Course Information:  Electrical Grid Operations.  3 credits.  An examination and study of the fundamental operating principles, guidelines and policies of the WECC (Western Electricity Coordinating Council) that promote reliable interconnected grid operation.

The student will acquire the subject matter expertise and appreciation for the inner-workings of a large interconnected utility system.  In addition, the students will develop a skill set that includes knowledge of how electricity is generated, transmitted, and consumed, as well as the ability to analyze complex transmission operational situations and make qualified judgments and recommendations to mitigate transmission related problems.  

Course Description/Objectives:

Module 1 (1 week)-will focus on learning the history of NERC and WECC organizations, why they were formed, how they have changed, their importance and how they affect the utilities.   Assignments require the students to research NERC/WECC information and to prepare a discussion paper on the cause and effect of these organizations.

Module 2 (2 weeks)-will focus on the understanding the NERC/WECC policies and guidelines and how it applies to operating the bulk transmission system.

Module 3 (2 weeks)-will focus on the analysis of system operating case studies, understanding the data requirement, determining if a problem exists and developing alternative short term solutions of operating the transmission system without violating of the WECC/NERCC policies.

Module 4 (2 weeks)-is an extension of Module 3, where the students will be given an operating scenario (Powerflow case or set of data), determine the problem and criteria violation, and finally develop a long-term solution.