Description

The opportunity

The Analyst, Reliability Standards Compliance will perform core investigative and compliance audit functions that directly support the reliability of Ontario’s electricity system. As part of the Reliability Standards Investigations and Audits team, the Analyst will monitor Ontario’s market participants and the IESO’s compliance with reliability standards. These standards include:

• Power system operation and planning criteria
• Rules and standards established by the IESO, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (“NERC”), and the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (“NPCC”)
• NERC’s Critical Infrastructure Protection (“CIP”) standards, focused on cyber security.

Through compliance auditing of these standards, the Analyst plays a key role in protecting critical infrastructure, reducing the risk of outages and ensuring the safe delivery of electricity across the province. This role is ideal for individuals with a strong background in power systems and electrical engineering, and an eye for detail. Occasional travel will be required to conduct site visits. 

What you’ll do

• Audit market participants’ compliance with reliability standards in accordance with an annual Compliance Monitoring Plan issued to those Ontario participants who are deemed accountable for compliance with these standards, by virtue of their inclusion in the North American Bulk Electric System definition, or who must comply with the Critical Infrastructure Protection cyber-security standards
• Review evidence-based self-certifications submitted by market participants and assess their compliance with reliability standards
• Perform assessments and other activities related to mandated grid monitoring, complaint intake, whistleblower referrals and other detection methods, for the purpose of identifying possible breaches of reliability standards or behavioural trends that may impact reliability
• Conduct compliance and reliability risk assessments aimed at triaging events affecting the reliability of the Bulk Electric System and make enforcement recommendations
• Perform inherent risk assessments of market participants affecting the reliability of the Bulk Electric System, and evaluate various reliability risk factors to develop market participant-specific compliance monitoring plans
• Liaise with other monitoring and enforcement agencies across Canada and the U.S., and IESO business units on issues related to applicability and compliance monitoring of reliability standards, pursuant to various MOUs and protocols.

Requirements

Required

• A minimum of 8 years of professional work experience.
• University Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business or related degree that provides the foundation to understand the reliability standards and practices applicable to power system generators, transmitters, and system operators.
• Experience in power system planning, operation, and cyber security, electrical and/or other utility environment, with an additional focus on compliance auditing, contract administration, regulatory and/or enforcement activities.
• Good knowledge of the North American reliability standards governing certain aspects of participation in the Ontario electricity marketplace.
• Experience in applying project management principles to planning, tracking and reporting on task implementation.
• Excellent command of the English language, to ensure a high quality of customer service in the area of rule enforcement and interpretation, clear definition of performance standards, and high quality in the design/delivery of appropriate training.
• Exceptional analytical and reasoning skills.
   

Assets

• Experience in investigative procedures and techniques, case management, litigation and evidence procedures and processes.
• Experience in conducting audits of compliance with reliability standards within Ontario, other Canadian provinces or the U.S.