2023 System Operator Conference #1 Expect the Unexpected March 14-16, 2023
Greenville, South Carolina
NERC-approved Continuing EducationHours (CEHs) will be awarded forsuccessful completionof thislearningactivity.Nopartialcredit.
Purpose :
• Provide SERC System Operators with a forumfor networking with operators from across the SERC Region and sharing best practices • Develop SERC System Operators knowledge and skills using relevant scenarios modeled on an operator training simulator • Provide SERC System Operators with effective training in normal andemergency operations,operatorcommunicationand collaboration and situational awareness • Assist SERC System Operators in maintaining their NERC Certification through the award of approvedcontinuingeducationhours Target Audience: • System Operators with responsibility for performing real-time, reliability-related tasks on the interconnected power system (Reliability Coordinator,BalancingAuthority, TransmissionOperator,and Generator Operator functions) • System control center managers,supervisors, and staff • Engineers, planners, managers, marketers, technicians, or support staff who may benefit from power system operation training COVID Protocol : • To ensure the safety of our attendees, we are asking everyone to observe the Local and CDC Guidelines that are in effect during the System Operator Conference (SOC). • Please note that masks are not required at the SOC's. • SERC and the SOWG will provide pads and pens for attendees located at the water stations for both the General session and the Breakout rooms. In addition, we will make masks and hand sanitizer available throughout the meeting rooms (Please see Matt Bigg at the registration desk should you need assistance with these items).
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Learning Objectives
Opening Speaker: 1. State the primary responsibilities of System Operator to ensure reliability. 2. Relate the impacts to power system operations to recent changes in the Industry. Real Time Assessments: 3. Describe the Impact of Situational Awareness on the Reliability of the Bulk Electric System (BES). 4. Define the requirements for the Real-Time Analysis. 5. Demonstrate understanding of NERC Best Practices for the Real-Time Assessment. 6. Describe the actions that can be taken for the loss of tools that are used for the Real-Time Assessment. 7. Discuss Voltage and Frequency Control as they relate to the Real-Time Assessment. 8. Discuss the role of Cyber Security in the reliability of the BES. Bulk Power System Awareness (BPSA): 9. Identify the actions taken by NERC BPSAto maintain situational awareness. 10. Describe how BPSAcommunicates with multiple stakeholders to support reliable BES operations. Inverter Based Resources (IBRs) Trends: Battery Energy Storage Systems 11. Identify characteristics associated with Inverter Based Resources that impact BES reliability.
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12. Identify how IBRs are impacting energy demand. 13. Describe characteristics of a Hybrid IBR facility .
Learning Objectives
Standards Game: 14. Identify the association of NERC Reliability Standards BAL-001-2, BAL-002-3, BAL-003-2, BAL-005-1, and COM-001-3 to the operations of the Bulk Electric System. 15. Identify the association of NERC Reliability Standards EOP-004-4, EOP-005-3, EOP-006-3, EOP-008-2, EOP-010-1, and EOP-011- 1 to the operations of the Bulk Electric System. 16. Identify the association of NERC Reliability Standards INT-009-3, IRO-001-4, IRO-008-2, TOP-001-5, and VAR-001-5 to the operations of the Bulk Electric System. PowerSimulator® Orientation Learning Objectives: 17. Identify transmission, generation, and control characteristics of the operator training simulator (OTS) – “Cascadia Model”. 18. Discuss the Cascadia Reserve Sharing Agreement. 19. Identify Cascadia IROLand mitigation plans for contingencies. 20. Discuss the Navigation Features and Displays for the operator training simulator (OTS) – “Cascadia Model.” PowerSimulator®: 21. Assess and analyze simulated emergency scenarios. 22. Implement operator control actions to mitigate undesirable conditions on the simulated power system and return the power system to a reliable state. 23.Apply NERC Reliability Standards to RC/TOP/BA responsibilities for each scenario.
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Learning Objectives
CIP/E-ISAC: 24. Identify prominent physical security risks to the ERO as reported to the E-ISAC. 25. Identify indicators of suspicious or malicious cyber activity from a system operator’s perspective and understand the role of system operators during a Cybersecurity Incident response. 26. Discuss the impact of Drone operations to BES operations. Human Performance for System Operators: 27. Identify the human performance tools and techniques used during operations to evaluate and address error likely situations. 28. Describe how social issues and environmental factors impact system operations and Human Performance. 29. Discuss how Human Performance principles and psychological safety contribute to safe work environments.
