Power System Analyst, Solutions

Work on the leading edge of the power industry, helping design and build a modern, analytical, data driven system for assessing the security and reliability of Ontario’s high voltage power system in real-time, serving to optimize the utilization of system resources, expand transmission capability, and maximize the efficiency of the IESO Controlled Grid.

We are seeking a bright, talented, and ambitious team member with an excellent grasp of power system fundamentals, and a proven track record in the field of data science in the application and development of algorithms for exploring and analyzing large data sets.

What You'll Be Doing

• Assist in developing an automated, data driven, dynamic limit derivation system that:
  • Conducts power system thermal, voltage and transient stability simulations;
  • Analyzes simulation inputs and outputs to determine production quality operating limits and instructions;
  • Integrates operating limits and instructions into real-time operations, markets, and supporting processes;
  • Maintains a large associative data set consisting of system parameters, simulated results, etc. for use in validating and improving performance of the system and quality of limits produced.
• Monitor the performance of the dynamic limit derivation system, and work with your team and with other groups within the IESO to troubleshoot and correct bugs/deficiencies as they arise.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the IESO to assess opportunities to improve and enhance the dynamic limit derivation system, and help facilitate updates to the processes, tools, and supporting study configurations accordingly.
• Provide advice, guidance, and coordinate activities related to support and maintenance of the models for existing, new, or modified facilities, particularly as these relate to the dynamic limit derivation system.

In addition, receive assignment from the Sr. Power System Engineer, Engineering Supervisor, Engineering Manager, and/or Senior Manager in detail on specific tasks:

Limit Derivation and Outage Integration role:

• Through technical studies, identify bounds of operations and define critical parameters in the power system for all time frames within the normal scope of coverage. Produce reports to support findings and recommendations.
• Through technical studies, identify power system operating limits and operating instructions in support of real-time, operations planning and long-term planning using appropriate study criteria within the normal, high-risk and emergency system conditions.
• As required, assist with deriving limits and operating instructions within the normal scope of coverage and for forced/planned outages in all time frames, including the provision of TTC/ATC to facilitate the energy markets, capacity/demand response auctions, and transmission rights markets.
• Assist with the update, maintenance and accuracy of operating limits to support reliability monitoring and security constrained economic dispatch (market) systems through applicable contingency analysis software and instructions used by off-shift and on-shift staff.
• Assist with the supporting real-time monitoring tools as they related to system and market operations. 
• Assist with outage integration reviews and reporting for system security and adequacy with the purpose of accepting or rejecting outage requests from market participants and neighbouring entities.  Coordination between participants, neighbouring entities, or with the IESO maybe be required.

Common Role:

• Support IESO security, adequacy and operability obligations found in the Market Rules and in applicable NERC and NPCC reliability standards.
• Provide information gathering support the preparation and delivery of reliability compliance evidence, including work procedures, RSAWs, market manuals, and training material.
• Perform other duties as required.

Who You Are

• Has an engineering background and a minimum 4 years’ experience working within the power industry;
• Has demonstrable experience working in the field of data science;
• Is a creative big picture thinker who also knows how and when to live in the details;
• Is capable of taking on responsibility and working with minimal direction to take on new challenges and initiatives.

Education:

• Requires engineering knowledge of electrical theory, power system analysis and control, mathematics, computer science and the like to carry out engineering, economic or analytical studies related to the management and control of the bulk power system.  Requires knowledge of technical writing to prepare effective reports. 
• This knowledge is acquired through the completion of an engineering/applied sciences degree from an accredited university or by having the equivalent education.
• Must be able to obtain a professional engineering license from Professional Engineers Ontario within a reasonable period of time, with a competency in the field of electrical engineering

Experience:

• Requires experience such as might be gained in the energy industry to become familiar with the general system operation, organizational structure to establish a broad base of contacts.  
• Experience with statistical programming languages/packages such as R, Scipy, Numpy, and Scikit-learn.
• Experience analyzing large datasets.

Core Competencies:

• Functional/Technical Skills
• Problem Solving
• Action Oriented
• Approachability
• Learning on the Fly
• Informing
• Self-Development
• Customer Focus

Please note: this position falls under a job document that includes additional functions as described below, but these functions are not required within the role:

Assess Power System Change Role:

• Assist with System Impact, Technical Feasibility and de-registration assessments to evaluate the reliability and operability impact of a new or modified connection, or a disconnection, on the integrated power system using applicable IESO, NERC and NPCC reliability standards.
• Assist with the preparation of reports containing the results of the study, any required system upgrades and connection requirements, and a recommendation for the IESO to issue a notice of approval or disapproval for the new or modified connection.
• Validate registration data based on information initially submitted for assessment. Assist with the reassessment of the proposed connection if the registration data differs materially from the configuration or technical parameters that were used by the IESO to approve the new or modified facility.
• Provide support for regional and bulk power system planning, for preparation of evidence required by connection applicants to obtain the OEB’s leave to construct and for inquiries from neighboring jurisdiction as they relate to connection assessments.
• Assist with technical studies to support the IESO's initiatives for evolving the policies related to the operations and evolution of the IESO-controlled grid and the IESO-administered markets.

Modelling and Validation Role:

• Assist with the development of base cases to support Ontario and regional reliability studies by the IESO, participants and other external organizations
• Assist with the development and maintenance of suitable models to support the IESO’s Energy Management and Market Systems to enable the applicable real-time and day-ahead operations.
• Assist with the maintenance and support the IESO’s contingency analysis software used by off-shift and on-shift staff.
• Assist in specifying and reviewing the results of tests to confirm that facilities connected to the IESO-controlled grid satisfy the IESO’s performance requirements.  Based on the results of performance tests, investigate transmission and generation models suitable for planning and operating studies.

Compliance Studies Role:

• Validate and support standards compliance as well as industry best practices by supporting the necessary technical studies to assess the security of the IESO-controlled-grid and surrounding region under various system conditions. Assist with joint studies to review the utilization of resources on the interconnected system to achieve maximum economic gain and operating flexibility.
• Support the SPS/RAS classification processes.