At Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), safety and reliability are priorities for everyone. Line crews involved in infrastructure projects or working to restore power after an outage are often the most visible I&M presence in our communities. The reality is that it involves a full team effort to safely provide power to our customers at any hour and any location. For one I&M team, operating like "air traffic control," is vital to powering our customers.
Members of the Distribution Dispatch Center, or DDC, manage day-to-day operations of the power grid to ensure customers receive the best experience with I&M as their energy provider. This diverse team operates around the clock, seven days a week to manage daily distribution system operations and limit service disruptions to homes and businesses.
"Our system is a living, breathing machine that requires attention to keep it running optimally day or night," said Jarrod Wilson, I&M Distribution Dispatching manager. "At any moment we could see a disruption in the power grid, requiring our assistance to restore it back to peak performance, ensuring our customers are provided the most reliable service we offer."
These disruptions are not always a result of passing severe weather. The DDC is especially essential to operating the distribution system in everyday situations too. From infrastructure upgrades to the system that help to improve reliability, to emergency outages, such as vehicle accident into a power pole; they work to maintain the safe flow of power to customers' homes and businesses - which is not a job to take lightly.
"When outages do occur, we work hand in hand with several other teams across I&M and AEP with one goal: a safe and reliable restoration of the distribution system for customers," said Wilson. And when storm restoration is needed, it is all hands on deck to achieve this goal.
Strong winds, ice and other severe conditions can cause significant damage to power equipment, take down trees and vegetation and cause outages. When severe weather is in the forecast, strategic planning, and the assembly of a team at the ready, is critical. These advanced preparations by the DDC and I&M set our customers up for restoration as soon as possible. It also helps staff in the DDC to keep each other accountable for the entire team's safety and health during the restoration effort.
The DDC team consists of 12 Trouble Dispatchers, seven Energy Control Dispatchers, two shift leads/coordinators, four area coordinators, five engineers, two supervisors and one manager. Entry level Trouble Dispatches are hired with a bachelor's degree in any field, or associate degree in electrical or electronic technology. Once hired into an entry level position, it takes four to six months of training prior to working independently.
Stay ahead of severe weather in all seasons, visit www.IndianaMichiganPower.com/Weather.