AMERICAN POWER DISPATCHERS ASSOCIATION

Welcome to the home of the American Power Dispatchers Association. Founded in 1946 for the purpose of encouraging and promoting the formulation and attainment of higher professional standards among System Operators (Load Dispatchers and Power Dispatchers), and for the purpose of facilitating the interchange of ideas and information, as well as for the development of a spirit of fellowship, the APDA continues to promote excellence in individual education and professional operation of the North American Bulk Electric System.

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From The National President...

Every year there is a news report about the Oxford Dictionary and the new words that are being added to our lexicon.  These words are sometimes the names of new devices or items that have been invented.  Other times they are words that have ‘morphed’ in our language that evolved out of other words.  An example of this is ‘blog’ that is the genesis of ‘web log’.  Just about everything in our society is in an evolutionary process.

The power system we are tasked with operating is no exception.  Who amongst us hasn’t heard of ‘sustainable’, ‘green power’ or ‘smart grid’?  Actions and initiatives resulting from these concepts will be in the forefront for years to come.  Legislation and corporate directions will cause momentous changes in construction and operation of the system in the near future. 

Areas of the country are seeing sizable wind farms being built.  As you can guess, the generation output can vary greatly and without warning.  It is being suggested that sites such as these will have their own, dedicated transmission systems to handle their output.  Nuclear units are finally making a comeback.  They are some of the only large generators going up.  Coal generation, which serves over 50% of the electric load in America, is suddenly a pariah because of its emissions, especially CO2.  These plants are being designed with carbon capture systems.  They have their flue gases piped many miles away for carbon sequestration.  This makes them much more difficult to site and permit and significantly more expensive to build.  Many new units are small, renewable resource generation that uses a locally produced fuel source in their boilers.

So, we as operators are moving up from a 707 to a 767.  It’s a good bet we’ll see more complexity, more capabilities and a lot more unknowns.  It’s possible that we’ll be dispatching generation based first on emissions compliance and secondarily on $/MWH.  I heard this prediction in 1985 and it is really coming into focus.  We’re threatened with wholesale changes in the way power is generated, transmitted, distributed and consumed at the industrial, commercial and retail level

How do we respond?  Areas of the APDA have already presented interesting information on the changes coming to the North American Interconnections.  Presenters at our meetings keep us proficient on routine tasks we sometimes take for granted.  But they also serve us up tastes of these new concepts that often soon become a reality.  Who can look at the tasks in their offices and not see the changes that have taken place in recent years?  These are often in-house adaptations to local changes, but are often NERC, FERC or even DOE requirements. 

What better time to be an active member in the American Power Dispatchers Association?  We have always been in the forefront of enlightening operators of what’s on the horizon.  Our meetings provide you with useful knowledge and refreshing camaraderie.  Despite the economic downturn we have operators attending our meetings for the much needed CEHs they provide. 

It’s a good time to be sure that your job skills are where they need to be to remain competitive in the shrinking job market.  For years, we have helped to supply that edge. Invite someone to join and offer to lend support to keep the organization thriving.

Fraternally yours,

Danny Bucklen
National President
American Power Dispatchers’ Association

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