PETL TRAINING PLAN

PETL TRAINING PLANName of Proposal / Project and Initials (NOPP) i
April 30, 2018 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by AECOM International Development.
PETL NCC TRAINING PLAN
USAID Award Number:
Contract Number: AID-OAA-I-13-00012
Task Order: AID-294-TO-16-00006
DISCLAIMER: This document is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of AECOM and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
PETL NCC Training Plan
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 2 LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Executive Summary............................................................................................................................................. 6 Development of the Training Plan ......................................................................................................... 8 Section 1: Consultant’s Trip Report & Activities Performed .......................................... 8 Section 2: Consultant’s Training Related Findings & Recommendations ........ 12
North American Power System Functional Arrangement ......................................................... 12 PETL Power System Functional Arrangement .................................................................................. 14 PETL NCC Real-Time Operating Duties ................................................................................................. 15 Typical North American Control Center Staffing ............................................................................ 16
System Operator (SO) Position ............................................................................................................. 18 Advanced Applications Engineer Position ....................................................................................... 18 EMS Engineer Position ................................................................................................................................. 19 Telecommunications Engineer Position ............................................................................................ 19 Reliability Standards & Operating Procedures Position ......................................................... 20 Generation Analyst Position ..................................................................................................................... 20 Load Forecasting Analyst Position ....................................................................................................... 21 Training Coordinator Position ................................................................................................................. 21 Outage Scheduling Position ..................................................................................................................... 22
PETL National Control Center Staffing................................................................................................... 23 SCADA System Operator (SSO) PETL Position Description & Commentary ............ 23 Maintenance Engineer PETL Position Description & Commentary .................................. 24 System Engineer PETL Position Description & Commentary ............................................. 25 PLC Engineer PETL Position Description & Commentary ...................................................... 26 Code & Procedure Engineer PETL Position Description & Commentary ..................... 26 Financial Analyst PETL Position Description & Commentary .............................................. 27 Forecast Analyst PETL Position Description & Commentary .............................................. 27
Section 3: PETL System Operator Training Plan ................................................................... 30 NCC Training Plan Applicability & Responsibilities ........................................................................ 30
O&M SCADA Manager, NCC ..................................................................................................................... 30 Training Coordinator, NCC ........................................................................................................................ 31 Subject Matter Experts (SME) ................................................................................................................ 31 Trainees ................................................................................................................................................................. 31
NCC Training Plan Methodology................................................................................................................. 32 ADDIE’s Analysis Phase .............................................................................................................................. 32 ADDIE’s Design Phase ................................................................................................................................. 34 ADDIE’s Development Phase .................................................................................................................. 35 ADDIE’s Implementation Phase ............................................................................................................ 35 ADDIE’s Evaluation Phase ......................................................................................................................... 35
Individual Training Course Evaluation .......................................................................................... 36 Annual Training Program Evaluation ............................................................................................. 36
Annual Review of System Operator Reliability Related Task List ....................................... 36 System Operator Initial Training............................................................................................................... 37 System Operator Reliability Related Task Qualification Process ......................................... 37
PETL NCC Training Plan 4
System Operator Continuing Training ................................................................................................... 38 Operations Support Personnel Training ................................................................................................ 38
Identify Operations Support Positions .............................................................................................. 38 Code & Procedure Engineer ................................................................................................................. 39 EMS Engineer ................................................................................................................................................ 39 Telecommunications Engineer ........................................................................................................... 40 NCC Field Engineer .................................................................................................................................... 40 Generation Analyst .................................................................................................................................... 40 Forecast Analyst .......................................................................................................................................... 40 Training Coordinator ................................................................................................................................ 40
Required Training for Operations Support Positions ............................................................... 40 Code & Procedure Engineer ................................................................................................................. 40 EMS Engineer ................................................................................................................................................ 40 Telecommunications Engineer ........................................................................................................... 41 NCC Field Engineer .................................................................................................................................... 41 Generation Analyst .................................................................................................................................... 41 Forecast Analyst .......................................................................................................................................... 41 Training Coordinator ................................................................................................................................ 41
Appendix A: System Operator (SO) Reliability Related Task List & Associated Skills & Knowledge Statements ................................................................................ 42 Appendix B: Learning Objectives .......................................................................................................... 49 Appendix C: Training Course Descriptions ................................................................................... 55 Course # 1. Power System Fundamentals .............................................................................. 55 Course # 2. Voltage Control Theory & Practice .................................................................. 55 Course # 3. Frequency Control Theory & Practice .......................................................... 55 Course # 4. Power Flow Theory & Practice............................................................................ 55 Course # 5. Angle Stability Theory & Practice .................................................................... 55 Course # 6. Voltage Stability Theory & Practice ............................................................... 55 Course # 7. EMS & Telecommunications Equipment & Application ................. 55 Course # 8. Power System Protective Relaying ................................................................ 55 Course # 9. Power System Safety & Switching .................................................................. 55 Course # 10. Normal Transmission System Operations............................................... 55 Course # 11. Emergency Power System Operations ....................................................... 55 Appendix D: Dispatcher Training Simulator ............................................................................... 74 • DTS Exercise Template.......................................................................................................................... 74 • System Restoration DTS Exercise Operator Checklist (Day 1) ........................ 74 Appendix E: Qualification Check-Off Sheet Sample ............................................................. 81 • Sample Lesson Plan For System Monitoring & Control ........................................... 81 • Sample Qualification Check-Off For System Monitoring & Control .............. 81 Appendix F: Glossary & Acronym List............................................................................................ 100
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 North American Power System Functional Arrangement ........................................ 13 Figure 2 PETL / Israel Functional Arrangement ................................................................................. 15 Figure 3 Possible North American Control Center Staffing ......................................................... 17 Figure 4 Existing PETL National Control Center Staffing ............................................................. 23 Figure 5 Recommended PETL NCC Staffing .......................................................................................... 29 Figure 6 NCC Training Program Responsibilities ............................................................................... 32 Figure 7 Five Step Addie Training Model ................................................................................................ 36 Figure 8 Recommended PETL NCC Staffing .......................................................................................... 39
INTRODUCTION
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has established Palestinian Electricity Transmission Ltd (PETL) as the national transmission company, as such, PETL is required to own, operate and manage the PA transmission system. PETL will need significant capacity development as they begin to take over the transmission assets and operate the power system as the single buyer of energy for the PA.
USAID’s Palestinian Energy Project (PEP) supports the PA in building the institutional capacity to oversee the commercial and operational administration of the Palestinian electricity sector. This project will assist PETL in the establishment of an energy Control Center that will increase the reliability of the Palestinian grid. This project includes providing the required training to the PETL engineering staff that will operate the Control Center and efficiently manage the power system. To accomplish this, PEP requires the assistance of technical experts who will assess PETL’s training needs, provide recommendations related to training requirements and provide a Training Plan including descriptions of the types of training and training sequencing.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This first section of this report contains a short review of the consultants on- site visit to Palestine during which the consultant met with PETL and AECOM staff over a three-day period. The consultant spoke with senior PETL staff who shared their vision of what the PETL National Control Center (NCC) will become and also spoke with young engineers who may one day become PETL NCC System Operators. The young engineers obviously have the ability, so the challenge of this report is to provide support to PETL on how to develop and deliver a Training Program that will provide the opportunity for these engineers to become PETL NCC System Operators.
The middle section of this report contains the consultant’s findings and recommendations with respect to the functional arrangement and staffing of the PETL National Control Center (NCC). The graphic below illustrates the consultant’s recommendations for the real-time operations staffing of the NCC. Each of the positions in the graphic are explored in this report, from a training perspective, with emphasis on the central position of the graphic, the System Operator.
