Operator perspectives and attitudes to evolving tasks and tools in power grid operations

Journal article, 2026

Due to increasingly volatile, distributed generation, the electric power system is undergoing significant change with increasing automation and altered operator roles. This study explores grid operators' own perspectives on how their tasks and tools are evolving in response to these changes. Emotional responses play a key role in technology acceptance and influence safety, performance and sensemaking, which are critical aspects of safe and reliable control room systems. Therefore, this study examined operator attitudes using an exploratory questionnaire study targeting Nordic grid operators. The results (N = 15) indicated that the increasingly volatile power system requires more active balancing work and that automation is seen as essential. However, concerns about reliability, stress and skill requirements were raised; these were influenced by past experiences of tool overload and outdated systems contributing to hesitation. Well-calibrated trust in automation is vital for safe implementation and thus organisations need to keep up with technological and operational change.