Reliability Coordinator

  • Full-time

Company Description

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California's power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by operating the grid reliably 24/7.

As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market that is designed to diversify resources and lower prices. It also grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

The California ISO's function is often compared to that of air traffic controllers. It would be grossly unfair for air traffic controllers to represent one airline and profit from allowing that company's planes to go through before others. In the same way, the California ISO operates independently—managing the electron traffic on a power grid we do not own—making sure electricity is safely delivered to utilities and consumers on time and reliably.

Job Description

Reliability Coordinator monitors the integrated transmission and generation system to ensure reliability, identifying real-time conditions that may lead to wide spread outages, and coordinating corrective actions while complying with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and ISO standards relating to the Reliability Coordinator (RC) function. Serve as final authority relating to matters of Interconnection reliability. Effectively communicate, advise and direct actions deemed necessary to protect the integrity of the Interconnection, up to and including the shedding of load.

  • Coordinates with other Reliability Coordinators and Control Centers to identify stressed facilities and assure no credible single contingency can cause line overloads, unacceptable voltages or uncontrolled system separation. Exercises corrective action under urgent and/or emergency conditions.
  • Conducts power flow studies, directs transmission system reconfigurations, orders schedule curtailments, re-dispatching generation and reducing demand as necessary.
  • Monitors and ensures that the integrated generation and transmission system is operated in compliance with all applicable NERC, WECC and California ISO criteria. Must determine when a directive needs to be issued to assure Interconnection reliability.
  • Coordinates and approves planned and forced outages of the Transmission system to ensure system security and reliable operations, coordinates restoration. Evaluates real-time line and equipment outage requests to determine their effect on the system. Coordinates emergency operating and restoration procedures with impacted area operators within and adjacent to the coordinator boundaries, and assists regional utilities as they implement individual black start procedures.
  • Monitors and implements the Regional Reliability Plan(RRP), which includes operating procedures, restoration procedures, and management of the under-frequency load shedding program and the under voltage load shedding program.
  • Conducts real-time system studies and contingency analyses to assess the reliability impact of near-term planned and real time forced transmission and generation outages. Notifies control areas of any problems uncovered by the assessment.
  • Takes or directs appropriate real-time actions, as necessary, under normal and emergency conditions, to maintain system reliability in compliance with WECC Regional Reliability Standards, NERC Reliability Standards, and ISO procedures.
  • Maintains logs, identified documentation and prepares reports as required.

Qualifications

Level of Education and Discipline:

  • A formal training program after high school or equivalent education, training and experience. 
  • Typically requires a background in electrical engineering plus power system operations and/or generation operations.

Amount of Experience:

  • Five or more years in a California or other major WECC transmission grid or Balance Authority Area, or similar experience.

Certifications

  • NERC RC Certification required

Type of Experience:

  • Requires a demonstrated professional level understanding of interconnected electric system operations and various generating station operations including some combination of the following:
    • Generation dispatch or generating station experience
    • Real-time operations
    • Generators
    • Power grid operations.

Additional Skills and Abilities:

  • Ability and willingness to work overtime as needed.
  • Requires working at both Folsom, CA and Lincoln, CA facilities on a regular basis.
  • Ability and willingness to work 12-hour rotating shifts.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Able to exercise good judgment and discretion under emergency, high stress conditions as well as during routine operations; able to make effective decisions and take immediate and appropriate actions; demonstrate confidence and the ability to be assertive when necessary.
  • Able to work effectively in a team environment or independently, as required.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.