Job Title: Transmission Planner Department: Planning Last Updated: July 5, 2022 Reports To (Job Title): Planning Manager Salary: $113,152 - $150,800
Classifications Status Non-Bargaining Unit Exempt This position has direct reports: No
Job descriptions are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities, depending on risk to health and safety of the employee and/or others. The basic requirement of every position is to perform all tasks as assigned. Duties and scope of position may change based on needs of the Cooperative. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.
CORE employees are required to work in a safe manner in accordance with regulatory standards and requirements.
Efficient and cooperative work is required of staff, which includes regular, dependable, punctual attendance except when required by law, and timely and accurate performance of duties.
Position Summary: Develop and maintain all applicable NERC transmission planning standards. Responsible for power system analysis in development of new bulk and existing transmission lines and substation facilities. Responsible for planning, coordinating, directing, and providing engineering support for development of the transmission system including planning coordination of distribution system plans. Performs technical studies and maintenance of databases and power flow models associated with the Bulk Electric System. Perform engineering analysis in conjunction with neighboring transmission utilities. Will also prepare written reports and presentations on results of transmission system studies and other engineering studies. Perform Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) studies, as necessary.
Duties/Tasks:
• Responsible NERC compliance activities related to Transmission Planning. • Responsible for the development of technical studies for the interconnected transmission system including power flow, short-circuit, stability, and EMT models and application. Responsible for the development and maintenance of transmission line and transformer databases. Also, responsible for the development of capital construction budgets. • Review and coordinate the development of transmission system additions in support of new load requirements. • Coordinate construction work plans and long range plans. • Conduct engineering analyses of joint planning studies and operating studies with other utilities. • Prepare written reports and presentations documenting the results of transmission system studies and engineering economic studies. • Present recommended projects to staff, stakeholders, and managers for approval by Tri-State Board of Directors. • Develop standards for transmission interconnection, service standards and compliance with other planning standards. • Evaluate contracts and agreements affecting transmission interconnections, transmission service, construction agreements and other documents affecting functional area and make appropriate recommendations. • Participate in integrated resource planning studies and provide coordination, review and provide engineering support as required. • Prepares and reviews various system studies including, but not limited to, sectionalizing studies, power factor studies, construction work plans, long-range plans, load balancing studies, interconnection studies and reliability studies. • Provides assistance to the Operations Department in regard to sectionalizing and system problems. • Verifies that system improvement designs have switching capabilities. • Provide technical direction to others and prepare reports and special projects, as required. • Train and coordinate the work of new personnel, as required. • Required to return to work in connection with call-outs and emergency situations when directed to do so by supervisor. • Performs other duties as needed and/or as directed.
Required Skills: • Integrity: Exhibits a high degree of integrity and honesty. • Diplomacy: able to use appropriate diplomacy and tact with employees, members, customers and other contacts. • Ability to effectively read, write and speak the English language to communicate in a clear, straight-forward, and professional manner. • Critical Thinking: using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. • Public Speaking: conveying information to an audience effectively through delivery of speeches or presentations. • Active Listening: giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. • Active Learning: understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. • Problem Solving: identifying problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. • Complex Problem Solving: identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. • Coordination: adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. • Instructing: teaching others how to do something. • Service Orientation: actively looking for ways to help people. • Judgment and Decision Making: considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. • Social Perceptiveness: being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. • Learning Strategies: selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. • Project Management: organizing and directing production of a limited scope plan or undertaking. • Confidentiality: able to exercise appropriate discretion and confidentiality OR able to exercise discretion, confidentiality and objectivity in complex and sensitive situations.
Problem Solving/Freedom to Act
• Problems are complex and unique. Methods and procedures are loosely defined or unrelated to the work and/or problem. Work is highly varied. Tasks are unrelated.
Physical Requirements
• Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.
Working Conditions
• None: The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (as in typical office or administrative work).
Benefits:
These benefits include, but are not limited to for calendar year 2023:
A defined benefit pension plan - 100% Vested at 7 years of tenure
A 401(k) retirement plan - 4% Cooperative Match
Nine paid holidays per year
Competitive employee leave plans - start at 160 hours per year
Outstanding group health and dental plans, and vision insurance for employees and their eligible dependents (Cigna, Delta Dental and VSP - premiums paid by CORE for you and dependents), HSA ($900 Employee, $1800 Employee plus family - CORE contribution per year) and Dependent Care FSA available.
Group life and accidental death life insurance, long-term disability insurance, short-term disability, long-term care insurance and business travel insurance plans
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
CORE provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Experience/Education: • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, engineering technology, or equivalent years of experience in the electrical engineering field is required. • Power option preferred in Bachelor’s Electrical Engineering degree. • Minimum of 10 years of experience in • electrical power engineering. • Electric utility experience in transmission system planning to include system analysis and planning methods, and project coordination. • A Colorado Registered Professional Engineer is desired. • Requires valid Colorado driver’s license with satisfactory driving record within CORE standards. • Proficient with GE PSLF, Siemens PSS/E, and/or Powerworld transmission planning software. • Competency with ASPEN OneLiner, Milsoft’s WindMIL and Light Table programs is desired. • Competency with Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint.
CORE Electric Cooperative serves more than 165,000 members along Colorado’s Front Range. Our nearly 5,000-square-mile service area includes portions of 11 counties to the east, west and south of Denver.
We are the largest electric distribution cooperative in Colorado, and one of the largest in the U.S. As a member-owned cooperative, CORE operates on a not-for-profit basis. Earnings beyond expenses are invested in the infrastructure used to provide reliable electric service or booked as member equity. Some of this equity is typically returned to members each year as capital credit refunds.
CORE is governed by an elected board of directors. Our service area is divided into seven geographic districts based on population. Members within each district elect a fellow member to serve on the board and represent their interests regarding CORE business and policies, including service rates and regulations.
CORE purchases wholesale power under long-term agreements with several providers. We also purchase the output of several utility-scale solar facilities, and own and receive a share of the generated power from the Xcel-operated Comanche Unit 3, a supercritical, pulverized coal plant ...in Pueblo.
CORE’s headquarters is located in Sedalia, about 20 miles south of Denver, and our district offices are in Bennett, Conifer and Woodland Park.
* Renewables accounted for an atypical share of our 2021 energy sources due to a prolonged outage of the Comanche 3 power plant.