Outage Coordinator

ERCOT • Taylor, TX

3d • $85,685 - $145,683 • Hybrid

About The Position

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources. We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career. ERCOT is committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We know that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. An inclusive and diverse workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future. Coordinate and Execute System Outages per regulatory guidelines. Receives and processes outage requests in accordance with ERCOT reliability guidelines and procedures. Determines whether outage requests contain all the required information; conducts security analysis studies, as appropriate, for the relevant time frame, and then, approves or rejects the requests. Contacts appropriate resource and transmission personnel to coordinate action for outage requests as necessary. JOB DUTIES Understands and applies principles, theories and concepts related to the profession and ERCOT's culture. Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action. Impact is generally limited to specific assignments or projects. May respond to inquiries and/or provide assistance and/or guidance to lower-level workers. ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES Receives transmission outage requests Analyzes system conditions based upon applicable system information and approves or rejects system outage requests Decides when to withdraw previous approvals when reliability guidelines are violated due to contingencies or other changes in system conditions Coordinates timing of maintenance outages with the transmission and resource operators as required Develops, maintains, and implements Outage Coordination Temporary Outage Action Plans (OCTOAP) in conjunction with support operations engineers Prepares briefing information for control room personnel to keep them advised of transmission system conditions, generation limitations and outages, significant events, unplanned outages, and procedural changes Conducts daily outage security meetings with control room personnel Coordinates with all aspects of system operations to maximize availability of the ERCOT transmission system within reliability criteria Schedules and implements planned outages and maintenance outages of RMR, Synchronous Condenser, and Black Start resources with transmission outages Approves or rejects Reliability Resource planned outages Processes resource outages in accordance with ERCOT Protocols, Guides, and Procedures Produces daily and monthly reports as required Documents study information and significant events Provides support to new resource and transmission outage submittal contacts which have received digital certificate(s) for entering outages into the Outage Scheduler application Monitors the performance of resources and TSPs with respect to outage schedule updates Recommends appropriate changes to one-line diagrams and system displays Coordinates with support personnel to implement system changes, identify contingencies and update network mode May provide on the job training or help to oversee the work of other engineers/analysts May act as a mentor and advisor to less experienced engineers/analysts Typically works independently or assignments and projects Participates in multifunctional teams to obtain input, address comments and perform studies Assists in developing tools, processes and procedures that enhance system reliability and departmental/organization efficiencies Participates with other ERCOT departments to select and implement system changes as needed Senior Level – Above Information plus the following: Conducts daily outage security meetings with control room personnel Acts as subject matter expert for the department Reviews aggregated generation total to assure new generation is added when released to the system Produces daily and monthly reports as required Provides support to new resource and transmission outage submittal contacts which have received digital certificate(s) for entering outages into the Outage Scheduler application Maintains the resource outage submittal contact list, up-to-date one-lines from TOs, and TO contact list Demonstrates skills as an expert user of outage coordination application tools Works with engineering support personnel to implement system changes and keep the network model up-to-date Reviews and coordinates changes to the existing twelve-month resource outage plans to determine how changes may affect ERCOT system reliability. Such changes may include resource outages not previously included in the plan. Serves as a technical SME for the department Makes independent decisions except in instances of unusually complex engineering scenarios Works on the most complex engineering issues where analysis of situations requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Has the ability to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways May coordinate, provide presentations and participate in stakeholder meetings with ERCOT personnel, Market Participants and industry Regulatory agencies Fosters and leverages strong working relationships with team and other internal departments Lends professional expertise to guide projects and help teammates assigned by manager Acts as a mentor and advisor to less experienced engineers/analysts Leads multifunctional teams to obtain input, address comments and perform studies Demonstrates skills as an expert user of power system software applications and tools, spreadsheet programs, and database programs Maintains knowledge of emerging trends and industry best practices

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED (Required)
• Bachelor's Degree: Electrical Engineering or related field (Preferred) or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge to a major in such fields is required
• Level 2: Requires minimum 1 year job related work experience in excess of degree requirements
• Level 3: Requires minimum 3 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements
• Senior Level: Requires minimum 5 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements

Nice To Haves

• NERC Certification (Preferred)
• ERCOT System Operator (Preferred)

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and Execute System Outages per regulatory guidelines
• Receives and processes outage requests in accordance with ERCOT reliability guidelines and procedures
• Determines whether outage requests contain all the required information
• Conducts security analysis studies, as appropriate, for the relevant time frame, and then, approves or rejects the requests
• Contacts appropriate resource and transmission personnel to coordinate action for outage requests as necessary
• Receives transmission outage requests
• Analyzes system conditions based upon applicable system information and approves or rejects system outage requests
• Decides when to withdraw previous approvals when reliability guidelines are violated due to contingencies or other changes in system conditions
• Coordinates timing of maintenance outages with the transmission and resource operators as required
• Develops, maintains, and implements Outage Coordination Temporary Outage Action Plans (OCTOAP) in conjunction with support operations engineers
• Prepares briefing information for control room personnel to keep them advised of transmission system conditions, generation limitations and outages, significant events, unplanned outages, and procedural changes
• Conducts daily outage security meetings with control room personnel
• Coordinates with all aspects of system operations to maximize availability of the ERCOT transmission system within reliability criteria
• Schedules and implements planned outages and maintenance outages of RMR, Synchronous Condenser, and Black Start resources with transmission outages
• Approves or rejects Reliability Resource planned outages
• Processes resource outages in accordance with ERCOT Protocols, Guides, and Procedures
• Produces daily and monthly reports as required
• Documents study information and significant events
• Provides support to new resource and transmission outage submittal contacts which have received digital certificate(s) for entering outages into the Outage Scheduler application
• Monitors the performance of resources and TSPs with respect to outage schedule updates
• Recommends appropriate changes to one-line diagrams and system displays
• Coordinates with support personnel to implement system changes, identify contingencies and update network mode
• May provide on the job training or help to oversee the work of other engineers/analysts
• May act as a mentor and advisor to less experienced engineers/analysts
• Typically works independently or assignments and projects
• Participates in multifunctional teams to obtain input, address comments and perform studies
• Assists in developing tools, processes and procedures that enhance system reliability and departmental/organization efficiencies
• Participates with other ERCOT departments to select and implement system changes as needed
• Acts as subject matter expert for the department
• Reviews aggregated generation total to assure new generation is added when released to the system
• Maintains the resource outage submittal contact list, up-to-date one-lines from TOs, and TO contact list
• Demonstrates skills as an expert user of outage coordination application tools
• Works with engineering support personnel to implement system changes and keep the network model up-to-date
• Reviews and coordinates changes to the existing twelve-month resource outage plans to determine how changes may affect ERCOT system reliability. Such changes may include resource outages not previously included in the plan.
• Serves as a technical SME for the department
• Makes independent decisions except in instances of unusually complex engineering scenarios
• Works on the most complex engineering issues where analysis of situations requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Has the ability to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways
• May coordinate, provide presentations and participate in stakeholder meetings with ERCOT personnel, Market Participants and industry Regulatory agencies
• Fosters and leverages strong working relationships with team and other internal departments
• Lends professional expertise to guide projects and help teammates assigned by manager
• Leads multifunctional teams to obtain input, address comments and perform studies
• Demonstrates skills as an expert user of power system software applications and tools, spreadsheet programs, and database programs
• Maintains knowledge of emerging trends and industry best practices

Benefits

• ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan.
• The medical, dental, vision, and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none.
• Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire.
• Additionally, 401(k) plans are available to help employees plan for the future.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level