16276 version 4
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Respond to electricity supply external system operations
communications
Level
4
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: process incoming
information; communicate interruption information; and coordinate operations
at the power system interface.
Subfield
Electricity Supply
Domain
Electricity Supply - Power System Management
Status
Registered
Status date
16 April 2010
Date version published
16 April 2010
Planned review date
31 December 2014
Entry information
Prerequisites: Unit 16280, Compile and action switching
plans to maintain electricity supply power network
security; and Unit 16285, Plan for scheduled work on
electricity supply power system equipment; or
demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Hold authorisation holders certificate (AHC)
competency.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0120
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
This unit standard can be assessed against in a workplace environment, or in a
training or educational environment if simulated equipment response and examples
are able to be provided, or in a combination of both environments.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
16276 version 4
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2
Performance and work practices in relation to the elements and performance criteria
must comply with all current legislation, especially the Electricity Act 1992, and any
regulations and codes of practice recognised under that statute; the Health and
Safety in Employment Act 1992; and the Resource Management Act 1991.
Electricity supply industry codes of practice and documented industry procedures
include the Safety Manual – Electricity Industry (SM-EI) Wellington: Electricity
Engineers’ Association. A full list of current legislation and industry codes is
available from the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation, PO Box 1245,
Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240.
3
The phrase in accordance with industry requirements is implicit in all elements and
performance criteria in this unit standard.
4
Industry requirements include all asset owner requirements; manufacturers’
specifications; and enterprise requirements which cover the documented workplace
policies, procedures, specifications, business, and quality management requirements
relevant to the workplace in which assessment is carried out.
5
Reference to terms, procedures, and specifications in this unit standard may be
taken as including industry documented procedures and specifications relevant to the
workplace in which assessment is carried out.
6
The following terms and abbreviations relate to this unit standard:
Asset owner refers to the owner of an electricity supply network that takes its point of
supply from Transpower NZ and delivers electricity to industrial, commercial, and
residential customers.
Asset owner procedures are the approved documented work site methods for
carrying out work on an electrical supply network to the standard required by the
asset owner.
Switching refers to actions carried out by a network control centre to divert electrical
current, and permit contractors to perform work safely and efficiently on an electricity
supply network without discontinuing supply to customers.
Network security refers to the asset owner’s ability to maintain continuity of electricity
supply to customers.
Power system interface is the common point or boundary between one power system
component and another on the asset owner’s electricity network.
External communications are messages received from information sources that
originate outside the asset owner’s control centre. Examples of such
communications include: memos, electronic mail, field messages from system
operators, request for technical assistance from another asset owner, a contractor’s
request for switching operations, telephone call from a customer, or a directive from
Transpower NZ.
SCADA – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system used for control,
indication, and monitoring purposes.
Asset owner guidelines refer to principles established by the asset owner to assist
decision-making and determine action required. Such principles include policies,
directives, precedents, financial criteria, operating log entries, and office
memorandums.
Work approval includes but is not limited to – work permits, access permits, test
permits, work authority, assurances.
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Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Process incoming information.
Performance criteria
1.1
Incoming external information is received and forwarded for internal action.
Range
1.2
Urgency implications of external communications for network security are
determined, and documented for reporting purposes.
Range
1.3
may include but is not limited to – loss of supply, faults, equipment
damage, car hits, animals up poles, report urgency classified,
reporting, asset owner procedures.
may include but is not limited to – priority of action required, bomb
threats, risk to equipment, risk to life, timeframe specified by asset
owner guidelines, reporting to supervising officer.
Difficulties in interpreting information are clarified in consultation with others.
Range
may include but is not limited to – consultation with system
controllers, supervising officer, release coordinator, system
operations manager.
Element 2
Communicate interruption information.
Performance criteria
2.1
Planned interruptions are documented and forwarded for approval by network
control centre in accordance with network operating standards and timeframe.
Range
2.2
Contractors are advised promptly of acceptance or rejection of release of
network equipment to carry out work associated with interruption.
Range
2.3
may include but is not limited to – request received with adequate
lead-time, implications of the planned interruption evaluated.
may include but is not limited to – non-acceptance reasons,
alternate dates and times, acceptance limitations or conditions.
Customers affected by planned power interruptions are consulted without delay.
Range
may include but is not limited to – communication by letter, public
notice, letterbox drop, broadcast radio, phone consultation.
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Element 3
Coordinate operations at the power system interface.
Performance criteria
3.1
Scheduled interruptions and/or forced outages are coordinated and take place
within timeframe slots provided or by agreements.
Range
3.2
All work requiring a common power system interruption is coordinated into a
single outage wherever possible.
Range
3.3
may include but is not limited to – details of work required,
resources, time, date switching operations to be actioned.
Details of switching request are confirmed with the contractor prior to actioning
switching operations.
Range
3.7
may include but is not limited to – scope of work equipment
affected, timeframe.
Contractor is engaged to carry out remedial action to restore network security.
Range
3.6
may include but is not limited to – unavailability of metering,
protection, load control, ancillary indication.
Checks are carried out to ensure planned interruptions do not conflict with each
other.
Range
3.5
may include but is not limited to – rationalise concurrent work
requests into single outage where compatible activities allow.
The implications of unavailability of the SCADA equipment when approving
requests for planned interruptions are considered for maintaining operational
security.
Range
3.4
may include but is not limited to – asset owner guidelines or
customer guarantee.
may include but is not limited to – work approval details.
Communication is maintained with contractor at agreed intervals to monitor
progress and status of work, until work at power system interface is completed.
Range
may include but is not limited to – live line work communications,
progress reports, test requests.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation info@esito.org.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016