Rehearsal Key to Reliability

Paddle blades slice into the glassy surface of the Tennessee River. Chickamauga Dam is quiet, so the current is tranquil as rowers glide along the water at sunrise — oars in rhythm with the coxswain’s call.

Joel Wise, manager of the NERC Regulatory and Operations Training Group, is one of the rowers in that shell.

“It’s peaceful,” Wise said. “I love hearing the nature sounds, seeing eagles’ nests overhead and hearing them talk to one another as we row by.”

These gentle skills of teamwork, communication and synchronization in the boat follow Wise to work — the new Tennessee Valley Authority Systems Operation Center (SOC) in Georgetown, Tennessee — when he orchestrates training for operators who will eventually run the entire TVA system.

Just as every maestro knows, a solid performance is predicated by relentless rehearsal, and that’s where Wise comes in.

With 36 years in the industry under his belt, Wise knows what’s at stake.

“We want to ensure that we are operating our system reliably,” he said, “so that when the public goes to turn their lights on, they know we will be out here providing the power to do that every time.”

As the SOC in Chattanooga passes the baton to the new SOC, TVA will enter an era of improved functionality and unmatched reliability. Newer, smarter technologies will allow for enhanced management of the grid and more flexibility with demand response. To equip system operators and focus on continued improvement, the SOC also features a robust dispatch training center.

“Here, we will run through scenarios and drills that prepare operators to handle whatever happens in the real world. System conditions change so quickly, we must be ready to respond appropriately to disturbances on our system. We want people to learn and break things, we want it to be in the simulator.”

When it comes to real life — ice, tornadic activity, extreme temperatures, or even a vehicle hitting a power pole — the team at the SOC are ready around the clock to keep life running smoothly in the Valley region.

“It’s what attracts people here,” Wise said. “Our mission of prosperity in the Valley means affordable, reliable power.”

And the dependability of the grid is a direct reflection of the people who manage it.

Jennifer Conner, emergency preparedness and response manager for Transmission and Power Supply and long-time colleague of Wise’s, commented, “Reliability is our core function here, but it’s also at the core of who Joel is. There's never been a time I reached out where he hasn't responded promptly and thoroughly with information or guidance. He models reliability for all of us. Joel leads with a servant's heart and our team values that about him.”

Wise understands how vital a collaborative effort is to the success of the whole. Whether it’s keeping a boat upright or ensuring TVA’s assets are working together efficiently, he is a team player.

“In system ops, we are very dependent on other areas in TVA for us to be able to do our job,” Wise explained. “There are people out in the field making sure equipment is working right, there’s the generation fleet, supply chain and communications. We all rely on each other to tell the whole story.”

Ultimately, TVA’s story is made up of thousands of others — employees in the Valley Region acting as ambassadors, each in concert with one another. But stories are only as impactful as the listeners who hold them.

“It's important to listen and get to know people's stories,” Wise said. “Understanding what's going on in their life outside of work is vital because we carry stuff in that may be affecting us. I’ve seen a positive shift in the culture here over the years. Our management is willing to listen and try to find the best way to do things — not just because that's the way it's always been, but because they value continuous improvement.

“And the legacy I hope to leave here is that I was a good teammate, a good ambassador for TVA.”