How long have you been working for National Grid?

I joined the CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) 20 years ago working in System Operations, South East Region. I have been working in the Control Room on shift at the Electricity National Control Centre (ENCC) for the past 12 years.

What does your job entail?

I am the Power System Manager, running one of the five shift teams that man the ENCC (Electricity Network Control Centre). The Control Room is responsible for the safe, secure and efficient delivery of power across the Great Britain Transmission System – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This involves short-term planning activities from day-ahead right down to real-time, as well as the control and operation of the power system.

The Control Room is split into three functions, but has to operate as one team. Strategy is responsible for the planning activities - from the day-ahead down to approximately 3hrs ahead of real-time. The transmission team are responsible for operating the actual system, including switching out circuits for maintenance, and making sure network voltages are controlled. Our energy team are the ones who balance generation with demand. This involves scheduling extra generation to ensure there are enough power stations in reserve to control the frequency if we need them.  

What are the challenges you face?

We obviously can’t see into the future, so if we have a problem on one of our lines or a power station breaks down, it will require rapid assessment and quick actions to respond. But this is all just part of the job and what we are trained for. Indeed, these intense situations are where the team really “earns its corn” as it requires smooth team-working and interaction.

Responding to market-driven changes also needs quick implementation deadlines. The electricity market is a competitive one, so these changes can be significant and normally require major input to develop new processes and software to incorporate them into our existing procedures. Unsurprisingly, the pace of change in the Control Room has accelerated since privatisation and we have a proven track record of managing these changes successfully. Part of the attraction of working in the control room is that the job is continually evolving - which certainly makes for an exciting and interesting place to work!

What aspects of your job make you the most proud?

Obviously, the importance of the role in “keeping the lights on” is a major source of job satisfaction.

I also take great satisfaction when the team pulls together to skilfully manage a challenging situation, and from seeing staff develop and acquire new skills and authorisations.

What will you have to do to prepare for the World Cup?

The planning process starts well ahead of our timescales in the Control Room. Estimates for TV pick-ups expected for the matches will be revised throughout the competition. This enables us to quantify the maximum and (just as importantly) the minimum levels that can be expected for the half-time and full-time surges in demand. For the larger TV pick-ups (> 1000 MW) greater planning of our strategies is needed.

It is the ENCC’s responsibility to revise these TV pick-up estimates and agree the best strategy to deal with them, depending on the system conditions at the time, availability of power stations, and a host of other factors.   

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The team spirit within the Control Room environment added to the national importance of the role.

What is the most important tool you need to do your job?

There is a vast array of high-tech equipment required to control the Power System. The following are our major tools:

• SCADA control systems
  Software tools to optimise the despatch of generation plant and frequency response provision.
• Demand prediction tools
  On-line and off-line transmission study tools.

I do, however, also value the low-tech contribution from our teapot and coffee percolator!

Describe an average day

There is really no such thing as an average day!  We can’t see into the future and as the weather can affect the network, days when you think all will be quiet can be transformed within seconds by a transmission fault or generation loss. The one sure thing is that no two days are the same!

Which team will you be supporting during the World Cup?

England (despite my French and Irish ancestry, I have no mixed allegiances!).