TheyВ are engaged by the utility to work within a market to purchase or sell current and future energy assetsВ in order to maximize profits. M arket Operators вЂ“ are functionally separated from the reliability-Л‡oriented jobs listed above.Reliability Coordinator вЂ“ Responsible for monitoring and ensuring the stability and reliability ofВ multiple areas, coordinating tasks with multiple entities, and maintain reliability over such areas.Transmission Operator вЂ“ Responsible for conducting transmission switching, monitoring system lineВ loading and voltage conditions.Balancing Operator вЂ“ Responsible for planning and maintaining adequate power generationВ supplies for expected power demand in an area, and maintaining the reliability of that area.Interchange Operator вЂ“ Responsible for enacting and monitoring interchange activities which occurВ between different balancing areas.

As a system operator you mayВ be responsible for playing one or multiple roles: We would also recommend to watch PJMвЂ™s story of вЂњA Day in the Life of Dispatch,вЂќ showing how the supply and demand of electricity is balanced across the PJM footprint for 65 million people, from the time we wake up in the morning to the time we go to bed, and through the night.ДЄ system operator is a generic term for several different specializations. A prime example of the workВ environment and what a System Operator does on a daily basis can be seen in the videoВ belowВ from ERCOT. The system operator must be able to remain calm and make confident decisions in spiteВ of limited time, uncertainty of information, and with a lot at stake. There is no question that a system operatorвЂ™s job can be stressful, especially during major systemВ disturbances. This training can be either online, in-house on-the-job training, participatingВ in simulation exercises, or sharing on-the-job experiences with the training staff and other operators. When not at the desk, a systemВ operator is usually training. A majority of the day is spent on the control desk, monitoring the systemВ and going through routine procedures that are carefully enacted. The size of the team varies according to theВ utilityвЂ™s size and service area. System operators work in small teams in the control room. Moreover, the power industry is one of the most veteran friendly industries in America.В There is an established trend for hiring veterans, especially veterans with nuclear training. Women are populating control roomsВ across the country. Even thoughВ the role has traditionally been filled by men, this is changing. This means that long days areВ common, but system operators usually have a lot of time off (around 14 days per month). The Dupont work schedule can provide you a sample of how the potential work schedule may look like schedule may look like at utilities all across the country ( Dupont Work Schedule). System operators typically work on shifts (which vary by utility). However, whenВ major system disturbances do occur (like a wind storm or equipment failure) it is the system operatorвЂ™sВ job to quickly respond and restore the power grid to safe operating conditions. System operators are constantlyВ training, honing their skills, and usingВ simulation to practice new situations whichВ broaden their expertise. Time is spentВ carefully monitoring the system conditionsВ in order to anticipate and mitigateВ potentially dangerous and costly systemВ problems. System operatorsВ interact over the phone with field crews,В general personnel, substation personnel,В and other system operators within theirВ own utility and with neighboring utilities.В In many ways being a system operator isВ similar to military service. System operators manage the power grid from a set of computer consolesВ within a control center. A system operator is on the front lines ensuring the reliable delivery of electricity to consumers,В businesses and industry.

Power utility control room job