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Operate plant control electrical systems from a thermal electricity generation control room

Level / 5
Credits / 4

PurposePeople credited with this standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of panel electrical systems and controls; control and operate panel electrical systems; and identify and respond to deviations in plant control electrical system operations.

Subfield / Electricity Supply
Domain / Electricity Supply - Thermal Operations and Control
Status / Registered
Status date / 23 October 2001
Date version published / 25 June 2007
Planned review date / 31 December 2008
Entry information / Recommended: National Certificate in Energy and Chemical Plant (Process Operation) (Level 4) with optional strands in Refrigeration, Steam Generation, Ancillary Operations, Geothermal, Waste Treatment, and Co-generation [Ref:0141]; and National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Thermal Plant Operator) (Level 4) with strands in Thermal Operations, Combined Cycle Operations, and Co-generation Operations [Ref: 0894]; or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0120

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1This unit standard is intended for, but not restricted to, workplace assessment. The range statements within the unit standard can be applied according to industry specific equipment, procedures and processes.

2Safety of personnel and plant must be a priority throughout the assessment. If the safety requirements are not met the assessment must stop and the candidate will be assessed as not yet competent.

3Performance and work practices in relation to the elements and performance criteria must comply with all current legislation, especially the Electricity Act 1992, and any regulations and codes of practice recognised under that statute; the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; and the Resource Management Act 1991. Electricity supply industry codes of practice and documented industry procedures include the Safety Manual – Electricity Industry (SM-EI) (2004) Wellington: Electricity Engineers’ Association. A full list of current legislation and industry codes is available from the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation, PO Box 1245, Hamilton.

4‘Industry requirements’ include all the documented workplace policies, procedures, specifications, business and quality management requirements relevant to the workplace in which assessment is carried out.

5The term ‘operate’ is defined as the remote operation, testing and commissioning of main and auxiliary thermal plant systems associated with large steam/electrical generation plant from a control room environment.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Demonstrate knowledge of panel electrical systems and controls.

Performance criteria

1.1Transformers and electrical switchboards are described in accordance with industry requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – electrical supply changeover, generator vectormeter, transformer tap changing.

1.2Electrical protection is explained in accordance with industry requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – protection relays.

1.3Electrical operating parameters are identified in accordance with industry requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – amps, volts, temperature, vars.

1.4DC systems are described in accordance with industry requirements.

Element 2

Control and operate panel electrical systems.

Performance criteria

2.1Current status of systems is identified in accordance with industry requirements.

2.2Routine operations are carried out in accordance with industry requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – electrical supply changeover, tap changing, routine testing.

2.3Operations are carried out in accordance with industry requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – procedure for livening electrical boards, procedure for livening and de-livening transformers.

2.4Actions are logged in accordance with plant procedures.

2.5Operating decisions are determined in accordance with plant status and industry requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – plant availability and service condition, resource consent and loading limits, impact on operations, options.

2.6Plant and equipment are monitored in accordance with industry requirements.

Element 3

Identify and respond to deviations in plant control electrical system operations.

Performance criteria

3.1Deviations from normal operating conditions are identified, reported and explained in accordance with industry requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – transformer cooling, transformer temperature, tap changer mal-operation, electrical parameters deviations.

3.2Plant safety procedures are followed in accordance with industry requirements.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018