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Agenda
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 All Times are Eastern
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Dave Miranda , Conference Facilitator, IncSys Scotty Campbell , Chair, System Operator Working Group, Entergy
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Welcome, Safety, Confidentiality and Antitrust
Sam Holeman , Vice President Transmission System Planning and Operations, Duke Energy
Opening Remarks
Dan Morse , Utility System Operations Safety and Training Facilitator, Gainesville Regional Utilities
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Real Time Assessments
Bill Graham , Manager, Bulk Power Situational Awareness, NERC
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Bulk Power System Awareness
Dan Morse , Utility System Operations Safety and Training Facilitator, Gainesville Regional Utilities
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Inverter Based Resources Trends: Battery Energy Storage Systems
Agenda
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 All Times are Eastern
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12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
Sharon Darwin, Power Coordination Center Training Engineer, Southern Company
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
NERC Standards
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
PowerSimulator® Orientation
Dr. Robin Podmore , President, IncSys
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Breakout Rooms - PowerSimulator®
All Attendees in Break-Out Groups
SOC Facilitator Teams
Agenda
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 All Times are Eastern
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8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
OTS Scenarios PowerSimulator® AM Session
All Attendees in Break-Out Groups SOC Facilitator Teams
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
OTS Scenarios PowerSimulator® PM Session
All Attendees in Break-Out Groups SOC Facilitator Teams
Agenda
Thursday, March 16, 2023 All Times are Eastern
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Travis Moran , Senior Reliability & Security Advisor, Outreach and Training, SERC Samuel Chanoski , Technical Relationship Manager - Cybercore Integration Center - Idaho National Laboratory Benjamin Gibson , Senior Analyst, Physical Security, E-ISAC Ryan Guest, Manager, Cyber Threat Intelligence, E- ISAC LaRhonda Julien , Inspection Performance Specialist, Construction Inspection Department, Georgia Transmission Corporation John Taylor , Human Performance Manager, Georgia Power Company
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
CIP/E-ISAC
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Human Performance for System Operators
David Miranda , Conference Facilitator, IncSys Scotty Campbell , Chair, System Operator Working Group, Entergy
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Summary/Assessment, Closing
Please remember to complete your Learning Assessment Thank you for your participation!
Hotel Information
HOTEL INFORMATION Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center 670 VerdaeBoulevard Greenville, South Carolina 29607 864-676-9090
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A reduced rate of $172 per night is offered to attendees. Included is a complimentary breakfast and Manager's Reception. Call 1-800-218-8712. The SERC room block will be open until Thursday, February 23, 2023 or until the block is sold out, whichever comes first. Please click this LINK to make your Online reservations. GROUND TRANSPORTATION / PARKING: The Embassy Suites Greenville offers complimentary shuttle transportation to and from the Greenville Spartanburg International Airport (GSP). Please meet the driver at the baggage claim area or feel free to call the Embassy Suites Greenville at (864) 676-9090 to schedule a pickup. For guests that may need additional transportation, please click the LINK for Greenville Spartanburg Airport ground transportation information. Self-parking at Embassy Suites Greenville is complimentary. Valet parking is not available.
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• Q&A Process • Entity Assistance Topic
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• SERC Membership • SERC Committees • SERC Compliance & Committee Portal/Committee related issues
• Registration and CertificationIssues • Compliance monitoringmethods: o Self-Certification o Self-Reportsubmittals o Compliancedata submittals • Enforcementand Mitigation o Mitigation Plan submittals • SERC Compliance& CommitteePortal-Compliancerelated issues
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• Reliability Assessment data reporting • Reliability Assessmentforms • Annual Voting Rights • Reliability Data Reporting Portal
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• IndustrySubjectMatterExpert(ISME) Program • Submittingan ISME application
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• Situational Awareness • Events Analysis
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Speaker Biographies
Benjamin Gibson - E-ISAC Benjamin Gibson is a Senior Physical Security Analyst at the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC). Benjamin analyzes incidents and threats affecting the North American power grid, and constantly writes and briefs on those topics to electric utilities across North America. Prior to joining North American Electric Reliability Corporation, he was an exercise analyst contracting with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop all-hazards emergency preparedness exercises for critical infrastructure. Benjamin has a Bachelor’s degree in Government from Patrick Henry College.
