Women+Power Tech Speaker Series #2: System Controller 101

Every day the AESO System Controllers work to manage and operate the provincial power grid. Our System Controllers balance supply and demand 24/7, making sure four million Albertans have power when they need it. But, what happens behind the scenes for this to be possible?

In this session, participants will discuss:

• AESO’s role in the electricity industry
• System Controller (SC) shift work and training
• AESO control room operations
• Components of balancing the grid
• Emergency operations and supply adequacy
• Questions and answers

Guest Speakers:

Jason Bucholtz is a Real Time Operations Manager at the Alberta Electric System Operator. Jason is a member of a technical team that provides all Albertans with a safe and reliable supply of electricity. Jason works with Energy Management System and Operational planning engineers to integrate tools that aid System Controllers in the operation of the power grid with greater awareness and efficiency. For the past 20 years, Jason has worked in Alberta’s utility industry, including work in the field as a protection and control technologist for AltaLink Management.

Allison Zwozdesky has joined the AESO Performance Improvement in Training team this year. She is a System Controller Trainer and she focuses on Human Factors. She is thrilled to share what she has learned about the system controllers and feels very humbled to present to this community. Allison comes from an operations background which drew her to this position. From Airports operations to Operations Control Centres, Allison has over 14 years of experience in aviation operations. Her passion for training grew from pedagogical studies during her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre at the University of Calgary.