The final section of the report, along with its six appendices, contains the bulk of the report. This final section analyzes the job tasks performed by the System Operators, identifies the skills & knowledge required to perform these job tasks, and identifies and describes the content of eleven training courses that are required in a PETL NCC System Operator initial training program.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRAINING PLAN This report is structured in three sections:
Section 1: Consultant’s Trip Report & Activities Performed Section 2: Consultant’s Training Related Findings & Recommendations Section 3: PETL System Operator Training Plan (With Appendices)
SECTION 1: CONSULTANT’S TRIP REPORT & ACTIVITIES PERFORMED The consultant’s first day on-site was Tuesday, September 26, 2017. The first meeting on the project was at AECOM’s facility in Ramallah during which the consultant met with Arthur Sedestrom & Jamal Arja of AECOM and reviewed the scope of the project and the consultant’s role in the project.
First meeting with PETL Operations staff was held on Tuesday at PETL facility in Ramallah. Consultant and Jamal Arja met with PETL’s Operations Manager, IT Manager & Human Resources Manager for a general discussion of the consultant’s role in project. The Operations Manager described his vision of the National Control Center (NCC) function. Together the group examined the role of the SCADA System Operator (SSO) position within the NCC. The consultant was told that PETL will eventually have operational authority over the 161 kV transmission system and portions of the 33 kV distribution from the NCC.
The PETL Human Resources Manager provided the consultant with job descriptions for NCC staff including the SSO position and six operations support positions.
The consultant asked Jamal if he could meet with personnel who were candidates for the SSO position. A meeting with four SSO candidates was scheduled for the following day.
The consultant spent the remainder of Tuesday creating an outline for a PETL NCC Training Plan. Intent was to create a draft plan so relevant information could be recorded as it was received. Focus was on the duties and responsibilities of the SSO position. Consultant had limited understanding of the duties of the SSO at this point. Also, consultant’s understanding at this point was that the Training Plan would address the future form of the NCC, not the existing structure.
Wednesday September 27th began at the AECOM facility. Consultant and Jamal met with four SSO candidates late-morning at PETL offices. All four were Electrical Engineers (three had BSEE degrees and one had an MSEE). All four had followed very close career paths at PETL. All four had attended three, multi-week training classes at the Israel Electric Company (IEC) where they were instructed on 161/33 kV substation equipment testing,
equipment maintenance, equipment operation, and equipment protection principles and application. In addition, most group members had attended solar power training courses from vendors, transmission and substation equipment training in Jordan, and distribution system training from various Distribution Companies.
One SSO candidate had attended training on the usage of an electric power system analysis software package called ETAP. This individual then trained other engineers in the use of the software. The usage and application of ETAP type simulation software is a key area in the training of real-time power System Operators and operations support engineers. Many North American utilities are having difficulty finding qualified candidates and then training these individuals on the usage of real-time power system simulation software for real-time power system contingency (N-1) analysis, generation outage scheduling analysis and transmission outage scheduling analysis.
All four candidates were knowledgeable of fundamental power system concepts and substation operations. While none had worked in a power system Control Center environment such as the NCC, all had between four and five years utility experience. The consultant reviewed how North American power systems are operated from a frequency control and centralized Control Center authority perspective and all four candidates appeared to easily follow the discussion. Assuming all future SSO’s come with these type qualifications, the consultant estimates an initial SSO training program could be completed in 6 months once the required training materials (described later in this report) are developed. An additional period of several months to qualify the candidates to the tasks performed by the position would then follow.
Jamal arranged an introduction to the PETL Executive Director after the meeting with the candidate SSOs concluded. The Executive Director emphasized the need to develop training schedules and time-frames for the NCC staff. The Executive Director also asked for assistance on identifying the staffing needs for the NCC. How many people required for the different positions, etc. Staffing levels are not the consultant’s primary knowledge area, but some assistance can be provided and is contained within this report.
Thursday September 28th began early for a trip to the Jenin substation. The consultant and Jamal arrived at Jenin about 10:30. Two Operations Substation Engineers were working in the substation (as part of their 24 hour shift rotation) at the time of our visit. Both engineers provided a tour of the 161/33 kV substation equipment and described the equipment’s purpose and operation. Both engineers demonstrated an understanding of
substation equipment, its purpose and its operation. The engineers were knowledgeable of both the 161 kV transmission equipment and the 33 kV distribution equipment. Jenin substation is new construction and utilizes state of the art equipment.
Based on the consultant’s brief time (a few hours) with the two engineers at Jenin substation it appeared they would make excellent candidates for the SSO position. In addition, drawing SSO trainees from the ranks of the Operations Substation Engineers would ensure good coordination in the future as SSO’s will frequently interact with Operations Substation Engineers. However, it is the consultant’s understanding that SSO candidates may or may not possess this type of substation experience.
Jamal and the Operations Substation Engineers spoke of a proposed 450 MW combined cycle power plant to be built near the Jenin substation. An existing solar power plant attached to the PETL transmission system was also mentioned. This is important from a training perspective as it means that PETL’s SSOs must be trained on both generation and transmission operations.
The Jenin Operations Substation Engineers demonstrated the usage of the substation’s SCADA system. It is the consultant’s understanding that all four of PETL’s 161/33 kV substations will have this type of SCADA functionality. It is consultant’s understanding that once a temporary NCC site is chosen and the facility is usable, user interfaces for the four PETL substations will be installed at the temporary NCC and the substations will be controlled initially from this location. Eventually, a PETL EMS system will be procured and implemented at the permanent NCC site and both generation (AGC) and transmission (SCADA) control will be performed by the SSOs and their support staff from this location.
The consultant returned to AECOM’s offices about 2:30 in Thursday afternoon. The consultant updated the draft Training Plan for two hours and then spent ½ hour in an exit meeting with Arthur and Jamal. Arthur asked about the consultant’s initial thoughts on the project. Consultant told Arthur and Jamal that in North America a power system’s Control Center Training Plan focuses on the System Operator’s (SO’s) training needs. The SO is considered the focus of the Training Plan as their role is central to the real- time operation of the power system.
The training of operations support personnel is addressed within the Training Plan from the perspective of how their support of the SO position impacts the reliability related actions of the System Operators. For example, if an operations support position were to provide advice to a SO on voltage control, then the operations support position must understand the reliability
related consequences of that advice. There would normally be no mention of the telecommunications training needs for a telecommunication engineer or load forecasting training needs for a load forecasting position. All operations support personnel are assumed competent in their own fields.
The consultant recognizes that PETL’s situation is unique in that a new utility is being created including the design, construction, outfitting and staffing of the NCC. The Training Plan that follows attempts to adapt to this unique situation.
SECTION 2: CONSULTANT’S TRAINING RELATED FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS As stated in Section 1, the Consultant’s initial assumption on his role in the project was to develop a Training Plan for the PETL NCC. To the consultant that meant development of a training program focused on the SSOs. The tasks performed by the SSOs would first be identified and then listed according to duty areas. The skills and knowledge the SSOs must possess to successfully perform these tasks are then identified. The appropriate training development and delivery follows. The training needs of NCC operations support personnel (Such as SCADA Engineers) are identified from the perspective of how the actions of support personnel impact the reliability-related job tasks of the SSO.
The data gathering phase for a job-task-analysis (JTA) takes several weeks for a small Control Center with just a few operating positions to several months for a large Control Center with many operation positions. No attempt has yet been made to obtain all the required details needed to create a complete SSO JTA. A further complication is the tasks performed by the PETL SSO were yet to be finalized. During the consultant’s three-day visit to Palestine he was after a general understanding of the job function of the SSO. The information gathered during the initial visit can be used to create a preliminary JTA that in turn can be used to start the development of required training materials.
