Communications
Communications in connection with switching and clearances shall be given by the System Operator directly to the employee in charge of operating the switch or receiving the clearance. Personnel shall identify themselves to each other and assure that they know with whom they are communicating when giving or taking Hot Line Hold, switching orders, and clearances.
Switching orders and clearances shall be repeated word for word back to the speaker, using the correct designation of lines, cables, stations, and equipment. Speakers shall identify themselves by name. See WAC 296-45-335.
The radio is the primary communication source for the Energy Control Center: The radio shall serve as the principal communication media for all clearances and switching. The telephone shall be used only as a backup system when the radio is not working at the job site.
Both the radio and telephone used for this purpose shall be recorded.
Operating Instructions
“A command by operating personnel responsible for the real-time operation of the interconnected Bulk Electric System to change or preserve the state, status, output, or input of an Element of the Bulk Electric System or Facility of the Bulk Electric System. (A discussion of general information and of potential options or alternatives to resolve Bulk Electric System operating concerns is not a command and is not considered an Operating Instruction.)” (Ref. NERC Glossary)
- Use 3-part communications for Operating Instructions (normal and emergency conditions)
- Use English
- Use 24 hour time
- Use standard nomenclature
- Use Phonetic Alphabet when needed for clarity
- Speakers shall identify themselves by name.
- If we use an oral or written single-party to multiple-party burst Operating Instructions we will confirm or verify that the Operating Instruction was received by at least one receiver of the Operating Instruction.
| A-Alpha | N-November | One (wun) | 0100-1am | 1300-1pm |
| B-Bravo | O-Oscar | Two (too) | 0200-2am | 1400-2pm |
| C-Charlie | P-Papa | Three (tree) | 0300-3am | 1500-3pm |
| D-Delta | Q-Quebec | Four (fow-er) | 0400-4am | 1600-4pm |
| E-Echo | R-Romeo | Five (fife) | 0500-5am | 1700-5pm |
| F-Foxtrot | S-Sierra | Six (six) | 0600-6am | 1800-6pm |
| G-Golf | T-Tango | Seven (sev-en) | 0700-7am | 1900-7pm |
| H-Hotel | U-Uniform | Eight (ait) | 0800-8am | 2000-8pm |
| I-India | V-Victor | Nine (nin-er) | 0900-9am | 2100-9pm |
| J-Juliet | W-Whiskey | Zero (zee-row) | 1000-10am | 2200-10pm |
| K-Kilo | X-Xray | 1100-11am | 2300-11pm | |
| L-Lima | Y-Yankee | 1200-12pm | 2400-midnight | |
| M-Mike | Z-Zulu |