ABSTRACT
Utilities maintain two basic functions: (1) operational management of the grid and (2) support and maintenance of the grid assets. Utilities vary on the organizational structure associated each of these areas, which really depends on the size of the organization. In larger organizations, for example, one will see functions within each of these areas broken down by area of responsibility. A support and maintenance organization within a large utility might have separate line crews to support the varying types of power lines owned, perhaps a line crew to support all the lines that are below 230 kilovolts and a separate group to support power lines larger than 230 kilovolts. Whereas, smaller organizations may do everything in-house, meaning that the line crew may be part of the same group that manages maintenance for transformers. Regardless of how large an organization, a utility will be required to maintain the following support roles:
• Design • Engineering • Communications • Information technology • Planning • Grid operations • Plant operations • Substation operations • Accounting • Marketing • Substation maintenance • Generation maintenance • Construction • Metering support • Smart Grid operations
Utilities must maintain functions that support power system design. These groups serve to design things that need to be built. From grid operations design to building schematics, the design group architects it all. In smaller utilities, this may mean that design is outsourced to a third-party company that specializes in the design and construction of various operational assets. Even in such a case, the utility will need to have someone oversee the design and construction programs. Some examples of what needs to be designed include
• Power plants • Substations • Transmission lines • Electrical circuits • Engineering
Engineers play an important role in utilities as they are the people who design how things work. There are generally two areas within any given group in a utility organization: engineers and technicians. Engineers design processes and how things will work. For example, if a utility were implementing an IED (intelligent electronic device) into a substation, there would be an engineer within the organization that will design a print to illustrate exactly how and where the IED will be installed. This would include which cables go into which ports, where to plug in the power supply, and other considerations. Technicians are then trained to read engineering speci˜cations and install the devices as instructed by the engineers. There are generally engineers in all parts of a utility organization’s operations. They are generally needed to explain how things work and ensure that assets are con˜gured properly.