This Findings & Recommendations section begins with a description of a typical North American Control Center functional arrangement and then compares this functional arrangement to the consultant’s understanding of the proposed PETL NCC.
North American Power System Functional Arrangement The North American Control Centers responsible for power system reliability can be grouped into three distinct types. The functional entity within the Control Center with ultimate responsibility for overall system reliability is called the Reliability Coordinator (RC). The RC’s role is to monitor the activities of the Balancing Authorities or BAs (the BAs are in charge of frequency control) and the Transmission Operators or TOPs (the TOPs are in charge of transmission reliability) within their jurisdictions. The entire North American power system (approximately 900,000 MW non-coincidental peak) has approximately16 RCs, 75 BAs and 180 TOPs. The RCs role is as an overall system reliability authority. RCs monitor the activities of the BAs & TOPs within their jurisdiction to ensure required actions are taken in a timely manner to help ensure a reliable power system. Although the RCs have high level operational authority over the entire power system, the TOPs and BAs normally operate largely independent of the RCs. However, an RC can direct
TOPs and BAs to initiate corrective action if the RC detects system reliability deficiencies.
Figure 1 illustrates the functional arrangement of the North American power system. RCs are at the top of the real-time power system hierarchy with overall operational authority. BAs and TOPs are one level below the RCs. The TOPs utilize their SCADA systems (and other tools) as needed to monitor and control the transmission system. The BAs use automatic generation control (AGC) systems (and other tools) to collectively ensure interconnection frequency is maintained within acceptable bounds. TOPs and BAs manage the resources of their various Generation Operators (GOPs) and Distribution Providers (DPs) as needed to ensure reliable operation. Note in Figure 1 the Local Balancing Authority (LBA) functional entity that is illustrated as supporting the BA. In some scenarios, an additional entity may perform generation to load balance duties for their portion of the interconnection in support of their BA. An LBA is subordinate to the BA and works under the direction of the BA.
Figure 1 North American Power System Functional Arrangement
The entities (RC’s, TOP’s, BA’s, LBAs, GOP’s, DPs, etc.) that collectively operate the North American power system have many different internal
organizational structures. Some entities are for profit companies, some are government entities, etc. To ensure all entities focus on reliable operation, a system of Reliability Standards has been developed that is applicable in all of the North American interconnected power system. These Reliability Standards contain requirements with which reliability entities (RCs, TOPs, BAs, LBAs, GOPs, etc.) must comply. If a reliability entity does not comply with a Reliability Standard’s applicable requirement, sanctions are imposed upon the entity.
An organization called NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) manages the creation, modification, and enforcement of the Reliability Standards. NERC is a non-government organization but has the authority to enforce compliance to Reliability Standards via legal authority issued by various government entities with jurisdiction in the North American Power System. Several of the approximately 100 Reliability Standards currently in force address System Operator training requirements. For example, each RC, TOP and BA entity participating in the interconnected North American power system must have a System Operator Training Plan that satisfies Reliability Standard requirements and this Training Plan must be updated each year.
PETL Power System Functional Arrangement The functional arrangement of PETL and PETL’s interconnected neighbors is now compared to the North American system. Figure 2 illustrates the functional arrangement of the PETL area power system. The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) functions as the RC for the entire power system. Therefore, IEC has overall operational authority over PETL. IEC also functions as the only BA within the Interconnection and has overall authority for frequency control. IEC functions as the TOP within their jurisdictional area and PETL functions as the TOP within the PETL 161/33 kV system. IEC manages their DPs and GOPs while PETL manages their DPs and GOPs.
IEC is the only BA in this structure and has overall authority for the load to generation balance. However, PETL’s activities will impact frequency control and these activities must be coordinated with IEC. PETL is therefore assigned a subordinate balancing function role referred to as a Local Balancing Authority or LBA. The LBA is delegated authority by the BA in mutually agreed areas of generation control such as load and generation forecasting, maintaining a balance between PETL load and generation resources, tie-line flow management, tie-line metering maintenance, distribution load shedding, etc.
Figure 2 PETL / Israel Functional Arrangement
Within this functional arrangement IEC is responsible for overall system reliability. IEC has ultimate authority over the transmission system and generation control process. IEC and PETL must work together to ensure the reliability of their joint power system.
PETL NCC Real-Time Operating Duties PETL, working in coordination with IEC, manages the real-time operation of their transmission and generation assets and coordinates the activities of their GOPs and DPs. PETL operational duties well likely include:
• Switching (isolations, earthing practices, hot-line orders, tagging, etc.), coordination on 161 kV with IEC and 33 kV with multiple DPs
• Maintaining acceptable voltage levels within PETL 161/33 substations in coordination with IEC, DPs and GOPs
• Transmission, distribution, and generation outage scheduling coordination utilizing study contingency analysis (STCA) and outage management system (OMS) software tools
• Transmission and distribution system power flow monitoring and congestion management using real-time contingency analysis (RTCA) software tools
• Substation alarm monitoring and response including equipment alarm meaning and response, protective relay target interpretation and response, fault location and sectionalizing
• Determining unit commitment and managing generation economic dispatch using appropriate software tools in coordination with IEC and GOPs
• System load & generation (including renewables) forecasting using load and generation forecasting software tools
• Performing the duties of an LBA including assisting IEC with the real- time generation to load balancing function by operating in an IEC assigned AGC mode (possibly constant interchange control mode of AGC)
• Emergency response and system restoration duties including UFLS, UVLS, black-start and manual load shedding
• NCC physical and electronic perimeter access control and critical building systems monitoring
• Implementation of a back-up Control Center plan given the loss of NCC
• Creation of daily system operations logs for distribution to PETL management
Typical North American Control Center Staffing North American Control Centers vary dramatically in size and scope. Larger Control Centers may have upwards of 20 real-time System Operators (SOs) on shift at all times. Smaller Control Centers may have only one SO on shift at times. This section describes typical organization staffing and assumes the Control Center is a hybrid that performs the functions of the RC, the TOP and the BA. Figure 3 illustrates common Control Center staff positions. Note the SOs are in the middle with the various operations support staff positioned as the spokes on a wheel. This is an appropriate analogy as the primary role of operations support personnel is to support the real-time SOs as they manage the reliability of the power system. The SOs would typically report to a Control Center Manager. In larger Control Centers, with multiple SOs on-shift at any one time, a Shift Manager
real-time (24/7/365) position or a Chief System Operator day-time position may exist to reduce the number of personnel who report directly to the Control Center Manager. Operations support personnel may report directly to the Control Center Manager or additional middle-management positions may exist if the organization is large enough to justify these positions. For example, a large TOP may employ multiple Advanced Applications Engineers who report to a Supervisor who in turn reports to the Control Center Manager. Descriptions of the roles of the SOs and each of the operations support positions follows with commentary on how the particular position may apply within the PETL organization.
