State of Maryland

An Assistant Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission is the supervisory level of engineering work in the inspection, testing, investigation and evaluation of physical facilities used by public utility companies in the production and distribution of their products and services.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Public Service Engineers, Inspectors and clerical support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission. The work requires traveling throughout the State to physical facilities of public utility companies where conditions may be noisy, dirty and uncomfortable.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Assistant Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission is differentiated from the Public Service Engineer III in that the Assistant Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Public Service Engineers while the Public Service Engineer III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Assistant Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission is differentiated from the Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission in that the Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission has managerial and programmatic responsible for directing the Statewide inspection, testing, investigation and evaluation of physical facilities used by public utility companies in the production and distribution of products and services.

Supervises and trains lower-level Public Service Engineers in the inspection, testing, investigation and evaluation of physical facilities used by public utility companies in the production and distribution of their products and services;

Supervises and trains lower-level Public Service Engineers in the preparation of testimony, supporting documentation and reports of findings;

Reviews and evaluates engineering reports of inspections, tests, and studies for accuracy and soundness of conclusions;

Recommends the revision or creation of rules, regulations, procedures and forms used in conducting engineering inspections, tests, investigations and studies;

Reviews proposed plans of public utility companies for new equipment or construction and prepares reports of recommendations;

Evaluates public utility company facilities and operations and reviews depreciation rates and schedules rate making purposes;

Conducts inspections, tests, studies, investigations and evaluations of operations in the production and distribution of products and services provided by public utility companies, such as gas, electricity, water, sewage treatment and disposal, or telecommunications;

Prepare reports of findings and makes recommendations on the accuracy, safety, efficiency and cost of public utility company operations as a result of inspections, investigations, tests, studies and evaluations completed;

Prepares testimony and supporting documentation for administrative hearings held by the Public Service Commission and other regulatory agencies;

Provides sworn testimony in formal Public Service Commission hearings and supports that testimony under cross examination;

Interprets safety codes, standard codes and utility rate tariffs and provides advice, guidance and information regarding engineering and regulation compliance to representatives of public utility companies and customers;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering;

Knowledge of the engineering operations and procedures used by public utility companies;

Knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations of the Maryland Public Service Commission;

Skill in conducting inspections, engineering tests and procedures, investigations and evaluations of operations in the production and distribution of products and services provided by public utility companies, such as gas, electricity, water, sewage treatment and disposal, or telecommunications;

Ability to interpret the laws, rules, and regulations of the Maryland Public Service Commission;

Ability to analyze technical data in order to evaluate the safety, economy, efficiency, operational costs of public utility companies;

Ability to identify regulatory issues in the conduct of inspections, engineering tests and procedures, investigations and evaluations of public utility companies;

Ability to prepare reports and make recommendations based on engineering procedures, standards and practices;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to use standard word processing, spreadsheets, data base and communications applications and software;

Ability to prepare and present testimony in administrative hearings;

Ability to train, supervise and evaluate the work of lower-level Public Service Engineers;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives from public utility companies, employees and the general public.

Education:   A Bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Three years of engineering work experience for the Maryland Public Service Commission conducting inspections, tests, investigations and evaluations of physical facilities used by public utility companies in the production and distribution of products and services.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute two years of professional engineering work experience for up to one year of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree in engineering from an accredited college or university for up to one year of the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions. Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.