Bill Graham - NERC Bill Graham assumed the role of Manager, Bulk Power System Awareness (BPSA) of NERC in May 2021.
Mr. Graham oversees BPSA’s mission of monitoring conditions on the North American bulk power system (BPS) and providing leadership coordination, technical expertise, and assistant to the industry in response to events. He leads a team of five NERC Certified System Operators who coordinate BPSA activities with government agencies, the ERO Enterprise, and Reliability Coordinators. BPSA maintains real-time situation awareness of conditions on the BPS, notifies the industry of significant BPS events, maintains and strengthens high-level communications, and enables the reliable operation of the BPS by facilitating information exchange and coordination. Mr. Graham has been with NERC since October 2011, joining the Reliability Assessment and Performance Analysis Department and BPSA group in May 2014. He has participated in various key projects as Principal Situational Awareness Coordinator including root cause analysis, GridEx training exercises, emerging technologies analyst, and winterization performance reviews. Bill Graham has thirty ‐ two years of experience within the power generation industry. Prior to NERC, he worked as a shift supervisor at a 750 MW combined cycle generating facility in West Texas. Mr. Graham has provided project management support for power plants throughout the United States and Mexico. He has lead teams during root cause analysis investigations and procedure development, as well as, completed the duties of quality control inspector and safety auditor. His broad range of generation experience has included projects at nuclear, natural gas, coal, fuel oil, and diesel facilities. Bill Graham is a NERC Certified System Operator at the Reliability Coordinator level. Mr. Graham has undergone the NERC background check, the personnel risk assessment, and has signed the NERC non ‐ disclosure agreement.
Speaker Biographies
Dan Morse - Gainesville Regional Utilities Dan works with the safety and training team and on the simulator to develop training for the Power System Controllers both in their initial training and continuing education at GRU Dan’s previous experience includes being Lead Maintenance Planner at Three Mile Island, NERC Certified System Operator and trainer at PG&E, and instructor in the U.S. NAVY, Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, and Nuclear Power School. He completed his MS in Electrical Engineering from UC Riverside, BS in Electrical Engineering Technology from Old Dominion University and is an Engineer in Training (EIT). He is also involved in a variety of industry groups. Including former Vice President of the American Power Dispatchers Association (APDA), NERC PCGC, Vice Chair of the FRCC SOS, and SERC SOWG. NERC Certified RC200909001, UC Riverside – MS in Electrical Engineering – 2019, Old Dominion University – BS in Electrical Engineering Technology – 2016, Engineer in Training – EIT 16-995-7 – 2016, CompTIA CTT+ Certified Classroom Trainer – COMP001021197410 – 2017, US Navy - Master Training Specialist, Bob Pike Train the Trainer – 2014, WECC/PEAK RC/RC West Drill Proctor: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. David Miranda - IncSys A 30-year decorated Navy Veteran, with a Master’s Degree in Human Resources with an emphasis in Program Management. David works for IncSys as the Power4Vets Program Manager, Recruiter and Placement Agent, and NERC CE Enrollment Administrator. Responsible for the day-to-day management of the Power4Vets program, recruiting and screening eligible Veterans, and facilitating their placement within the utility industry. Since the Power4Vets program's inception in early 2011, more than 400+ Veterans have benefitted from the program and have been placed into career jobs in the utility industry all across the United States. Over 150+ of these Veterans have achieved NERC Certification, with many others in the training pipeline waiting to obtain NERC Certification. IncSys and the Power4Vets program were recognized at the 2013 Electric Power Industry Conference, in New Orleans, Louisiana as part of their “Veterans in Power Industry” initiative and were presented the “Faraday Award” for these efforts. David is also responsible for the administrative enrollments of all the System Operators who have desired to use IncSys Academy as their vendor of choice for NERC CE Training Courses and also handles all of the east coast PowerSimulator accounts
Speaker Biographies
