Arizona Electric Distribution System
Dispatcher Certification Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. An outage is reported on a 69 kV feeder serving a critical hospital load.
You have checked SCADA and see the breaker open at the substation,
but there are no alarms from field devices downstream. What is the
most appropriate first action?
A. Dispatch a crew to patrol the entire feeder
B. Verify communication with remote switches and confirm status
indications
C. Reclose the breaker immediately
D. Notify the hospital that service cannot be restored
You must first confirm the accuracy of remote status indications by
verifying communications with field devices before taking control actions
or dispatching crews.
2. You receive a call that a customer has tree branches sparking on a
distribution line. What is your immediate priority?
A. Contact the tree trimming contractor
B. Open the associated sectionalizing device to de-energize the line
segment
, C. Inform customer service to log the complaint
D. Restore load to adjacent feeders
For safety, de-energizing the affected line segment quickly takes
precedence to eliminate the hazard to the public.
3. A planned switching order requires a 12 kV circuit to be de-energized.
Which of the following best describes the minimum safety practice?
A. Record the switching order in the log
B. Apply permanent or temporary grounding at the point of work
after de-energizing
C. Confirm only with the field crew verbally
D. Open all breakers in the station
Applying grounding safeguards workers from induced or inadvertent
voltage after de-energizing the line.
4. What is the primary purpose of sectionalizing devices on a distribution
feeder?
A. To increase feeder capacity
B. To isolate substations
C. To limit the number of customers affected during a fault
D. To measure power quality
Sectionalizing devices are placed to isolate faults locally, minimizing
outage size.
5. If a protective relay on a 69 kV line trips without a corresponding
breaker trip indication, you should first:
A. Reset the relay immediately
B. Notify management
C. Verify breaker position indications and confirm with field crews
D. Ignore the relay alarm
Accurate breaker status is critical; confirming the actual physical position
before further actions prevents unsafe operations.
, 6. During system restoration after a major storm, you are instructed to
“black start” a generating unit. What does this mean?
A. Increase voltage to maximum
B. Start generating without external power supply
C. Switch all loads to that unit
D. Test frequency relays
Black start refers to starting a generator without an external grid supply
for restoration purposes.
7. A voltage regulator on a distribution circuit is not responding to load
changes and voltage is fluctuating. What is the most effective
dispatcher response?
A. Ignore the issue
B. Switch to manual and leave it
C. Coordinate with a field crew to inspect and possibly replace the
regulator
D. Shut down the entire feeder
If automatic voltage control fails, field inspection and correction are
needed to maintain system voltage regulation.
8. A loss of a major transmission source causes frequency to drop. What
is an immediate dispatcher action?
A. Load more industrial customers
B. Initiate under-frequency load shedding according to plan
C. Close all breakers
D. Increase line voltage
Under-frequency load shedding helps stabilize frequency by reducing load
when generation is insufficient.
9. A customer contacts you about flickering lights during load changes.
What should you investigate first?
A. Weather conditions
B. Local voltage regulation equipment operations
Dispatcher Certification Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. An outage is reported on a 69 kV feeder serving a critical hospital load.
You have checked SCADA and see the breaker open at the substation,
but there are no alarms from field devices downstream. What is the
most appropriate first action?
A. Dispatch a crew to patrol the entire feeder
B. Verify communication with remote switches and confirm status
indications
C. Reclose the breaker immediately
D. Notify the hospital that service cannot be restored
You must first confirm the accuracy of remote status indications by
verifying communications with field devices before taking control actions
or dispatching crews.
2. You receive a call that a customer has tree branches sparking on a
distribution line. What is your immediate priority?
A. Contact the tree trimming contractor
B. Open the associated sectionalizing device to de-energize the line
segment
, C. Inform customer service to log the complaint
D. Restore load to adjacent feeders
For safety, de-energizing the affected line segment quickly takes
precedence to eliminate the hazard to the public.
3. A planned switching order requires a 12 kV circuit to be de-energized.
Which of the following best describes the minimum safety practice?
A. Record the switching order in the log
B. Apply permanent or temporary grounding at the point of work
after de-energizing
C. Confirm only with the field crew verbally
D. Open all breakers in the station
Applying grounding safeguards workers from induced or inadvertent
voltage after de-energizing the line.
4. What is the primary purpose of sectionalizing devices on a distribution
feeder?
A. To increase feeder capacity
B. To isolate substations
C. To limit the number of customers affected during a fault
D. To measure power quality
Sectionalizing devices are placed to isolate faults locally, minimizing
outage size.
5. If a protective relay on a 69 kV line trips without a corresponding
breaker trip indication, you should first:
A. Reset the relay immediately
B. Notify management
C. Verify breaker position indications and confirm with field crews
D. Ignore the relay alarm
Accurate breaker status is critical; confirming the actual physical position
before further actions prevents unsafe operations.
, 6. During system restoration after a major storm, you are instructed to
“black start” a generating unit. What does this mean?
A. Increase voltage to maximum
B. Start generating without external power supply
C. Switch all loads to that unit
D. Test frequency relays
Black start refers to starting a generator without an external grid supply
for restoration purposes.
7. A voltage regulator on a distribution circuit is not responding to load
changes and voltage is fluctuating. What is the most effective
dispatcher response?
A. Ignore the issue
B. Switch to manual and leave it
C. Coordinate with a field crew to inspect and possibly replace the
regulator
D. Shut down the entire feeder
If automatic voltage control fails, field inspection and correction are
needed to maintain system voltage regulation.
8. A loss of a major transmission source causes frequency to drop. What
is an immediate dispatcher action?
A. Load more industrial customers
B. Initiate under-frequency load shedding according to plan
C. Close all breakers
D. Increase line voltage
Under-frequency load shedding helps stabilize frequency by reducing load
when generation is insufficient.
9. A customer contacts you about flickering lights during load changes.
What should you investigate first?
A. Weather conditions
B. Local voltage regulation equipment operations
