Experience

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  Eskom holdings soc ltd

  Jan 2009 - now

  The Distribution Network Planning department is responsible for the long term electrical network expansion plans and project initiation in the Eskom Distribution business. These plans cover high voltage (66kV -400kV) as well as medium voltage (11kV -33kV). This requires planning to have an in depth understanding of the socio economic factors in the province by engaging municipalities, provincial and national legislatures as well as players in the private sector. This information flows into the long term load forecast, there the energy demand in the province is estimated for at least the next 20 years. The Load forecast informs the network planner, with various current state inputs, on future expansion needs.The role of the tools engineer is to facilitate the process and enable speedy decision making by creating and maintaining software and process tools to assist the Town and Regional Planner, the Load forecaster, Network Development Planner and Distribution Planner.Some of the functions performed:• Creating maps and GIS datasets using Geographic information systems to predict household numbers from census data, transformer location data and satellite imagery.• Working in the team that create the software specification for new software developed by outside developer. Also does extensive beta testing on new builds and proposes modification and enhancements to software.• Create software tools in VBA or VB.Net( or other languages) for task automation and systems integration. For example, a tool was created to transfer load forecast information from one propriety database directly into another propriety database using direct database access and API’s.• Maintain the HV network model in Digsilent PowerFactory©. The model includes includes the entire electrical network in the province, excepting the medium voltage reticulation lines. Model accuracy is required to ensure the validity of all network studies done and prevent over- and underinvestment into the network Show less During the Engineer in training period, the EIT is granted the opportunity to gain exposure to the Eskom Distribution Business. The period is characterised by interaction with experienced staff and on the job training.Specifically I worked at the following departments:Field Services• Calibration laboratory as a Calibration Technician certifying a variety of meters’ accuracy• Metering: Installed Customer meters and fault finding of existing installations.• Protection: modification , applying settings, installation and testing of transformer protection control plant schemes, feeder protection schemes and transformer OLTC schemes.Plant Maintenance• Investigated Quality of supply violationsEngineering• Created a task management system to allow supervisors and managers to monitor performance of staff. The system stores various aspects of the minor works engineers’ daily activities and draws annual graphs in order to evaluate real performance.• Did network expansion designs for SPU (Small power User) customers involving some MV and mostly LV new works.Network optimisation and SCADA System Support• Assisted in the development of a software tool to access SCADA ( Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system) dataNetwork Planning• Created a software tool to convert data downloaded from the customer meters into usable information by automatically adding various graphs and metrics to raw CSV data.• Did a network study to connect electrification customers including the planning level network design. Show less

  • Network Planning Tools Engineer

    Jul 2010 - now

  • Engineer in Training

    Jan 2009 - Jun 2010