Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) is currently looking to fill one (1) full-time System Operator position. This is an exciting opportunityto be part of a team making a significant impact in the local community.
About Alameda Municipal Power In 1887, the City of Alameda paid $20,000 for the installations of 13 streetlights and a 90-kW generating station to power them. And with that, the oldest public electric utility west of the Mississippi was created.
Today, the City of Alameda is still in the power business and still a trendsetter. Now known as Alameda Municipal Power (AMP), we have survived over a century and a quarter of utility mergers that created behemoths in other places.
AMP has provided safe reliable power at lower rates without sacrificing service to power our community. We maintain local control so that we can re-invest in the island and provide value to enrich our lives, businesses, and the community.
We've seen a lot of change in 130 years, but through it all there's been one constant: We're as committed today to delivering safe and reliable electricity to the residents and businesses of Alameda as we were in 1887. We'll continue to invest in new and improved ways of doing business to manage costs, improve our service, and improve the environment.
About the Position This is a dynamic time for electric utilities and AMP's Engineering & Operations Division plays a key role in shaping the design, construction, and operation of the transmission and distribution system. The Operations Sections include Line, Substations, Metering, and System Control, all working very closely together and interfacing with other areas of the organization to achieve safe and reliable distribution of electricity every day.
As part of the team, you will have the opportunity to help AMP in achieving its goals and vision.
We are looking for a colleague who under general direction, can ensure the operation of the electric transmission and distribution system is reliable, efficient, effective, and safe; and restore service in a timely manner to all customers; courteously interact with customers while assisting with complaints, and planned and unplanned outages; and perform related work as required.
When applying for this position, please attach a certificate of completion of a System Operator training program, Substation Apprenticeship program, Electric Lineworker program, or Journey Lineworker card.
Salary: 2.5% base salary increase effective July 2024.
CalPERS Retirement:Classic Members: 2% at 55 formula, 8.868% contribution;New Members 2% @ 62 formula, 8.25% contribution.
Medical: The City contracts with CalPERS to provide comprehensive health coverage to employees. Multiple HMO and PPO plans available, with a generous City contribution towards medical premiums.
Dental: Comprehensive dental coverage provided to employees and their eligible dependents.
Vacation: Starting with 80 hours annually and increasing with years of service.
Holiday-in-Lieu: 6.35% of regular base salary
Floating Holidays: 5.5 days
Sick Leave: 96 hours annually; unused sick leave is converted to service credit at retirement.
Deferred Compensation: Up to 1% 457(b) matching City contribution after 1 year of continuous service.
Examples of Duties
Monitors the status of the transmission and distribution systems through the use of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA), meters and other equipment.
Initiates and coordinates switching orders and electrical clearances on transmission and distribution systems for planned and unplanned work with Alameda Municipal Power personnel, customers and power suppliers.
Receives, troubleshoots, prioritizes and dispatches appropriate personnel and equipment for all non-9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls for the electric system during business and non-business hours.
Monitors and operates substation communications equipment to detect any abnormal conditions; performs operations or adjustments to correct such abnormalities or refers the problem to specialized maintenance personnel.
Maintains continuity of service by analyzing system status and causes of system failures.
Maintains control of the electrical system, and safely dispatches appropriate personnel and equipment to correct routine system problems and restore electrical service during emergency conditions.
Provides detailed reports of system failures, disturbances and unusual conditions.
Maintains accurate telephone, radio and station logs. Updates all databases and mapping systems with real-time changes including updated asset data that affect the operation and troubleshooting of the electric system.
Conducts routine inspection of station equipment.
Interacts courteously and calmly with key customer stakeholders, including contractors, the general public, key account customers, city co-workers.
Maintains the work area and all records in a neat and orderly manner.
Performs duties involving basic arithmetic and algebraic calculations.
Assists in training new system dispatchers.
Employment Standards
Possession of the employment standards does not assure advancement to the Examination or placement on the Eligible List. This is a competitive examination where a candidate's performance in the Examination will be judged in comparison with the core competencies required of the job. To be considered, applicants should possess the combination of education and experience necessary to prove the required knowledge and abilities for the position. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education/Experience Any combination equivalent to education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education: Graduation from high school. Successful completion of a System Dispatch Training Program is desirable.
Experience: Three years of journey level experience with an electric utility:
As a system operator or dispatcher OR
Performing substation maintenance OR
Performing overhead line construction and maintenance and underground residential distribution (URD) OR
Five years experience with an electric utility requiring knowledge of electrical transmission and distribution systems, equipment and operation.
Knowledge Knowledge of the fundamentals of electric theory regarding power flow in the operation of an electrical power system and equipment including power transformers, circuit breakers, air switches, capacitors, motors, generators, instruments, vaults, manholes, and pull boxes,; and safe work practices and procedures.
Abilities
Ability to effectively operate electrical transmission and distribution systems; understand and follow written and oral instructions; read and interpret electrical transmission and distribution maps and drawings; communicate effectively and exercise tact and maintain poise in addressing service requests, disputes and differences arising from customer, interdivisional, inter-departmental, contractor, general public and outside regulatory interactions; establish and maintain accurate records; prepare reports; perform simple single and three phase electrical calculations and arithmetic and algebraic calculations; maintain level of knowledge required for satisfactory job performance; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public; and train and evaluate assigned staff.
Special Requirement Willingness and/or ability to work various shifts, including nights, holidays and weekends on a system operating 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Freedom from color blindness. Normal hearing.
Other Requirements Possession of a valid California Driver's License and satisfactory driving record at the time of appointment is required as a condition of initial and continued employment only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than the employee’s ability to get to/from various work locations in a timely manner, is necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) was founded in 1887 and is one of the oldest continuously operating electric utilities west of the Mississippi River. The utility has over 35,000 customers, comprising approximately 30,000 residential accounts and 5,000 commercial/government accounts. As a community-owned utility, AMP has much to offer its customers, including the delivery of 100% clean energy (among the first in the nation to do so); rates that are 20% below the neighboring investor-owned PG&E; and a power reliability record that is among the top in western states.
We maintain local control so that we can re-invest in the island and provide value to enrich our lives, businesses, and the community. We've seen a lot of change in over 130 years, but through it all there's been one constant: We're as committed today to delivering safe and reliable electricity to the residents and businesses of Alameda as we were in 1887. We'll continue to invest in new and improved ways of doing business to manage costs, improve our service, and improve the environment.