NERC Certified System Operator

The System Operator manages Balancing Authority (BA), Generator Owner (GO), and Generator Operator (GOP) operations, hourly optimization for the purpose of positively impacting the assets P&L, forecasting, hourly scheduling of interchange transactions, monitoring, and reporting of real-time functions from BHE Montana's Network Operations Center (NOC).

These responsibilities include real-time operation of the Company's balancing authorities, generation projects, and scheduling of third-party energy resources, while ensuring grid reliability and continuous compliance with all NERC, and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), BA, GO, and GOP reliability standard requirements. This position also requires compliance with Alberta Reliability Standards (ARS), and AESO ISO rules for dispatch of Generator Owner (GO), and Generator Operator (GOP) operations in Alberta.

Monitors and exercises independent judgment in the safe, reliable, and economic operation of generation assets based on guidelines provided by North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Operating Policies, Regional Council Policies and Operating Procedures, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC) Standards of Conduct for normal, emergency and restoration conditions.

Responsible for the coordination with third-party energy trading groups and as directed by third party trading groups, resubmittal of price/quantity pairs due to unplanned unit outages.

The System Operator position is also responsible for providing training to Associate System Operators.

The System Operator assists with the development, tracking, and monitoring of compliance training/programs, policies, procedures, and standards to meet compliance requirements.

The System Operator provides key information and operational reports to direct supervision and senior management.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Manage and execute an hourly resource strategy to optimally balance Company's resource position within all NERC, FERC, WECC and other regulatory compliance obligations.

* Reviews and approves substation switching, provides feedback to Field Personal, Site Manager and NOC Manager as required.
* (35%) Ensure safe, reliable and economic operation of the Company's facilities, balancing authorities and generation projects in compliance with applicable NERC and WECC BA, GO, and GOP reliability standards, and adhering to Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) security measures. Respond to system disturbances involving generation, substation, and transmission equipment, taking appropriate steps in conjunction with the Transmission Operator and Reliability Coordinator.

Provide oversight for daily balancing authority reliability and comprehensive knowledge for the responsible operation of generation assets according to (Good Utility Practice) criteria and guidelines set by NERC, FERC, and the Regional Reliability Council. During both normal and emergency operating conditions, has the authority to take or direct timely and appropriate real-time actions. Has authority to curtail firm schedules to prevent potential NERC compliance violations due to unplanned outages.

All these actions are performed without need to obtain approval from the company's senior management.
* (15%) Support the operations and maintenance activities by actively managing plant availability and reliability in conjunction with the Site Operations Managers and the Environmental team. Accommodate the Company's environmental protection activities in conjunction with managing Control Performance Standards. Takes appropriate actions as needed during routine and emergency operations to ensure the reliability of the BA areas including those actions necessary to address operating emergencies, and energy emergencies, and to support the reliability of the Bulk Electric System.
* (15%) Responsible for the review and submission to RC West next day generation plans and availability. Using SCADA operate plant within operational limitations for voltage control as directed by the Transmission provider to ensure regulatory compliance and reliability of the interconnected system. Coordinates requests for equipment outages through the RC West outage scheduler to ensure reliability of the inter-connected system.
* (15%) Serve as liaison between reliability entities and commercial partners to ensure proper balance and optimization of assets given reliability constraints. Manage and purchase reserve positions and ancillary commercial products through bi-lateral contracts, system interfaces/markets, and/or reserve sharing group (RSG)/ Regional Area Control Error (ACE) control arrangements. Verify and confirm hourly and daily schedules through before and after-the-fact check outs and settlement review.
* (10%) Responsible for third-party generation dispatch and scheduling services for other generation projects. Support…