Figure 3 Possible North American Control Center Staffing
System Operator (SO) Position The duties performed by SOs vary widely in North America. Some Control Centers only control generation while others may only control transmission. Some Control Centers are responsible for both generation and transmission while others may function as Reliability Coordinators with overall operating authority. A high-level list of possible duty areas of the SO position includes:
• Frequency monitoring and control • Transmission monitoring and control • Transmission switching coordination • Voltage monitoring and control • Generation and transmission outage scheduling • Transmission congestion management using RTCA and economic
dispatch tools
Given the wide variance in Control Center functions, there is also wide variance in the individuals who perform the SO duties. The majority of North American SOs do not have engineering degrees. Certain types of SOs, for example those that manage transmission congestion and utilize RTCA tools, are typically electrical engineers but other types of SOs, such as those who coordinate the switching process, are more likely to have field switching experience before they ever came to the Control Center. The field switching experience is very important to those SOs who manage the switching process as they have an understanding of the safety risks and an understanding of the equipment involved in switching. Larger Control Centers typically have real-time operations support positions whose duties are often performed by the SOs in smaller Control Centers. For example, consider the Outage Scheduling position illustrated in Figure 3 above. A smaller transmission Control Center may schedule five transmission outages a week while a large transmission Control Center with hundreds of substation and transmission lines may schedule twenty transmission outages a day. The larger Control Center would therefore have dedicated outage scheduling operations support staff to provide needed support to the SOs.
Advanced Applications Engineer Position Advanced Applications Engineer positions are responsible for certain real- time tools SOs used in their operation of the power system. Advanced applications are software-based tools that may include real-time contingency analysis (RTCA), voltage stability analysis, transient stability analysis, etc. (This section focuses on RTCA as it is the most common advanced application tool in use.)
PETL will choose a vendor for their energy management system (EMS). The EMS system often includes SCADA and AGC components. Normally the same vendor that supplies the EMS supplies the RTCA application but there are instances in which separate vendors are chosen. RTCA tools are used to simulate the loss of power system elements (Assuming “N” represents the normal condition then RTCA tools study “N-1” conditions which is the impact of a single contingency.) using power system models that are based on real- time system conditions. Before a SO can use RTCA to study the impact of a transmission line loss, the SO must first run a companion software application called a state estimator or SE. The SE ensures the RTCA model of the power system is within acceptable accuracy range. If the SE solves it means the power system model used for the RTCA accurately represents the real-time power system and the RTCA results can be trusted. The vendor chosen for the RTCA application provides product specific training for the application. PETL’s own SO training program provides explanations for the need for RTCA and describes the fundamental operating principles these type tools utilize. All Advanced Applications Engineer support personnel would attend training sessions (with the SOs) on the impact of their advanced applications on the reliability of the PETL power system.
EMS Engineer Position EMS Engineer operations support staff are responsible for the continual reliable operation of all components of the EMS system including the SCADA and AGC sub-functions. Although PETL will not perform the BA’s frequency control role (IEC is the BA while PETL supports IEC as an LBA), various components of AGC would be of value to PETL. For example, as generators connect to the PETL system, the generator MW output must be dispatched in coordination with IEC. AGC packages from the various vendors include generator dispatch applications that may address both cost of power production and transmission security issues. The vendor chosen for the EMS system provides the training for the maintenance of the EMS system and the applications contained within the EMS package. The SO’s training program describes and illustrates how EMS applications are used to control the generation and transmission system. As previously mentioned, to ensure PETL operations support personnel understand the reliability related impact of their actions, these personnel will attend training sessions using appropriate sections of SO training materials.
Telecommunications Engineer Position The operation of the Control Center is dependent upon adequate, reliable, and secure telecommunications. The Telecommunications Engineer support position must be trained in all aspects of telecommunications theory and
application. To ensure adequately trained personnel, initial hiring should be limited to experienced Telecommunications Engineers for these positions. Experienced Telecommunications Engineers are expected to be competent in the field and obtain training for the specific equipment utilized from the chosen equipment vendors. Once an entities telecommunications staff is well established, less experienced engineers can be hired and can obtain the required expertise with on-the-job-training (OJT). Normally there is a strong link between the Telecommunications Engineer support staff and the protective relay engineering staff. Modern transmission system protective relaying is often highly dependent on telecommunications so interaction between telecommunications and relaying personnel is constant.
Reliability Standards & Operating Procedures Position Reliability Standards are created and applied to help ensure the reliability of the North American power system. Each North American Control Center has staff who monitor real-time operating functions to ensure compliance with the various requirements within applicable Reliability Standards including cyber security related requirements. Reliability Standards & Operating Procedures support personnel report directly to corporate Senior Management to ensure compliance deficiencies are quickly and effectively addressed. PETL does not currently have Reliability Standards but PETL’s existing Transmission Grid Code contains the beginnings of Reliability Standards. If the Transmission Grid Code was reformatted and expanded, it could serve as a Reliability Standards equivalent. Both the Transmission Grid Code and NCC Operating Procedures could then be monitored for compliance to help ensure reliable operations.
Generation Analyst Position If a Control Center has a generation related role, the choice of which generation is utilized in a given set of power system circumstances is supported by the Generation Analyst Position. Unit Commitment software tools guide the choice of which generation is committed for usage on a given load day. Unit commitment considerations include both power production cost issues and transmission system security issues. Economic Dispatch software tools are used to determine the appropriate output level (dispatch) of a given generator in real-time system conditions. The vendors of the Unit Commitment and Generation Dispatch software provide the software specific training. PETL’s SO training program provides explanations for the purpose and application of these type software tools. Since PETL has, and likely will have more, renewable generation such as solar photo voltaic, software packages that forecast the MW generation of renewables may be required. Training for usage of this type software is provided by the software vendor.
The vendors of Unit Commitment and Economic Dispatch software provide software specific training. As an example of one vendor’s offerings, a company named Power Costs Inc. (powercosts.com) offers the Generation Supply Management System (GSMS) software package which is widely used in North America. This software package contains both Unit Commitment and Economic Dispatch functions. PETL’s own SO training program provides explanations for the purpose of these generation analysis tools.
Load Forecasting Analyst Position IEC, as the BA, is the entity responsible for the entire Interconnection’s real- time balance between generation and load. PETL (the LBA) would provide IEC with periodic forecasts (possibly hourly) of both its generation MW output and its load MW consumption. If PETL’s load and/or generation forecasts are incorrect, IEC must respond, or frequency error would occur. IEC would incur costs and system reliability could be degraded. (The Load Forecasting Analyst support position works closely with the Generation Analyst support position.) Various vendors offer load forecasting software tools. The vendors of load forecasting software provide required software specific training. As an example of one vendors offerings, a company named TESLA (teslaforecast.com) offers load and renewable generation forecasting software packages that are widely used in North America. PETL’s own SO training program provides explanations and descriptions of the load and generation forecasting process.
Training Coordinator Position The Training Coordinator position is focused on the training needs of the real-time System Operators. The training needs of operations support personnel are addressed with regards to their job function’s reliability impact on real-time system operating decisions. For example, if a task performed by an operations support position has direct impact on a System Operator’s real-time decision, then the Training Coordinator must ensure the operations support position staff understands the reliability related consequences of that task. Examples of this process are described later in the document. Initially, the PETL SO Training Coordinator could provide support for the training of operations support personnel. However, as the SO’s job function expands, the duties of the Training Coordinator will also expand and the SOs would likely require a full-time Training Coordinator. Given that PETL is creating and staffing a Control Center, consideration should be given to hiring a Training Coordinator with real-time transmission level operations experience. This dual qualified individual would then serve both as the Training Coordinator and a subject matter expert (SME) who
could both design and deliver training to the SOs and operations support personnel. An important training tool that all North American Control Centers (RC, TOP & BA) have access too is a dispatcher training simulator or DTS. The DTS is typically, but not always, provided by the vendor of the EMS system. The DTS is used to provide simulation training on power system operation using an accurate model of the transmission and generation system and the same System Operator EMS interface as the real-time EMS employs. No other tool for System Operator training can match the value of a DTS for teaching System Operators how the power system responds to events such as generator or transmission line outages. A downside of utilizing a DTS is the cost as training staff must be hired to both maintain and utilize the DTS. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) mandates that reliability entities have Training Plans to address the training needs of System Operators. The Training Coordinator position itself is also mandated. The NERC web site (NERC.com) contains a large amount of valuable information on the training of System Operators and the role of the Training Coordinator.
