Specialists, Troublemen, and any other classification that may be required to operate equipment on the bulk electric system.
Assists in monitoring system conditions watching for abnormalities or other conditions that could affect the reliability of the electric system; when such conditions are detected, the Grid Coordinator may recommend to department management taking immediate action to remedy the situation and will direct Operations personnel in those actions.