Senior Control Room Operator

Skills at this level

SCADA operation

— Uses Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems to monitor and control utility networks in real time, acting on telemetry to adjust setpoints, switch equipment, and maintain system state.

EMS advanced application configuration

— Configures and supports advanced Energy Management System tools such as State Estimator, defining modeling assumptions and running network contingency analysis on the transmission system.

ADMS/OMS outage coordination

— Uses Advanced Distribution Management and Outage Management Systems to plan, track, and restore utility disruptions, sequencing switching and crew dispatch during outage events.

Control-panel and device operation

— Operates utility control panels, switches, valves, and control devices to deliver water, electricity, gas, and wastewater services safely within operating limits.

Load balancing and plant optimization

— Tunes control strategies using BAS/SCADA and energy-management data to balance loads, minimize fuel usage, and maintain redundancy across utility systems.

Contingency analysis

— Performs forward-looking evaluation of electrical transmission operation to anticipate credible failure scenarios and pre-position for reliable system response.

Outage and emergency response planning

— Develops and exercises emergency plans, call trees, and restoration procedures, then directs crew dispatch and switching during real-time disruptions.

Root-cause analysis of system failures

— Investigates recurring utility-system alarm and equipment failures to identify underlying causes and drive corrective setpoint or procedural changes to closure.

NERC/IEEE compliance knowledge

— Applies reliability standards such as NERC and IEEE to control-room operations, ensuring switching, documentation, and restoration practices meet regulatory requirements.

Crew dispatch and coordination

— Directs field crews to work orders and disruptions via 2-way radio console and work-management systems, coordinating with fellow operators and law enforcement to ensure safety.

Telemetry interpretation and situational awareness

— Reads data from monitoring devices to maintain continuous awareness of system state, distinguishing routine variation from conditions requiring corrective action.

Operator training and mentorship

— Guides operators on SCADA operation, alarm handling, and restoration procedures, building shift-team capability and readiness for advanced contingency handling.