Outage Scheduling Position Large Control Centers may coordinate the operation of thousands of substations with thousands of transmission lines interconnecting between the substations and neighboring power systems. Several North American power market structures have over 200,000 MWs of generation capacity. The coordination of outage scheduling for both the generation and transmission systems is a challenging process that may require multiple full- time staff. Multiple vendors have created software tools for managing the transmission and generation outage scheduling process. North America has a Reliability Standard that mandates that the RC manages the outage scheduling process in coordination with its TOPs and BAs. Outage scheduling is initially a less complex process for PETL, but the early application of a well-designed outage scheduling process helps ensure problems are avoided as the PETL power system grows. The vendors of Outage Management System (OMS) software provide required software specific training. As an example of one vendors offerings, a company named Equinox (equinox.ca) offers the Control Room Operations Window (CROW) software package which is widely used in North America. This software package contains both Operator Logging and Outage Scheduling functions. PETL’s own SO training program provides explanations for the purpose of the outage scheduling process.
PETL National Control Center Staffing Figure 4 illustrates PETL’s proposed staffing for the NCC. Job descriptions for the seven positions illustrated in Figure 4 are provided after Figure 4. These job descriptions were provided by PETL Human Resources.
Figure 4 Existing PETL National Control Center Staffing
SCADA System Operator (SSO) PETL Position Description & Commentary • Communicate locations of personnel, equipment, outage information
and safety measures with internal and field personnel • Communicate member requests with appropriate internal and field
personnel • Perform SCADA operations as required by line personnel • Administer SCADA programming and data collection functions
• Utilize the SCADA system to monitor system statistics in conjunction with Systems Operation Center functions
• Responsible for being available for scheduled rotational (on-call) duties and as needed
• Responsible for following all cooperative safety policies and procedures • Assist in gathering information for reporting needs (board reports,
departmental, etc. • Dispatch outage and power quality calls to the appropriate internal and
field personnel • Assist with the maintenance of database information regarding
electrical devices such as recloses, regulators, capacitors and transformers
• Assist in monitoring the flow of power from the suppliers to the customer
It would be difficult to create a job description for a position that was initially weakly defined while PETL considered the creation of an NCC. As the SSO position description is written above, it is too focused on the usage of SCADA. SCADA is one tool available to a SO - there are many additional tools the SO will utilize. Also, there are errors in the job description such as the operations support staff will administer (for example program) SCADA, not the SO. The final section of this report lists the tasks expected to be performed by the SO. This task list could be used to create a more accurate job description for this position.
Maintenance Engineer PETL Position Description & Commentary • Key duties will be to undertake maintenance, repairs and
improvements of the electrical and SCADA systems at the company’s waste treatment facilities. This will include reactive breakdown and preventative maintenance. Typical equipment includes control panels, lighting, motors, fans and PLC’s.
• Experience in all types of control systems is essential • Small installation jobs and the supervision of external contractors
involved in major works will be required from time to time • An understanding of PLC systems and fault finding • Troubleshooting different types of sensor, and transducers and
maintain data collectors from different fields • Test all SCADA upgrades with field technicians to ensure proper
operation • Basic mechanical skills and understanding
The job description above is too general to understand the exact duties of the Maintenance Engineer position. The position appears to be a field focused position that supports the installation of field equipment. While there is a SCADA related job function (field SCADA equipment), I do not see why this position, as written, is listed under the O&M SCADA Manager.
System Engineer PETL Position Description & Commentary • Possess a broad understanding of SCADA communications and IT
Telecommunications Infrastructure and data transfer protocols • Enhances and maintains the SCADA Operations Control Center
Environment • Troubleshoots communication and remote equipment issues affecting
the distribution operations • Responsible for the proper operation of all system software, hardware
and network • Support the existing infrastructure; assist with the maintenance of the
computer operating system, network and the control system package • Work on day to day system activities and enhancements with vendors,
suppliers and field technicians • Application support, working with IT infrastructure on system issues
and upgrades • Developing / updating custom application functionality, understand
and support external system interfaces • Builds, modifies, tests and design screens and database records in
SCADA to add new operations functions • Troubleshooting control equipment connectivity in the field by
providing diagnostic information to the field • Conduct Site Acceptance Testing to demonstrate and validate controls
functionality • Maintain accurate records of system databases and associated field
activities • Provide operations with recent upgrades and work closely with
supervision to guarantee proper site representations • Assist group in Windows System Administration functions • Provide on-call support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week • Works toward established goals
This System Engineer position and the PLC Engineer position combined and expanded would match with a typical EMS Engineer Support position in North America. The EMS Engineer support position is responsible for the
maintenance and operation of the complete AGC system including the AGC and SCADA functions. The EMS Engineer Support position would be assisted by the Advanced Applications Engineer support position which is responsible for the maintenance and usage of advanced applications software tools including the key RTCA tool.
PLC Engineer PETL Position Description & Commentary • SCADA Programmer / Engineer in PLC. This position will be
responsible for configuring and programming automation and controls systems involving HMI (human machine interface), MMI (man-machine interface), or SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems
• Programming and troubleshooting PLCs series from different manufacturers (Siemens, ABB, Schneider)
• Data logging and reporting, Boolean logic, symbol conventions • Simulation and testing, and start-up • Troubleshooting DC system • Programming leadership as well as the ability to develop and
implement standard engineering practices
This PLC Engineer position and the System Engineer position combined and expanded would match with a typical EMS Engineer support position in North America. The EMS Engineer support position is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the complete AGC system including the AGC and SCADA functions. The EMS Engineer support position would be assisted by the Advanced Applications Engineer support position which is responsible for the maintenance and usage of advanced applications software tools including the key RTCA tool. Given the job description above, what remains of the function of a PLC Engineer after EMS related functions are removed, could be combined with the Maintenance Engineer position listed previously to create an NCC Field Engineer support position that has responsibilities for the operation and maintenance of the field equipment important to the NCC.
Code & Procedure Engineer PETL Position Description & Commentary • Following up the procedures and transmission code • Monitoring the generation and distribution of power • Reviewing the power demand requests from customers • Reviewing the technical requirements of power demand requests
submitted to the supplier
• Coordinate with SCADA department of the power flow to the customer • Perform correlations • Prepare recommendations for daily operational handbook
The Code & Procedures Engineer position could match up well with the North American Reliability Standards & Operating Procedures support position. This position would ensure the NCC properly maintains and enforces the Transmission Grid Code and would also be responsible for creating and monitoring the enforcement of NCC Operating Procedures. Initially this position could also serve as the technical interface between the NCC and customers and neighboring utilities.
Financial Analyst PETL Position Description & Commentary • Tracks financial status by monitoring variances from plan • Determines financial status by comparing and analyzing plans and
forecasts with actual results • Improves financial status by analyzing results and variances;
identifying trends; recommending actions • Reconciles transactions by comparing and correcting data. • Increases productivity by developing automated applications,
eliminating duplications, coordinating information requirements • Provides information to management by assembling and summarizing
data, preparing reports, making presentations of findings, analyses, and recommendations
• Accomplishes finance and organization mission by completing related results as needed
The Financial Analyst position would compare with a North American Generation Analyst support position. The operations related duties of this position would include determining the most economical mix of generation and coordinate closely with the Forecast Analyst position. In addition, this position provides a broad range of financial advice to PETL that goes well beyond a real-time operations role. Given PETL’s broad financial related job description of this position, reporting to the O&M SCADA Manager is questionable.
