Electric and Water System Operator

Job Description

Electric and Water System Operator (390)

Education and Experience

Minimum Requirements:

Graduation from high school or possession of a GED; and
1) Two (2) years of experience in an electric utility performing complex load dispatching and switching; or
2) Four (4) years of experience in an electric utility as a generating plant or substation operator with sub-dispatching responsibility; or
3) Four (4) years of experience with the City of Santa Clara Electric Department, including at least one (1) year as an journey-level or higher, electrician or lineman/linewoman

Possible Substitutions:

Qualifying experience in the above categories may be combined on a percentage basis; e.g., one (1) year of experience in category 1) may be added to two years experience in category 2)
Up to a maximum of 50% of the experience required under any of the above categories may be substituted on a basis of one (1) year of education in electrical or mechanical engineering from an accredited college or university or (30 semester units or equivalent) for six months experience

License

Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required.

Certificates

Possession of the following certificate is required within one year of hire date and for the duration of appointment:

A valid Water Distribution System Operator Certificate (Grade D-1 or above) issued by the California Department of Health Services (DHS)
Employees appointed to this position prior to January 1, 2001 will be required to obtain a Water Distribution System Operator Certificate (Grade D-1 or above) by January 1, 2007

Distinguishing Characteristics

Electric and Water System Operators ensure that all Electric, Water and Storm sewer systems are operated efficiently and effectively in a safe manner and restoring service in a timely way to all customers. Has responsibility for operation of the City’s municipal electric power and water, production, transmission and distribution systems for planned and unplanned outages.

Typical Duties

Each position in this classification may not include all the duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties that may be performed.

Under general direction of the Senior Electric and Water System Operators:

Initiates, issues and validates switching orders and electrical clearances that are scheduled or unplanned with the goal of restoring power safely and as soon as possible to all customers impacted in accordance with the department procedures
Receives, troubleshoots, prioritizes and dispatches appropriate personnel and equipment for all non 911 emergency and non emergency calls for the electric system during business hours and for the electric, water, storm sewer, streets, traffic lights and any other City services during non business hours
Monitors, gauges, meters and other devices, such as the supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), to detect abnormal conditions on water, sewer and electric systems at remote and/or local sites, including all City Hydro, Co-gen and Peaking facilities; performs operations or adjustments to correct such abnormalities or requests for changes in levels of flows of electricity or water within tolerance guidelines at remote sites, or refers the problem to specialized maintenance personnel for correction by dispatching appropriate resources
Maintains logs, charts, and other electric and water system operations reports of electric and water system operations, updates all changes made through switching orders, including pinning the wall map, entering changes to block maps, and recording changes to the BT books, the inventory control system showing installation, preventive maintenance and replacement data of all above and below ground equipment (Cascade) and load sheets where appropriate. All changes are validated and revalidated by operators on subsequent shifts based on departmental standards
Interacts courteously and calmly with the key customer stakeholders, including contractors, the general public, key business customers, City departmental supervisory and journey level personnel to address requests for non 911 emergency and non emergency service
Maintains the work area and all records in a neat and orderly manner
Performs duties involving basic arithmetic and algebraic calculations
Assists in the training of new electric and water system operators as needed
Performs related work as required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of:

Potential hazards involved to life and property resulting from switching operations
Fundamentals of electricity theory regarding power flow in the operation of electric power systems
Electric power system equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers, air switches, capacitors, motors, generators, pumps, instruments, prime movers, bridge mains and taps, vacuum and oil switches; water pumps and storage tanks; and vaults, manholes and pull boxes

Desirable knowledge of:

The operation of electric and water production, transmission, and distribution systems

Ability to:

Understand and follow written and oral instructions and read and interpret maps
Communicate effectively and exercise tact and maintain poise in addressing service requests, disputes and differences arising with the key customers, including contractors, general public, key customer representatives, ISO representatives and City department supervisory and journey level employees with whom the operator interfaces
Maintain accurate records
Perform simple single and three phase electrical calculations and arithmetic and algebraic calculations
Take direction from and work with Supervisor/Manager
Adhere to specific deadlines
Work collaboratively in a team environment
Get along well with others
Work under pressure with accuracy and speed in a complex work environment

Desirable ability to:

Read and interpret measuring devices such as charts, and computer displays; monitoring water and electricity flows as loads are changed; recognize and correct unsatisfactory conditions when tolerance parameters are exceeded
Learn and effectively utilize the Scada and Escape systems

Skilled in the use of computer technology, including Word, Excel and Access.

Supervision Received

Work under the general supervision of an Electric Division Manager, Senior Electric and Water System Operator or designee.

Supervision Exercised

Directs electric and water personnel while they are performing switching operations on the electric system.

Other Requirements

Incumbents may have to pass an initial and periodic comprehensive background checks, which may include fingerprinting, to meet Federal, State and/or industry security requirements
Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment

Special Conditions

Incumbents may be assigned to work on a rotating 12-hour shift schedule
Incumbents must have the ability to work, as assigned, to schedules that may include Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and non-traditional work hours; and a willingness to work overtime as required

Approved July, 2005