System Operator Eim - Assoc - Sr

El Paso Electric•El Paso, TX

About The Position

The System Operator EIM supports the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of El Paso Electric’s Energy Imbalance Market (EIM), generation resources, and balancing facilities during normal and emergency conditions. Under the general supervision of the Supervisor Energy Imbalance Market, the role is responsible for economic dispatch, implementing energy schedules for generators, renewables, and variable energy resources (VERs), and maintaining balance among load, generation, interchange, and transmission obligations. The operator monitors grid conditions, uses reliability tools to anticipate normal and contingency conditions, and takes action to alleviate abnormal situations and restore safe, reliable operation. The position coordinates with Power Marketing, the EIM Merchant, real-time schedulers, other utilities, and market operators. It monitors and manages system data and controls, supports reporting on disturbances and unusual operating conditions, and follows applicable NERC, WECC, FERC, company, safety, and environmental requirements. The position requires 12-hour rotating shifts, including weekends, evenings, and holidays, with additional coverage when needed. The level within the role is determined by relevant experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering or another analytical or technical field, with basic knowledge of electric theory or power systems; or an equivalent combination of related training and experience.
Zero to five or more years of relevant experience; job level is determined based on total years of experience.
NERC operator certification, or ability to obtain certification within six months of hire.
Must pass a NERC BIT Certification exam and obtain a NERC System Operator Certification within six months of hire.
Knowledge of electrical principles, procedures, and components; power system operations including power plant operations and power generation; fundamentals of alternating current circuits; and electrical safety policies and procedures.
Ability to maintain awareness of system conditions, Local Marginal Prices (LMPs), and congestion; anticipate contingencies; and take proactive steps to support system reliability and stability.
Knowledge of personal computers and applications such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and Teams.
Ability to learn specialized software, including EIM applications, outage management software (OMS), Open Access Technology International (OATI), and EMS.
Ability to project current system conditions into future scenarios and take appropriate action.
Ability to monitor and rationally apply control system principles to solve practical problems and handle situations with limited standardization.
Fluent English communication with operating personnel responsible for real-time balancing, generation control, and operation of the EIM and interconnected Bulk Electric System.
Ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts, including weekends, evenings, and holidays, and provide additional coverage when needed.
Ability to build relationships and foster teamwork.
Ability to travel for training, seminars, and industry-related meetings.
Effective verbal and written communication, including three-part communication skills.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with officers, managers, fellow employees, and the general public.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion.
Must be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodation, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

Responsibilities

Monitor the Western Energy Imbalance Market as it relates to El Paso Electric’s Balancing Authority and maintain reliable operation of generation facilities during normal and emergency conditions.
Initiate appropriate actions during emergencies to return the system to safe and reliable operation.
Coordinate and schedule energy resources with Power Marketing, the EIM Merchant, and real-time schedulers to meet system load requirements and EIM dispatches.
Maintain familiarity with the Outage Management System (OMS), update and monitor ambient derates, and calculate scheduled and forced outage rates and forecast error.
Operate the system minute by minute to match firm and interruptible resources to obligations, balance generation and transmission shares between utilities and market entities, and verify metered flow quantities.
Enter energy schedules into the Energy Management System (EMS) for committed sales and purchases.
Track unit commitment, manual dispatch, load bias, ETSRs, EIM and economic dispatch, and ensure generators operate under Automatic Generation Control (AGC).
Use SCADA alarms and monitor telemetry system status, system operating limits, inadvertent, equipment status, generation alarms and telemetry, operating modes, ACE, frequency, and BAAL events.
Assist in preparing reports for management, other utilities, and reserve sharing groups concerning disturbances, emergencies, and unusual operating conditions or actions.
Follow FERC rules and regulations regarding Standards of Conduct.
Provide updates about significant system events to appropriate recipients using EPE’s paging system.
Communicate abnormal system conditions to the CAISO Real Time Market Operator.
Review and approve Power Marketing’s daily Resource Plan (unit commitment).
Track and make daily adjustments to primary inadvertent and perform time-error corrections when requested by the interchange authority.
Follow company policies, procedures, and code of ethics, as well as applicable governmental, employment, safety, and environmental requirements.
Develop an understanding of EPE’s Switching Standards of System Operations and applicable NERC and FERC reliability standards.
Maintain a valid driver’s license and comply with the Company’s Driving Program policy.
Perform other related tasks within the context of the position’s duties.