How we serve with the station operating team

Employees across Basin Electric work tirelessly to ensure we can charge our cell phones, heat our homes, turn on the television, and perform daily tasks without a hitch. One of the roles tasked with monitoring and ensuring this reliability is the station operators.

Dominic Moore is an assistant station operator at Dry Fork Station located in Gillette, Wyoming, and plays a vital role in ensuring the efficiency of plant operations for our members.

Moore’s journey at Basin Electric started with an internship.

“I was hired at Dry Fork Station in the summer of 2013 as an intern in the electrical shop after finishing my degree in industrial electrical,” Moore says. “In December 2013, I received a full-time job as a utility operator, then approximately a year later began working as a scrubber operator. Eventually, I came to find myself in my current position – assistant station operator.”

Assistant station operators play an important role at Basin Electric by monitoring equipment, performing inspections, and engaging in plant-wide communications to avoid disruptions in power to Basin Electric’s members.

“I typically start my day with a set of equipment inspections, beginning with the boiler, where I check oil levels and differential pressures on filters,” Moore says.

The boiler is an essential piece of equipment that produces steam which drives turbines to generate electricity. Without an efficient boiler, Dry Fork Station wouldn’t operate effectively, impacting energy production and reliability. Assistant station operators monitor boiler performance by inspecting the ports and monitoring bottom ash quantity. They also maintain constant communication with the lead station operator if any issues are observed.
Assistant station operators and lead station operators also work closely to ensure the boiler complies with environmental regulations.

“I monitor the mechanical/operation side of the ammonia system which is used to prevent NOX (nitrogen oxides), while the lead station operator maintains and regulates ammonia flow into the boiler to keep the plant in compliance,” Moore says.

With temperatures that reach up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit inside the boiler, safety is vital in Moore’s role. “The boiler at Dry Fork Station is coal-fueled, and it’s critical to wear heat protective clothing to protect yourself from the high temperatures,” Moore says. “Our team also has a full-face respirator with ammonia cartridges ready in the event of an emergency.”

When asked how he handles emergency shutdowns or boiler malfunctions, Moore responded, “Don’t panic. It’s important to assess the area and the potential problem, calmly call the lead station operator, and work with him to maintain control of the situation at hand. I also rely heavily on other members of my crew to assist me in the situation.”

“Teamwork is very important in my role,” Moore says. “Not only do we assist one another with issues that arise from day-to-day, but we also work together to improve efficiencies that help create a better work environment for everyone.”

The duties of an assistant station operator extend beyond monitoring the boiler.

“After boiler observations, I begin outside assessments, like checking the ammonia and propane tanks and the cooling tower. Then, I continue to the control room to grab preventative maintenance work orders and see if there are any lockout/tagouts that need to be hung for the day so electrical and maintenance personnel can work on equipment safely.”

Assistant station operators support the lead station operator by monitoring various systems, recording critical data, and ensuring smooth communication across the plant. Their observations and inspections help identify minor repairs and maintenance issues before they escalate, reducing unplanned outages for Basin Electric’s members.

“I’m proud of the work I do at Dry Fork Station – it gives me a sense of pride knowing that the work I do helps produce clean, reliable, and efficient energy to keep the lights and heat on for members across Basin Electric.”