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Operate and manage electricity transmission network
Level
6
Credits
15
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of
power system operation; identify and communicate current transmission
network status; plan scheduled and unscheduled equipment outages and
switching; operate transmission network equipment; manage network loading
and voltage; respond to and manage transmission network events; and
report the operation and controlling of the electricity transmission network.
Subfield
Electricity Supply
Domain
Electricity Supply - Power System Management
Status
Registered
Status date
11 December 2009
Date version published
11 December 2009
Planned review date
31 December 2014
Entry information
Recommended: Unit 15568, Coordinate power system
outages, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and
skills.
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 is intended for, but not restricted to, workplace assessment. The
range statements across the unit standard can be applied according to industry
specific equipment, procedures, and processes.
2
Safety of personnel and plant must be a priority throughout the assessment. If the
safety requirements are not met the assessment must stop.
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3
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) (2004) 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.
4
The phrase in accordance with industry requirements is implicit in all elements and
performance criteria in this unit standard.
5
Industry requirements include all asset owner requirements; manufacturers’
specifications; and enterprise requirements which cover the documented workplace
policies, procedures, specifications, and business and quality management
requirements relevant to the workplace in which assessment is carried out.
6
Practical workplace exercises or simulations should be used for training and
assessment where possible.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Demonstrate knowledge of power system operation.
Range
may include but is not limited to – active and reactive power, characteristics of
end use loads, transmission and distribution plant, generation of active and
reactive energy, transmission theory, static and dynamic behaviour of total
system, types of faults and protection schemes, power flows.
Performance criteria
1.1
Theory of electrical energy and power as applied to loads is described.
Range
1.2
may include but is not limited to – resistive, inductive reactive and
capacitive reactive loads; motors, inductors, capacitors.
The capabilities and characteristics of power system plant are described.
Range
may include but is not limited to – generators, transformers,
overhead lines and cables, capacitors, inductors, rotating and
static reactive compensators, circuit breakers and switchgear,
normal and short term current and capacity ratings, fault ratings,
electrical characteristics.
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1.3
The principles of electrical power system operation are described.
Range
1.4
The principles of electrical network protection are described.
Range
1.5
includes but is not limited to – power balances and frequency
maintenance, efficiency and voltages, losses, load sharing, load
control systems, system reliability and security, construction
methods, fault work, commissioning new equipment, planning,
communications and System Control and Data Acquisition
(SCADA) systems, computerised monitoring and control systems.
may include but is not limited to – fault levels, system earthing,
plant, busbar and circuit protection, overcurrent, earth fault,
differential set points, pilot wire, distance protection, unit and nonunit protection, distance.
The responsibilities of electricity transmission network controllers are defined.
Range
may include but is not limited to – safety, reliability and security of
system and supply, maintenance of system and node voltages,
effects of switching reactive loads on voltage, loading of plant
within ratings, switching for loading relief, manual load shedding in
event of prolonged system frequency excursions, system
switching for work requirements, fault analysis and restoration
switching, coordination role between network controller and
security or energy coordinator.
Element 2
Identify and communicate current transmission network status.
Range
may include but is not limited to – unavailable plant, system open point
configuration, plant loadings, system and network node voltages, indications
and alarms.
Performance criteria
2.1
Equipment status is determined.
Range
2.2
Planned events which impact on equipment status are identified and their
impact determined and recorded.
Range
2.3
may include but is not limited to – SCADA and panel
instrumentation, indications and alarms, field communication and
reports.
may include but is not limited to – prepared outage and switching
plans.
Controller handover procedures are completed ensuring that all current and
relevant information is transferred to new controller.
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Element 3
Plan scheduled and unscheduled equipment outages and switching.
Range
may include but is not limited to – outage requests, opportunity outage
requests, commissioning plans, extended fault planning, annual outage
planning, contract limits, customer advice.
Performance criteria
3.1
Prepared outage and switching plans include all necessary procedures and
resources to achieve the required outcome and allocate resources to optimise
safe and efficient use.
Range
may include but is not limited to – transmission system and node
(switchyard and substation) single line diagrams and displays,
network modelling tools, system security, disruption minimisation,
customer impact, reliability and security of supply.
3.2
Plans include identified risks with hazards being identified and eliminated,
isolated, or minimised.
3.3
Plans are in a standard format and define locations and plant, switching
sequences, contingencies, and constraints.
Range
may include but is not limited to – power system modelling,
network studies, system and station equipment records,
assurances, transfers of control.
3.4
Plans and specifications are complete, concise, and legible.
3.5
Plans are prepared and made available for all personnel involved in
implementing the plans within the scheduled timeframe.
3.6
Notice is initiated to customers and other parties affected.
Element 4
Operate transmission network equipment.
Range
may include but is not limited to – system integrity, quality control, connection
and disconnection process.
Performance criteria
4.1
Authority to proceed with releases is obtained.
Range
includes but is not limited to – security coordinator.
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4.2
The equipment to be operated is identified and the procedures for the operation
of such equipment are complied with.
Range
4.3
Operating decisions are determined in accordance with equipment status and
local knowledge, and ensure operating requirements are met.
Range
4.4
may include but is not limited to – plant availability and service
condition, resource consent and loading limits, impact, options,
alternatives.
The equipment is operated in sequence within schedules and defined plant
capabilities.
Range
4.5
may include but is not limited to – circuit and plant switching, tap
changing, circuit breakers, disconnectors, earth switches, SCADA
systems.
knowledge of operating standards and processes, operating
orders, circuit ratings, equipment ratings, emergency ratings.
The plant and equipment is monitored.
Range
may include but is not limited to – indications, alarms, status,
defects, action confirmation, SCADA.
Element 5
Manage network loading and voltage.
Performance criteria
5.1
Circuit and equipment loading is monitored.
Range
5.2
may include but is not limited to – load rating schedules, operating
instructions, predictions of peak loads, permissible short time
overloading, temperature and weather environment.
Load control equipment is operated.
Range
may include but is not limited to – automatic under frequency load
shedding, power company ripple injection, pilot wire control
systems.
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Element 6
Respond to and manage transmission network events.
Range
emergency, unscheduled, abnormal condition, alarms, circuit and equipment
faults, operation of protection, frequency excursion, frequency and voltage
swings.
Performance criteria
6.1
The event, and cause of event, are identified using all available resources.
Range
6.2
The event is acknowledged.
Range
6.3
may include but is not limited to – integrity of system, security of
supply, local control, resource consent and remaining circuit and
plant loading limits, local control over SCADA, hazardous
condition, contamination, Civil Defence.
The event is analysed to identify options to remedy or mitigate undesired
conditions, future actions identified, and findings communicated using
established analysis tools and procedures.
Range
6.5
may include but is not limited to – alarms and protection flaggings
acknowledged, logging, reports, time sequence.
Impact of event on the transmission network, its circuits and plant, public safety,
customer service, and the environment is determined and responded to.
Range
6.4
may include but is not limited to – plant and equipment status
indications, SCADA, reports, local knowledge, defect notification.
may include but is not limited to – enterprise restoration plans and
procedures, notification of defect to initiate repair, contingency
analysis tools.
The event reporting is conducted.
Range
may include but is not limited to – electronic mail, oral
communication, logging, debriefing, flag sheets.
Element 7
Report the operation and controlling of the electricity transmission network.
Range
log book, database systems, statistics, plant status changes.
Performance criteria
7.1
Recorded information is accurate, complete, concise, and legible.
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7.2
Network information is recorded in the required format and filed within
scheduled timeframe.
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