Outage Communications Specialist (Entry or Associate Level)

At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven’t stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We’re always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.

Summary

The outage communications role, referred to as OCS (Outage Communications Specialist), focuses on tracking both planned and unplanned outages through the point that power is restored to affected customers. By watching over this activity and managing accurate communications on the status of the outage, this role will provide the ‘single source of truth’ regarding the status and estimated restoration times for affected customers and PGE employees involved in the restoration work. Beyond outage communications, this team also supports critical Wildfire and outage data validation functions.

The end goal for this team is to better the overall experience for our customers in outage situations. The outage communication specialist role is a 24/7 staffed role from within the Distribution Control Center, on site at our Integrated Operations Center in Tualatin, OR and will be onsite and work on a rotating shift schedule. The Outage Communications Specialist will go through a multi-week onboarding and qualification period with capability assessments.

• We're hiring for 2 positions open to both entry and associate level candidates. The level will be determined based on the successful applicant's qualifications, experience, and skills demonstrated during the interview process.
  
  

Responsibilities for the Entry Level/p1 position:

• Outage Management Uses the Distribution Outage Management System (OMS) to oversee customer outages associated with planned outage switching sheets, 24/7 for all of PGE’s service territory
• Uses OMS to manage Estimated Restoration Times (ERT) which involves reviewing assigned ERT assigned by the system, validating the assets associated with the outage, confirming resource (material/human/equipment) availability and assignment and forecasting appropriate ERTs based on scenario analysis. This applies to planned and unplanned outages, 24/7 for all of PGE’s service territory.
• Uses the Outage Management System to prepare, review & update distribution planned customer outage switching sheets involving secondary voltage for accuracy and schedule according to Crew Coordination and Work Order Owners request.
• Uses the Maximo Asset System to upload documents, edit and approve tasks as needed.
• Issues, monitors and updates planned outage status, in the Outage Management System, in real time, to capture accurate outage duration and customer impact.
• Communicates distribution planned customer outage switching sheet changes to various stakeholders including but not limited to Crew Coordination, Customer Relations, Work Order Owner(s), Key Customer Group, and more when applicable.
• Communicates with Line Crew on real-time planned outage activities.
• Monitors outage progress and ensures restorations times are met and or updated appropriately.
• Coordinates with other departments as needed.
• Process Configuration Changes Notifies PGE Mapping Department of device mapping corrections needed.
• Unplanned Outage/Emergency Response May be required to perform real-time updates in OMS for secondary voltages for unplanned outages. May assist with customer callbacks.
• Works closely with Distribution Control Center staff including Distribution System Operators and Repair Dispatch to interpret the situation and pull relevant information together.
• Prepares communication updates on the outage to inform PGE employees as well as customers through OMS and the outage log. Updates as information changes, including the published ERTs.
• Communicates unplanned outage/emergency condition details to various entities, including customers, Corporate Communication, Key Customer Management, Crew Coordination and Repair Dispatch.
• System Monitoring Actively monitors and provides updates, as applicable, in the Outage Management System, Maximo, and Itoa (operations logging tool) and other relevant tools/systems for Planned and Unplanned Outage Events.
• Monitors Outage Management System for de-energization and re-energization activities associated to distribution service point and transformer device planned outages to ensure safety, reliability, efficiency and compliance requirements are met with NERC, WECC, FERC, OPUC, DOE and other applicable government and industry criteria, as applicable to the position.
• Monitor PGE’s Outage Map for real-time accuracy.
• Monitors tools applicable to PGE’s Wildfire Monitoring Tools (myWorld).
• Reporting and Tracking Responds to data requests.
• Determines the best way to obtain and synthesize data from multiple sources.
• Develops and runs reports. Performs Outage Response Analysis (OMS, Tableau)
• Compiles, analyzes, and reports on a variety of metric data related to departmental and system performance such as ERT forecasting efficiency, system interruptions and outages. Reviews records, logs and summaries and verifies and validates data; verifies data is properly entered into applicable systems or records; prepares formal reports and/or provides feedback on results of review; recommends improvements.
• Internal/External Relations Interact with Crews, Crew Coordination, Work Order Owners, Repair Dispatch, Key Customer Group, Business Continuity & Emergency Management, Corporate Communications, Project Management Office, Reliability, Engineering and more for both planned and unplanned outage events.
• Processes distribution system configuration changes for outage data validation and system configuration tracking and reporting.
• Knowledge Sharing Peer-to-peer training.
  
  

In addition to the Entry, the P2/Associate level is responsible for:

• Assist with training new hires and other key stakeholders.
• Participates in outage After Action Reports (AAR) resulting in investigation and data analysis throughout several systems to compile lessons learned related to customers' outages.
• Compiles, analyzes, and reports on a variety of metric data related to departmental and system performance such as ERT forecasting efficiency, PSPS forecasting, system interruptions and outages tracking, etc.
• Leads communication and meetings with Crew Coordination, Work Order Owners, Repair Dispatch, Key Customer Group, Business Continuity & Emergency Management, Corporate Communications, Project Management Office, Engineering, and other appropriate parties for both planned and unplanned outage events as needed.
  
  

Qualifications

Education Required:

• Entry/p1 and Associate/p2: Associate degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
  
  

Experience Required:

• Entry/P1 and Associate/p2: Typically, one or more years in operational occupations such as generation, transmission or distribution systems or a related field.
  
  

Preferred:

• Excellent verbal and oral communication skills
• Working knowledge of PGE’s distribution system
• Working knowledge of electrical principles and concepts
• Working knowledge of PGE’s safety procedures
• Working knowledge of and skill in using PGE’s Outage Management System, Maximo Asset Management System, GIS, Vehicle Locator System (AVL) and Company Radio System, Microsoft suite, and SharePoint,
• Working knowledge of PGE’s geographic territory
• Working computer skills for routine office activities such as email and document preparation
• Intermediate analytical thinking skills
• Working business acumen
• Intermediate decision-making skills
• Intermediate interpersonal skills
• Working organization and prioritization skills
• Intermediate problem-solving skills
  
  

, #ONSITE

Compensation Range:

$61,950.00 - $123,875.00

Actual total compensation, including a performance based incentive bonus, is commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity. While we anticipate the selected candidate for this position will fall towards the middle or entry point of the compensation range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.

PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well-being and professional development, both now and into the future. To find out more, click here.