Lead Rate Specialist

Looking for an exciting and fulfilling career? If so, we have a terrific opportunity for you!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), currently has a job opening for a Lead Rate Specialist, located in New Britain.

JOB DETAILS

The Lead Rate Specialist will report to the Supervisor of Technical Analysis (STA) leading the agency’s Clean and Affordable Energy (CAE) unit under the Office of Utility Programs and Initiatives. This position acts as the STA’s deputy, tasked with implementing key portions of Public Act 20-5, which directs PURA to overhaul its approach to ratemaking – transitioning from a traditional cost-of-service model to a new conceptual framework referred to as performance-based regulation (PBR). To-date, no state in the nation has fully implemented PBR, providing a unique opportunity for the Lead Rate Specialist to lead a first-of-its-kind effort.

The Lead Rate Specialist will also be expected to help lead the agency’s proceedings related to Connecticut’s clean energy and energy affordability programs administered by the state’s investor-owned electric utilities. The position will provide guidance on rates, public policy, and economic analysis to rate specialists and other staff in the CAE unit during such proceedings. In addition, the Lead Rate Specialist will support the implementation of PURA’s grid modernization initiatives.

Other important details:

• Location: Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT.
• Schedule: 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

We offer a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan as well as paid time off, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year!

ABOUT US

PURA is statutorily charged with regulating the rates and services of Connecticut's investor owned electric, natural gas, water and telecommunication companies and is the franchising authority for the state's cable television companies. Ensuring affordable and reliable service from these sectors is critical to maintaining public health and safety and a thriving economy in the state of Connecticut. PURA is statutorily charged with regulating many aspects of Connecticut's utility sector, including but not limited to: ensuring the prudence of electric system modernization, natural gas system expansion and water system infrastructure investments, reviewing mergers and acquisitions in all the above regulated sectors, conducting periodic utility rate cases, overseeing service quality, safety, and investment for the state's telecommunications infrastructure, and implementing federal requirements for natural gas pipeline safety.

Applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application.

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, this class is accountable for conducting the most complex investigations and research work pertaining to rates of public utilities, researching and investigating the most complex consumer inquiries and complaints, analyzing rate structures for the most complex cases and also acting as a working supervisor and/or team leader for professional technical staff on assigned rate applications and other proceedings.

Performs the most complex duties in investigating and researching rates of public utilities and analyzing rate structures; leads and/or supervises teams of professional technical employees on assigned rate applications and other cases; schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of assigned case teams; participates in hearings pertaining to rates and revenues or consumer service of electric, gas, cable television, water and sewage and telecommunications companies; testifies as an expert witness in court cases involving department and may serve as an expert witness in departmental hearings; cross examines witnesses of utility companies; analyzes income statements pertaining to operating revenues and expenses of such companies; reviews and analyzes bill frequency studies; performs special studies pertaining to or impacting on rates and revenues; reviews and monitors various contracts of public utilities; establishes and maintains a database of public utility costs, demands, customer complaints, etc.; reviews rate and tariff schedules for compliance with regulations; reviews utility compliance with department decisions; may act in place of supervisor in that person's absence; performs related duties as required.

Additional duties may include: conducts public policy and economic analysis as required, providing guidance to other rate specialists and staff as appropriate; acts a project manager for multiple agency investigations, developing procedural schedules for all dockets under their purview in order to ensure that the Authority’s objectives for each proceeding are achieved and all standard practices are followed; analyzes ratepayer impact measure tests and other cost-benefit analyses.

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of and ability to interpret public utility regulations and guidelines; considerable knowledge of business practices and operational procedures of public utility companies; considerable knowledge of principles and practices in field of rate making, rate structure design, rate cost analysis and allocation of revenues by classes of services including design and analysis of utility rates; considerable knowledge of methods and procedures for conducting public utility investigations regarding consumer complaints; knowledge of revenue audits and revenue allocation procedures; knowledge of computer and statistical packages; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to utilize computer software; some supervisory ability.

Eight (8) years of professional experience in electric, gas, water, telecommunications or cable television regulatory matters.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in an advanced working level capacity.
Note: For State Employees, this is interpreted at the level of Associate Rate Specialist.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

• A bachelor’s degree in political science, engineering, economics, finance, environmental studies, or a related field preferred
• An advanced degree in renewable energy, environmental studies, climate change, public utility regulation, finance, or a related field preferred
• Three years of professional experience working on energy policy or utility regulation
• Experience working on grid modernization, clean and renewable energy, affordability, or performance-based regulation
• Experience using data and economic information to form statistical analysis
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and working independently
• Experience communicating in person, on the phone, and in writing with a variety of constituents, including co-workers and the public
  
• Experience using Microsoft Office 365 applications, including SharePoint and Teams
  
• Project management reporting experience, with a focus on interdepartmental communication

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.