LaRhonda Julien - Georgia Transmission Corporation LaRhonda Julien is Inspection Performance Specialist for the Construction Inspection department at Georgia Transmission Corporation – a not-for-profit utility company that connects power plants to local electric member cooperatives by planning, building, and maintaining the high-voltage transmission lines and power grid infrastructure throughout Georgia. Her major duties involve implementing human performance improvement, overseeing business continuity, and change management processes along with coordinating capital construction projects and environmental protection activities. She chairs the company’s Human Performance Strategic Team. LaRhonda earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology with a minor in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She received a Lean Six Sigma green belt from the University of Georgia. She has professional memberships with the American Psychological Association, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the International Erosion Control Association, the Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals, and the Cobb Association of REALTORS. She also serves as a member of the North American Transmission Forum’s Human Performance Core Team. She is an inducted member of the National Society of Leadership Success. John Taylor - Georgia Power Company John started his service with Georgia Power in Power Generation as a Utilityman in 1985. He then moved into a Switchman position in Coal Handling before leaving Power Generation to start his service in the Distribution Line Department as a helper in 1986. John progressed to the position of Lineman in 1994 and later to Lead Lineman before accepting the role to serve as a Methods & Training Specialist as an instructor in the Lineman Development program in 2005. John transitioned to serve as a Distribution Safety & Health Specialist in 2008 and then moved to Work Force Development as the Training Coordinator for the Supervisor Pipeline program in 2014. John became a Distribution Safety Supervisor in 2015 serving for 5 years before moving into the Safety & Health Coordinator position in 2020. In that role, he served as the HP facilitator for safety-related learning opportunities. John accepted the role to serve as the Human Performance Manager for Power Delivery in June of 2022. John has been employed with Georgia Power for 38 years and is a Certified Utility Safety Professional. He has been married to his wife Sandra for 38 years and has three daughters, three sons-in-law, three grandchildren, and another on the way. He enjoys being outdoors fishing, hunting, hiking, and spending time with his family.
LaRhonda lives in the suburbs of Atlanta. She is an avid runner and an ambassador for the Atlanta Track Club.
Speaker Biographies
Dr. Robin Podmore - IncSys Dr. Podmore has dedicated his 50-year power industry career to development of computer applications for power system operations with a focus on Operator Training Simulators and Digital Twins. IncSys with its partner PowerData has grown to be the premier independent supplier of Digital Twins worldwide. IncSys and PowerData have the reputation of being called in to help train the operators of the world’s most challenging power systems. Dr. Podmore has been certified as a NERC Transmission and Balancing Operator and a Reliability Coordinator. The IncSys Academy and the Power4Vets program, which Dr. Podmore founded in 2010, have now placed or promoted over 400 veterans as system operators. He is the primary author for over 55 hours of NERC-approved online tutorials and simulator-based exercises. He is currently focused on updating the simulations and content for the IncSys Academy in order to maintain a 90% pass rate for NERC Certification. www.incsys.com. As an IEEE Smart Village co-founder and volunteer and Rotarian, Dr. Podmore has helped 20-plus entrepreneurs improve living standards in villages with productive applications of renewable electricity across twelve developing countries. https://smartvillage.ieee.org/. Dr. Podmore is an IEEE Life Fellow, a Member of the National Academy of Engineers, and a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of California. He enjoys using mechanical analogies to explain complex power system phenomena. Ryan Guest - E-ISAC Ryan Guest is the Cyber Threat Intelligence team manager at the E-ISAC with over 14 years of experience focused in areas of threat intelligence, threat analysis, and incident response. Ryan joined the E-ISAC Threat Intelligence team in March of 2021 with the goal of assisting the electricity sector with reducing risk and improving cyber situational awareness through information sharing and analysis. Current responsibilities include research on the evolving cyber threat landscape, supporting electricity sector member requests for information, and contributing to the E-ISAC’s mission to spread broad cyber situational awareness. Prior to joining the E-ISAC, Ryan worked as part of the Technology Security team at Southern Company where, as a senior analyst, he was responsible for planning, collection, triage, production, and dissemination of Cyber Threat Intelligence tactical and operational deliverables. Ryan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Security from American Intercontinental University and holds several industry recognizable SANs Institute certifications.
