Sustaining Situational Assessment in Electrical Network Power Control

• Published in: Human factors 2025-03, Vol.67 (3), p.185-195
• Main Authors: Wiggins, Mark W., Auton, Jaime C., Sturman, Daniel, Morrison, Ben W., Molesworth, Brett R. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Context; Control systems design; Controllers; Electric industries; Electric Power Supplies; Electric power transmission; Electrical networks; Electricity; Humans; Network control; Power control; Predictive control; Regression models; Renewable energy sources; Risk assessment; Special Populations; Statistical analysis; Training
• ISSN: 0018-7208; 1547-8181; 1547-8181
• DOI: 10.1177/00187208241272072

Objective The aim of this study was to examine contributions to sustained situational assessment over an extended period in the context of electricity transmission control. Background The electricity industry is engaged in a period of unprecedented change in the transition to renewable sources of energy. Changes in the nature and function of electricity transmission risks a reduction in situational assessment as network controllers place increased reliance on advanced technology to identify and diagnose changes in the system state. Method Transmission network controllers from three organisations completed an assessment of their situational assessment on two occasions, one year apart. Results Multiple regression revealed a statistically significant model in which the variance in Year 2 was predicted by a combination of performance in Year 1, the recency of formal training, and the extent to which controllers perceived their job as exciting. No relationship was evident for years of experience as a network controller. Conclusion The results suggest that a combination of recent formal training and perceptions of job excitement may have implications in maintaining the capacity for situational assessment over an extended period in the context of electricity network control. Application The outcomes of the present study suggest that changes in situational assessment can be monitored and that strategies, including formal training and job design, may sustain situational assessment over an extended period in advanced technology settings.