Forecast Analyst PETL Position Description & Commentary • Recognize, follow, and analyze trends in the market historical data to
map trends and determine how they will influence the business • Prepare and present reports, charts, and tables detailing these market
factors to his manager to help inform marketing and production strategy decisions
• Routinely examine their own methodologies to find ways of improving predictive accuracy
• Familiarity with finance, documentation and database software
The Forecast Analyst position would compare with a North American Load Forecasting support position. Larger load serving Control Centers in North America may have a staff of five analysts within the load forecasting area that together create load forecasts. The impact of this position is difficult to underestimate as their end product is so important to real-time system generation control operations. A recommended staffing chart for the NCC with an initial number of staff estimate for each position is provided in Figure 5. Each of these positions responsibilities is described in detail in Appendix A of this report. Also note that the existing SCADA System Operator position is called the System Operator position for the remainder of this report. This name change is done to emphasize that SCADA is just one tool used by a System Operator.
Figure 5 Recommended PETL NCC Staffing
SECTION 3: PETL SYSTEM OPERATOR TRAINING PLAN (A Training Plan is one of the key Operating Procedures for the Control Center. This Section of the Training Plan and the attached appendices should eventually be formatted in the same style as a PETL Operating Procedure and integrated into the set of PETL Operating Procedures.)
This Training Plan provides a methodology for PETL to establish and continually support a training program for the system operations staff at the NCC. NCC personnel include the System Operators (SOs) and operations support personnel. (The operations support positions addressed in this Training Plan are the recommended positions as was illustrated in Figure 5).
The core methodology used to develop this Training Plan (the North American power industry mandated approach) is referred to as a Systematic Approach to Training or SAT. There are many variations to the details of the SAT process. The exact SAT model employed by PETL is secondary to the results obtained. What is important is that in applying a continuous SAT process, training requirements are first identified, training solutions developed and delivered, and PETL NCC staff are continually trained and evaluated in an efficient and effective manner.
NCC Training Plan Applicability & Responsibilities
This Training Plan is applicable to positions within PETL’s NCC system operations staff directly involved in operation of the PETL real-time power system. This includes both SOs and those operations support personnel whose functions could impact the reliability related performance of the SOs. All SO training candidates are assumed to be electrical engineers (or equivalent) with a basic understanding of electrical power system theory and operation. All operations support personnel are assumed to be competent in their specific fields (e.g. telecommunication engineers are proficient in telecommunications theory and practice, forecast analysts are proficient in usage of load forecasting tools, etc.). This assumption is required to establish a baseline of knowledge for the training program.
The key individuals responsible for the successful application of the Training Plan are:
O&M SCADA Manager, NCC • Responsible for overall management of NCC’s training program.
Ensures effectiveness of the training program. Provides appropriate subject matter experts (SMEs) to assist the Training Coordinator. Oversees all duties of the Training Coordinator.
Training Coordinator, NCC • Individual with the skill, background, qualification, education and/or
certification to administer any area of the Training Plan and is considered the SME of all training activities. Responsible for implementation of the Training Plan within the PETL NCC through managing and conducting the day to day activities of training.
Subject Matter Experts (SME) • Persons identified as having the knowledge and skills in a subject to be
considered an expert. SMEs are utilized by the Training Coordinator throughout the various phases of the training process.
Trainees • The persons who are trained (the trainees) have an important
responsibility. The trainees must provide feedback to both the Training Coordinator and the O&M SCADA Manager on the effectiveness of the training and assist with the identification of training areas that either need improvement or are missing from the training program.
Figure 6 illustrates key responsibilities within the NCC training program.
Figure 6 NCC Training Program Responsibilities
NCC Training Plan Methodology
This Training Plan implements the systematic approach to training (SAT) process through the five step (1) Analysis, (2) Design, (3) Development, (4) Implementation and (5) Evaluation (ADDIE) training model. The five phases of ADDIE provide structure to building training programs, the management of those programs and their effectiveness evaluation.
ADDIE’s Analysis Phase The purpose of the Analysis phase is to determine the SO’s training needs and identify the SO’s training requirements. Data generated in the Analysis phase is the most important input for developing training learning objectives and any associated training content in later phases of the process. To ensure a properly focused training program, a training Needs Analysis then a Job & Task Analysis is completed for each job (i.e. the SO) analyzed.
New training programs start with a Needs Analysis during which the training needs of the target audience are identified. The next step is a Job & Task analysis (JTA) during which a list of tasks is produced which fully describe the reliability related job performed by the target audience. (Those tasks
performed by a SO that have no relatability related consequences if performed incorrectly, are not addressed in the training program.) The skills and knowledge required to perform each reliability related task are then identified. The Needs Analysis is used to determine if a training need exists and what the training solution should be by:
• Defining a training issue
• Defining the implication (goal of training, training type, audience, scope, etc.)
A Job Analysis is used to obtain a list of the reliability related tasks for a specific job (i.e. SO). A job is typically divided into functional units (i.e. transmission switching) called duty areas and reliability related tasks are identified within the duty areas.
• Review available job information
• Analyze the results of interviews and job-site inspections
• Develop a preliminary reliability related task list (repeat steps above as needed)
• Validate the list of reliability related tasks
A Task Analysis is performed to examine each reliability related task and identify the required skills and knowledge to complete the task. The skills and knowledge areas identified are then used in the Design phase of SAT to develop focused training learning objectives. A preliminary JTA for PETL’s NCC SO position is contained within Appendix “A” of this document. The required Skills & knowledge to perform each task successfully are also listed for each task. This JTA is based on interviews with various PETL and AECOM staff during the consultant’s three-day visit to PETL, limited reviews of existing PETL documentation, and the consultants 30 years of experience in the power
operations field. Normally, existing NCC Operating Procedures would first be reviewed and existing PETL SOs interviewed to create the JTA but that was not possible as PETL had no existing Operating Procedures or SOs.
ADDIE’s Design Phase The training Design phase produces a training development plan that guides the creation of all training materials and teaching strategies. Learning objectives are written to clearly state the measurable performance the trainee shall demonstrate after training is completed. The following activities generally occur during the Design phase of SAT:
• Learning objectives are written
• Testing requirements are determined
• Course delivery methods are determined
Methods of delivering the training are selected during the design phase. Teaching styles should, if possible, mimic real-world performance environments. For example, training for SO response to transmission congestion is ideally conducted using a dispatcher training simulator (DTS) that mimics the environment within the PETL NCC. The training styles listed below are commonly used to deliver power operations training:
• Self-study instruction
• On-the-job Training (OJT) including site visits (such as to substations)
• DTS exercises (Example DTS exercise provided in Appendix “D”)
• Classroom instruction
• eLearning instruction
• Blended learning (combinations of above)
A preliminary list of Learning Objectives for the SO position is contained within Appendix “B” of this document. The Learning Objectives are grouped according to subject matter area. The initial training delivery method will be instructor led classroom instruction. Classroom based delivery facilitates student feedback for any required modifications to the training material content. Once the training materials have been proven in a classroom environment, self-study instruction using either written or eLearning techniques should be considered. Once a DTS is available to PETL, training
involving real-time operations issues (such as response to contingencies) is best addressed with DTS exercises.