Speaker Biographies
Sam Chanoski - Idaho National Laboratory Sam Chanoskidelivers technical leadership, expertise, and strategic insights to Cybercore’s portfolio of multi-million-dollar critical infrastructure security and resilience projects sponsored by the Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense. He influences the development of large, long-term sustained programs for research, development, demonstration, and deployment associated with control system cybersecurity for nationally critical infrastructure, with a particular focus on the energy sector. Prior to joining INL, Sam spent sixteen years working in intentionally diverse positions across the electricity industry including real-time operations and maintenance with three large investor-owned utilities, situation awareness and event analysis with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, intelligence with Electricity ISAC, and as the global security incident response team leader for a major manufacturer. Sam’s professional interests include real-time transmission and distribution operations, organizational behavior, control systems cybersecurity, and emergency management and resilience. Sam Holeman - Duke Energy Sam Holeman is vice president of transmission system planning and operations for Duke Energy. He leads the group responsible for the real-time monitoring and control of the company’s bulk electric transmission system. The other functional areas of system planning and operations include operations engineering, operations training, transmission planning, operational technology, operations services, transmission tariff, and customer support. He assumed his current position in October 2016. Previously, Holeman was Duke Energy’s director of engineering and training for the system planning and operations function. During his 37-year career with the company, Holeman has held leadership positions in various areas of system planning and operations, including system operations, engineering, and training. Holeman holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering from Clemson University. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Queens University. Holeman is certified by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) as a system operator and is a registered professional engineer in North Carolina and South Carolina. He is a past chairman of the operating committees for both NERC and the SERC Reliability Corporation. SERC is a nonprofit regulatory authority that promotes effective and efficient administration of bulk power system reliability in all or parts of 16 central and southeastern states. Holeman grew up in North Augusta, S.C. He and his wife, Jodi, have three daughters and five grandchildren. In addition to spending quality time with his family, Holeman enjoys teaching children’s Life Group at his church.
Speaker Biographies
Scotty Campbell - Entergy Scotty Campbell is a System Operations Specialist in Entergy’s Learning and Development - Operations department. His team provides initial and continuing training to hundreds of learners in power plants, transmission, distribution, and balancing control centers. The group also trains field personnel for distribution, transmission, and substation functions. Scotty is a NERC certified Reliability Coordinator and has over twenty years of operational experience. Before joining L&D, he worked his way up from a distribution operator in North Louisiana to a Lead System Operator for the entire Entergy footprint. For the past five years, he has been part of the leadership team of the SERC System Operator Working Group and currently serves as Chair. He also serves as Entergy’s representative on the SERC Operating Committee.
Sharon Darwin - Southern Company Sharon Darwin currently works in the Bulk Power Operations organization of Southern Company as the Senior Engineer of Training. In this role, Sharon leads the effort to get new operators RC certified, maintains records for the training organization, and brings her knowledge from her previous roles into operator training. Those previous roles include serving as the Southern Company Transmission Outage Coordinator; setting the Southern Company Total Transfer Capability limits for the daily market; serving as the support engineer for the Southeastern Reliability Coordinator and working in the field as a Protection and Control engineer. Sharon has held a NERC certified system operator certification since 2017. Sharon and her daughter, Charlie, live with their two Labradors in Birmingham, Alabama. She serves on the Board of Directors for a local special needs camp for children. In her spare time, she likes to foster dogs for a local animal shelter and binge-watch Survivor.
Speaker Biographies
Travis Moran - SERC Travis Moran is a retired law enforcement professional with over 30 years of enforcement, security, and intelligence experience. Travis began his federal law enforcement career with the U.S. National Central Bureau – Interpol, before transitioning to the U.S. Department of State and then ultimately the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) where he spent his last 15 years. Upon retirement from federal service, Moran became a Senior Investigator with one of the nation's largest electric utilities to conduct counter-terrorism security risk assessments on the utility’s critical assets - including those of national importance regarding the operation of the United States Bulk Power System. He has also served as the Senior Physical Security Specialist for NERC’s Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC), whereby he helped found and lead the utility sector's Physical Security Advisory Group (PSAG) and is a current member. He currently serves as a Senior Reliability and Security Advisor for SERC Reliability Corporation, one of six regional entities charged with securing the reliability and security of the electric grid through outreach, assistance, and training. Travis holds a Master of Arts in Criminology, Law, and Society from George Mason University, a Master of Science in Criminology from Indiana State University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University.
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