Electric Utility System Operations

Electric Utility System Operations Course (EUSO)

Instructional Format for All EUSO Classes

The key characteristic of the 1-day, 2-day and 3-day versions of the Electric Utility System Operation (EUSO) class is that we don’t present, we teach. A presenter displays document after document, often just reading what's on each document. We teach by drawing, on a white board, the method in which each piece of equipment is built in a factory. This ensures a student understands how each piece of equipment is built. As each piece of equipment is built, it is explained how the equipment works and its role in getting energy to customers. This instructional format results in students truly understanding electrical operations which is one reason for the industry-leading ratings of our classes.

A second characteristic is that we ensure no question goes unanswered. Because of the complexities of utility electrical systems, it is critical that each student understands a topic before proceeding to the next topic. This often requires using a second method to explain a topic and every now and then, using a third method to explain a topic…but this is what teaching is.

A third characteristic is our classes are instructed by experienced industry professionals who truly understand what they are teaching. This allows the instructor to deviate from the normal flow of a class to answer questions regarding topics not normally covered, but still keep the class on schedule. This is because time to answer questions is built into the schedule.

The Book Each EUSO Student Receives

The challenge for students without a strong technical background is retaining what they have learned. It was realized this would be a challenge. PTS wrote a book that parallels what is taught in class. This was done because there was not a book in print with the level of detail needed for the class. Each student receives this book that includes narrative and equipment photographs that the instructor constantly refers to during a class. The book is then retained by students as a reference guide throughout the students’ careers.

1-day EUSO Topics (8 CEUs)

The 1-day version of the Electric utility System Operation class is used by electric utilities as part of the utilities’ new employee orientation program. It covers the equipment and basic operations from generator to customer. The class explains how electrical energy is created at the various generating resources, and follows the energy into a toaster in a residence.

The class begins with a description of voltage and current for both AC and DC. Single phase and 3-phase generators are explained including how generators are built and the advantages of 3-phase. The methods used to spin a generator’s rotor come next describing steam, water (hydroelectric), wind, jet engines (gas turbines), reciprocating engines and tidal action. This is followed by a description of an electrical system from generator to house, as a preview of what will be covered, showing the substations with their transformers, transmission lines and distribution lines.

The relationships of voltage, current, power, demand, load and energy come next. Substations follow including showing how power transformers are built, how they change voltage and why change in voltage is needed. Circuit breakers, fuses, switches, circuit switchers and lightning arrestors are included in the substation portion of the class. The difference between a substation and switchyard is explained. A residential distribution system is covered including both pole mounted and pad mounted transformers used to bring 120 volts and 240 volts into a house.

The class ends with the instructor taking the class through a system drawing in the book from generation to customer asking the class to identify the equipment they see in three substations and in two switchyards.

2-day EUSO Topics (16 CEUs)

The 2-day version of the Electric utility System Operation class is designed for people not in highly technical positions. It covers the equipment and basic operations from generator to customer. The class explains how electrical energy is created at the various generating resources, and follows the energy into a toaster in a residence.

The class begins with a description of voltage and current for both AC and DC. Single phase and 3-phase generators are explained including how generators are built and the advantages of 3-phase. The methods used to spin a generator’s rotor come next describing steam, water (hydroelectric), wind, jet engines (gas turbines), reciprocating engines and tidal action. This is followed by a description of an electrical system from generator to house, as a preview of what will be covered, showing the substations with their transformers, transmission lines and distribution lines.

Grounding is covered next, followed by the relationships of voltage, current, power, demand, load and energy. Substations come next beginning with the power transformer, showing how it is built, the wye versus delta connections, cooling systems, and methods of preventing water from getting into a transformer. Other standard substation equipment is then covered including circuit breakers, circuit switchers, fuses, voltage transformers, current transformers and protective relays. The difference between a substation and switchyard is explained.

Pole mounted and pad mounted transformers serving customers are covered followed by voltage control in substations and in distribution lines using load tap changers (LTC,TCUL, OLTC), no load tap changers (NLTC) and voltage regulators. Autotransformers and lightning protection are included. Because a power transformer is the most important piece of equipment in a substation. and everything in a substation is there for the power transformer, every item on a power transformer nameplate is explained using a photograph in the book of the nameplate.

The class ends with the instructor taking the class through a system drawing in the book from generation to customer asking the class to identify the equipment they see in three substations and in two switchyards.

3-day EUSO Topics (24 CEUs)

The 3-day version of the EUSO class is designed for employees in highly technical positions, and the account executives in electric utilities assigned to work with large industrial and large commercial customers. In addition to the topics covered in the 2-day EUSO class, the 3-day version covers the topics listed below.

A significant portion of the 3-day version also covers real time operations including:

• Generator governor control to produce megawatts

• Generator excitation control to produce megavars

• What reactive power(VAr) is, its causes and its remedies and power factor. Two and

• one-half hours are dedicated to these topics to ensure students really understand.

• How energy is transmitted (wheeled) through several utilities ending hundreds of miles away

• Loop flow

• The interaction of generator governor control, Automatic Generation Control (AGC) and Area Control Error (ACE) in matching generation to load

• Reliability organizations including NERC, Regional Transmission Organizations and FERC

• The roles of blackouts, brownouts, demand response, real time pricing and underfrequency load shedding in matching generation to load

• How electric utilities schedule generating resources in real time, using both price and location in scheduling both megawatts and megavars.

• Stability issues resulting when many large generators are retired and replaced by wind and solar

• SCADA remotely monitoring and controlling equipment

Another significant portion of the 3-day version is how utilities schedule generation resources years in advance of actual need. The challenges presented by opposition to building transmission lines while artificial intelligence data centers and electric vehicles have greatly increased load projections is included in the 3-day version.

Additional topics in the 3-day version are:

• The 6-phase prototype transmission lines

• Why DC transmission is more efficient than AC, why DC is so rare & why it will be more common