Transmission Planning Engineer I (Hybrid - La Crosse, WI)

TRANSMISSION PLANNING ENGINEER I (Hybrid - La Crosse, WI)

Hiring Salary Range: $77,400 - $116,100

Compensation is determined by a combination of factors, including but not limited to education, work experience, and certifications. The actual offer may vary, reflecting the candidate's unique blend of experience, educational background, and skill level.

The Transmission Planning Engineer I develops, coordinates, and recommends transmission plans to ensure safe, adequate, and reliable transmission capacity. This role involves applying industry standards and planning criteria to maintain and improve transmission network efficiency. The Planning Engineer I collaborates with various teams to identify system needs and propose strategic solutions, ensuring operational reliability and safety.

The Impact You'll Make In This Role:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Perform detailed analyses to assess transmission performance, determine future transmission and substation requirements and prepare comprehensive reports recommending optimal system upgrade plans and normal operating configurations.

• Develop and maintain databases for power flow models.  Prepare Dairyland’s annual regional power flow model data submittal.  Monitor regional power flow model update postings as necessary to keep Dairyland’s models current.

• Conduct engineering economic analysis of operating and facility addition alternatives.

• Participate in MISO planning processes and coordinate with neighboring utilities on system planning.

• Participate on MISO, and inter-utility (joint study) task forces as a representative of Dairyland.  Prepare data submittals to MISO, MRO, RUS, state agencies, NATF, SPP, etc.

• Monitor and provide input to MISO to aid in the evaluation of generation interconnection requests. Coordinate Interconnection Facilities Studies and negotiate necessary agreements with generators connecting to the Dairyland transmission system.

• Assist in the preparation of three-year and ten-year RUS transmission work plans and associated three-year and long-range transmission capital budget studies.

• Compile historical reliability data and communicate results and trends. Participate in transmission reliability benchmarking initiatives.

• Review Member Cooperative work plans.  Verify that recommendations are reached utilizing “single-system” planning.  Summarize work plan recommendations for internal routing.

• Support Economic Development with load interconnection requests from Member Cooperatives and perform power flow studies to determine transmission capacity and required upgrades.

• Assist in the maintenance of the State Estimator and the Real-Time Contingency Analysis applications. Maintain Dairyland’s Energy Management System (EMS) Network Model due to system changes.

• Provide back-up support to the Operations Engineers for the outage coordination function, including assistance in operating studies for the development of operating guides.

• In coordination with Compliance, provide technical support and documentation to satisfy applicable NERC compliance standards.

• Represent System Operations on Power Delivery construction and maintenance project management teams and organizational strategic efforts.

• Support Dairyland’s generation development and resource planning as they relate to the transmission system.

• Other duties as assigned.

Your Experience and Expertise:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience: Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical (power option preferred) Engineering or directly related major.

Skills: General computer literacy is required and experience with Excel, Word, and Power Point is preferred.  An understanding of Engineering Economics is required.  Requires good oral and written communication skills.

Licenses and Certifications: Willing to work toward professional registration.  Valid Driver’s License.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential.

Other Job Characteristics: Frequent interactions with interconnected companies, distribution cooperatives and MISO.  Team-oriented and independent worker having routine and variable tasks.  Some travel required.