Enabling the appropriate operational response to power system events

This paper describes the recent changes by the New Zealand´s market and system operator, transpower, that enabled both operators and management to successfully respond to extreme system events. Transpower has dealt with this successfully, the average age in the control room is under 40 and while the experience levels are perhaps not yet optimum the effort placed into training, people management, contingency planning and software systems mean we will maintain a professional and sustainable operations team while the experience develops. The effort into these three key areas of people, process and tools is seen as co-dependant in that for example good people will not stay in a role where they are not valued or where tools and process prevent them from being successful in their role, likewise investment in software without good process and training will not produce the required benefit.