ADDIE’s Development Phase During the training Development phase, all training materials (classroom presentation materials, self-study manuals, OJT manuals, DTS exercises, etc. are created using inputs from the Design phase. The Development phase produces variations of the following training products:
• Classroom presentation materials for instructors & students
• Self-study materials for students
• OJT materials (student guides, checklists, qualification standards)
• Site-visit check lists
• Evaluation materials (course, instructor, lesson, evaluation forms)
• Training record methods, training attendance forms, and course documentation requirements
A preliminary list of training courses with content descriptions is contained within Appendix “C” of this document. The Learning Objectives listed in Appendix “B” are grouped according to subject matter area to create the various training courses. As stated previously, the initial training delivery method will be instructor led classroom instruction.
ADDIE’s Implementation Phase During the Implementation phase, the training is delivered, and the trainee’s mastery of the learning objectives is assessed. Training delivery is based on written guidance documents (lesson plans, OJT guides, performance observation checklist, etc.) by approved and trained personnel.
ADDIE’s Evaluation Phase The Evaluation phase assists the Training Coordinator with determining both the strengths and weaknesses of the training. Corrective action plans would then be developed to eliminate the weak links in the training. The Training Coordinator conducts individual course evaluations as well as an annual program level evaluation for the entire training program.
Individual Training Course Evaluation Individual training course evaluations focus on individual course design, delivery and the success of the students during post-training assessments. The results of these evaluations are used in determining if changes to the course’s design/development are needed. Evaluation instruments include both student evaluations and instructor evaluations.
Annual Training Program Evaluation
Training program evaluation activities review the entire training course catalog and associated administrative functions. Conducted annually, the results of this type evaluation drive changes to the training course catalog, frequency of training offerings, new initiatives and more. Figure 7 summarizes the application of the five step Addie training model.
Figure 7 Five Step Addie Training Model
Annual Review of System Operator Reliability Related Task List
During each calendar year, the Training Coordinator reviews and updates the list of reliability related tasks. Tasks may be eliminated, tasks may be modified, or new tasks may be created. If warranted, the following may apply:
• Updating and/or creating new training materials
• Delivering new or modified training for SOs and operations support personnel
• All impacted staff are qualified to new reliability related tasks or modified tasks within six months of change to a task (see SO Reliability Related Task Qualification heading that follows).
System Operator Initial Training
The initial training is designed to ensure PETL SO’s and operation support personnel obtain the skills and knowledge required to perform their reliability related duties. Appendix “A” contains a list of the reliability related tasks and each task’s required skills and knowledge. Appendix “B” contains a list of the Learning Objectives required to ensure all the identified skills & knowledge areas are addressed in the training program. Appendix “C” contains descriptions of the individual Training Courses that must be developed then delivered in the initial training phase.
System Operator Reliability Related Task Qualification Process Initial training must also conclude with a verification step that each SO is qualified to perform each reliability related task. The qualification step ensures the SO can apply their skills and knowledge to the performance of the actual job task. PETL shall use qualification check-off sheets to assess each SOs ability to adequately perform all components of each reliability related task for the SO position. Reliability related task performance qualification is conducted under the control of a SO who has completed the same initial training and qualification process and demonstrated mastery of the SO position.
The reliability related task qualifying measurement check-off sheets shall:
• List all reliability related task information needed to perform the task
• Identify the methods of confirming an SO’s ability to perform the task
• Contain a check box for confirming the ability to perform the task
• Record the date, name of evaluator and SO, and evaluation status
A sample Qualification Check-Off sheet is provided in Appendix “E”.
System Operator Continuing Training
Continuing education maintains and enhances the ability of a SO to perform job assignments. Continuing education may include initial training program topics, operating experience reviews, disturbances reviews, identified performance issues, equipment modifications or additions, identified new or modified reliability related task requirements and procedure changes. Attendance at training offered by equipment vendors or training vendors may also be appropriate.
Operations Support Personnel Training
The Training Coordinator coordinates the delivery of training for those operations support personnel whose job performance could impact in some identified way the reliability related task performance of an SO. The goal is not to identify and list all the tasks performed by operations support personnel. The assumption is that operations support personnel are proficient in their specific job function. The goal is to determine how operations support personnel impact the performance of the SO’s reliability related tasks. Once this sub-set of the SO’s reliability related tasks are identified, a plan is developed to ensure that operations support personnel know their impact and its consequences on these SO reliability related tasks. The training needs of operations support personnel can likely be met using the training materials developed for the SO position. If a training need is identified that cannot be met with existing training material the Training Coordinator will coordinate development of the required training. One course has been added to the list of training courses that operations support personnel will likely require. It is a Power System Fundamentals course that is designed to provide non-engineers and those without power systems knowledge a basic understanding of power systems in general and PETL in particular.
Identify Operations Support Positions PETL operations support positions were identified in Section 2. Section 2’s Figure 5 illustrated the recommended PETL NCC staffing and that figure is repeated below. The seven operations support positions with summary statements of the position’s duties follow Figure 8.
Figure 8 Recommended PETL NCC Staffing
Code & Procedure Engineer • Creates and ensures compliance to NCC Operating Procedures • Interprets and ensures compliance to PETL’s Transmission Grid Code
EMS Engineer • Supports operation & maintenance of EMS including AGC & SCADA
functions • Supports operation & maintenance of software tools used by SOs
including RTCA
Telecommunications Engineer • Supports operation & maintenance of NCC telecommunications
infrastructure
NCC Field Engineer • Supports operation & maintenance of field equipment important to the
operation of the NCC such as SCADA interface in substations
Generation Analyst • Supports generation unit commitment process • Supports generation economic dispatch process
Forecast Analyst • Prepares PETL’s load forecast • Prepares generation output forecast for conventional and renewable
generation
Training Coordinator • Maintains and implements Training Plan • Maintains qualification to perform the duties of a PETL SO
Required Training for Operations Support Positions The duties of each operations support position are analyzed to see what SO reliability related tasks their job function would impact. Once these reliability tasks are identified that operations support position would be required to attend the same training for the task that the SO attends. Using this approach, the following list of required training course attendance for each operations support position was developed.
Code & Procedure Engineer 1. Course #1: Power System Fundamentals 2. Course #2: Voltage Control Theory & Practice 3. Course #3: Frequency Control Theory & Practice 4. Course #4: Power Flow Theory & Practice 5. Course #8: Power System Protective Relaying 6. Course #9: Power System Safety & Switching
EMS Engineer 1. Course #1: Power System Fundamentals 2. Course #2: Voltage Control Theory & Practice 3. Course #3: Frequency Control Theory & Practice 4. Course #4: Power Flow Theory & Practice
5. Course #7: EMS & Telecommunications Equipment & Application 6. Course #10: Normal Transmission System Operations 7. Course #11: Emergency Power System Operations
Telecommunications Engineer 1. Course #1: Power System Fundamentals 2. Course #7: EMS & Telecommunications Equipment & Application NCC Field Engineer 1. Course #1: Power System Fundamentals
Generation Analyst 1. Course #1: Power System Fundamentals 2. Course #3: Frequency Control Theory & Practice
Forecast Analyst 1. Course #1: Power System Fundamentals 2. Course #3: Frequency Control Theory & Practice
Training Coordinator • Since the Training Coordinator position is required to maintain their SO
qualification current, they must attend all initial and continual training required of an SO
APPENDIX A: SYSTEM OPERATOR (SO) RELIABILITY RELATED TASK LIST & ASSOCIATED SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE STATEMENTS
This appendix contains a list of the tasks that may be performed by PETL SOs & the skills & knowledge required to perform these tasks. The list is divided into six duty areas.
