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System Operator Assessment in the Energy & Utilities Sector

Power Lines

Industry

Energy & Utilities

Challenge

Independent System Operators (ISOs) required a more reliable method to identify candidates capable of excelling in high-pressure operational roles. Traditional hiring practices lacked predictive accuracy, resulting in inconsistent operator performance and missed opportunities to enhance grid reliability.

Results

System Operators who scored highly on PSP’s assessment were significantly more likely to be rated exceptional across every critical dimension of performance - delivering measurable ROI in both hiring accuracy and operational reliability.

Solution

PSP Assessment, System Operator

1.9X
More likely to be exceptional in Technical Knowledge
2.1X
More likely to be exceptional in Cooperation & Teamwork​
2.1X
More likely to be exceptional in Following Safety Procedures​
2.0X
More likely to be exceptional in Overall Performance​

“In roles where precision and reliability are non-negotiable, hiring the right people isn’t just important - it’s essential. This analysis confirms that PSP’s assessment equips Independent System Operators with the clarity they need to make confident, data-driven hiring decisions that directly improve grid performance.”

Marisa Seeds, PhD

Chief Product Officer

Power Lines 2

Executive Summary

Independent System Operators (ISOs) play a critical role in ensuring the safety, stability, and reliability of North America’s electric grid. Hiring the right System Operators is essential—yet traditional selection methods often failed to predict who would thrive in these high-pressure roles. PSP Metrics partnered with regional ISOs to introduce a validated System Operator Assessment designed to identify candidates most likely to excel in technical execution, safety adherence, and collaborative operations. The results showed a clear connection between assessment performance and on-the-job success, providing ISOs with a proven, data-driven hiring solution that strengthens grid reliability and operational excellence.

About the Organizations

Independent System Operators (ISOs) are regional organizations responsible for maintaining electric grid reliability, overseeing real-time operations, and managing energy markets across North America.  Operating in high-stakes environments, ISOs require exceptional talent to ensure safety, precision, and uninterrupted service. Their commitment to excellence led them to partner with PSP Metrics to modernize their hiring approach and better align candidate selection with the realities of operational performance.

The Challenge

ISOs are responsible for real-time grid operations and energy market coordination in environments where even small errors can have wide-reaching consequences. The System Operator role is mission-critical, requiring strong technical knowledge, unwavering commitment to safety, and effective teamwork.​

However, many ISOs struggled with hiring consistency. Without a validated, predictive assessment, hiring decisions relied on resumes, interviews, and intuition—methods that often failed to identify candidates best suited for the role. This led to variability in technical performance, adherence to safety protocols, and team collaboration. ISOs needed a scientifically validated, data-driven hiring solution to ensure new operators could meet the demands of the job from day one.

The Solution

PSP Metrics deployed its System Operator Assessment across participating ISOs to bring
consistency and predictability to hiring decisions. The assessment measures critical cognitive abilities and temperament traits directly aligned with System Operator success, including:​

  • Analytical thinking​
  • Attention to detail​
  • Decision-making under pressure​
  • Cooperation and teamwork​

By incorporating the assessment into the hiring process, ISOs gained objective insights into candidates’ potential performance before making final hiring decisions. This approach enabled hiring teams to confidently select individuals with the greatest likelihood of excelling in technical, safety, and teamwork dimensions of the role.

The Results

The study demonstrated a strong correlation between PSP’s assessment scores and supervisor-rated performance across key dimensions:​

  • Technical Knowledge: High scorers were 1.9× more likely to be rated exceptional.
  • Safety Procedures: High scorers were 2.1× more likely to be rated exceptional.
  • Cooperation & Teamwork: High scorers were 2.1× more likely to be rated exceptional.​
  • Overall Performance: High scorers were 2.0× more likely to be rated exceptional.​

​These results validated the predictive power of PSP’s assessment, delivering measurable ROI through improved hiring accuracy, reduced performance variability, and strengthened operational reliability and safety.

Key Takeaway

Hiring the right System Operators is not just a talent challenge, it is a mission-critical priority for grid reliability and safety. PSP’s validated assessment gives ISOs a proven, data-driven tool to identify top performers before they are hired, ensuring stronger operations and more dependable energy delivery.

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