1. Transmission Operations Duty Area 1.1. Monitor and initiate operating actions or direct the actions of
others to ensure PETL’s distribution, transmission & generation systems are operated within interconnection, facility & individual equipment ratings 1.1.1.PETL & interconnecting power system generation, transmission,
distribution & substation equipment purpose, operation, limitations & alarm meanings
1.1.2.PETL safety & switching practices 1.1.3.PETL & neighboring entity staff organization for notifications 1.1.4.Usage of SCADA system & its advanced applications 1.1.5.Power flow theory & practice 1.1.6.Frequency control theory & practice 1.1.7.Voltage control theory & practice 1.1.8.Angle stability theory & practice 1.1.9.Voltage stability theory & practice
1.2. Following a forced transmission or distribution outage, obtain details of the outage cause, determine & prepare for impacts on future system operations, obtain an estimate of the return to service date & coordinate the development of a correction action plan 1.2.1.How to sectionalize a transmission line to locate a fault 1.2.2.Protective relay theory & operation & interpretation of protective
relay targets 1.2.3.Obtain & interpret data from fault recorders, SOE recorders,
SCADA logs & field personnel 1.2.4.Ensure operations within transmission N-1 criteria 1.2.5.PETL & neighboring entity staff organization for notifications 1.2.6.Update mapboards & SCADA as required 1.2.7.Power flow theory & practice 1.2.8.Voltage control theory & practice 1.2.9.Angle stability theory & practice 1.2.10. Voltage stability theory & practice 1.2.11. Usage & application of real time contingency analysis
(RTCA) tools 1.3. Following a forced generation system outage, obtain details of
the outage cause, determine & prepare for impacts on future system
operations, obtain an estimate of the return to service date, & coordinate development of a correction action plan 1.3.1.Frequency control theory & practice including AGC control modes
such as TLB, CFC & CIC 1.3.2.Protective relay theory & practice & interpretation of protective
relay targets 1.3.3.Obtain & interpret data from fault recorders, SOE recorders,
SCADA logs & field personnel 1.3.4.Ensure operations within generation N-1 criteria 1.3.5.PETL & neighboring entity staff organization for notifications 1.3.6.Update mapboards & SCADA as required
1.4. In coordination with IEC, monitor & respond to flow changes on tie-lines to IEC to ensure flows maintained within limits 1.4.1.Concept of system operating limit (SOL) & source of the limit
(thermal, voltage, stability) 1.4.2.Power flow theory & practice 1.4.3.Usage & application of real-time contingency analysis tools
1.5. Continually monitor conditions within & maintain knowledge of PETL & neighboring entity transmission, generation & distribution system design, equipment limitations, grid codes, procedures, policies & operating practices to ensure power system operated in reliable manner 1.5.1.PETL Transmission Grid Code content 1.5.2.PETL Operating Procedures content 1.5.3.PETL policies & operating practices 1.5.4.PETL & interconnecting power system transmission, distribution
& substation equipment description, operation & limitations 1.5.5.PETL operating agreements with JEPCO 1.5.6.PETL operating agreements with IEC 1.5.7.PETL operating agreements with DPs
1.6. As incoming SO, gather all required information from System Operator leaving previous shift & from displays & logs to ensure smooth transition at shift change 1.6.1.PETL Operating Procedure for shift change process
1.7. Continually monitor & periodically test normal & emergency telecommunication systems used internal to PETL & that link with neighboring entities to ensure communications adequate & continuous 1.7.1.Telecommunication system primary & backup design & usage
1.7.2.Telecommunication systems alarms & appropriate response 1.8. Prepare & distribute daily transmission & generation related
reports & logs according to PETL requirements 1.8.1.PETL Operating Procedure for daily log content & distribution 1.8.2.Update NCC mapboards & system diagrams to reflect changes in
power system configuration 1.8.3.PETL Operating Procedure for NCC mapboard update 1.8.4.PETL Operating Procedure for operating diagrams update
1.9. Monitor NCC facility systems and support equipment and request assistance from appropriate support personnel as required 1.9.1.Operating Procedure for PETL organization for proper
notifications 1.9.2.Continually monitor and control personnel access to the NCC 1.9.3.Operating Procedure for NCC access policy
1.10. In cooperation with IEC, support frequency control process as required 1.10.1. Operating Procedure for load shedding including UFLS,
UVLS & manual load shedding 1.10.2. Frequency control theory & practice 1.10.3. Use load forecast tools to adjust load forecast based on
real-time system conditions 1.10.4. Load forecast theory & practice 1.10.5. Use generation forecast tools to adjust generation forecast
to real-time system conditions 1.10.6. Generation forecast tools & practice 1.10.7. IEC & PETL frequency control policies & procedures
2. Voltage Control Duty Area
2.1. Use SCADA to monitor voltage at PETL transmission substations, identify & respond to actual or potential voltage violations, & coordinate voltage control actions with impacted parties 2.1.1.Voltage control equipment purpose & usage 2.1.2.PETL voltage related SOLs 2.1.3.Voltage control theory and practice 2.1.4.Voltage stability theory and practice 2.1.5.Purpose & usage of voltage control equipment 2.1.6.Purpose & usage of generator capability curves
2.1.7.Use of load shedding as voltage control tool 2.1.8.Coordination with IEC, DPs, generators & customers
2.2. Monitor & maintain dynamic reactive reserves & scheduled voltages within limits to ensure acceptable voltage levels in normal & contingency conditions. 2.2.1.Voltage control theory & practice
3. Frequency Control Duty Area
3.1. Assist IEC with maintaining frequency within acceptable boundaries 3.1.1.Range of allowable frequency deviations 3.1.2.AGC purpose & operation 3.1.3.Governor purpose & operation 3.1.4.Concept of operating reserves 3.1.5.BA duties versus LBA duties 3.1.6.Concepts of UFLS & manual load shedding 3.1.7.Concepts of unit commitment & economic dispatch 3.1.8.Generation issues during light & heavy load conditions 3.1.9.Integration of renewable generation resources into daily
generation plan 3.1.10. Load forecasting & generator output forecasting process 3.1.11. Usage of PETL load & generation forecasting software tools
4. Power System Safety & Switching Duty Area
4.1. Prepare, issue, return & coordinate switching instructions for general switching, isolations, & hot-line orders. 4.1.1.PETL hot-line order procedures 4.1.2.PETL general switching procedures 4.1.3.PETL isolation procedures 4.1.4.PETL earthing procedures 4.1.5.IEC & PETL switching coordination 4.1.6.DPs & PETL switching coordination 4.1.7.PETL new facility energization procedures 4.1.8.Conditions when switching must be cancelled
5. Outage Scheduling Duty Area 5.1. Evaluate requests for transmission, generation, voltage control
equipment & telecommunication equipment outages, approve or deny based on real-time or future conditions, then implement as required to ensure system reliability and personnel safety. 5.1.1.Usage & application of study contingency analysis (STCA) tools
during outage scheduling process 5.1.2.PETL Operating Procedures for equipment outages 5.1.3.SOL concept & PETL SOLs 5.1.4.Power flow theory & practice 5.1.5.Coordination agreements with IEC & other interconnected
entities 5.1.6.Primary & backup telecommunication systems purpose &
operation 5.1.7.Impact of telecommunication outage on protective relaying
systems 6. Emergency Operations Duty Area
6.1. Evacuate NCC in event of a loss of power, fire or other emergency & transfer control to backup Control Center facility 6.1.1.Operating Procedure for PETL backup Control Center
6.2. Coordinate power system restoration following load shedding, partial system shutdown or total system shutdown 6.2.1.Arrange for startup and/or emergency power for generating units 6.2.2.Coordinate restoration of system load 6.2

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PETL TRAINING PLAN