State of Maryland

A Public Service Engineer III is the full performance 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 do not supervise other Public Service Engineers, but may supervise Public Service Commission Inspectors and clerical support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an Assistant Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission, Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission or Division Director. 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 Public Service Engineer I, Public Service Engineer II and Public Service Engineer III are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over the employees.  The Public Service Engineer I performs duties under close supervision. The Public Service Engineer II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed. The Public Service Engineer III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Public Service Engineer III is differentiated from the Assistant Chief, Public Service Commission in that the Assistant Chief, Public Service Commission has supervisory responsibility for the work of Public Service Engineers.

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;

Determines compliance with State and federal rules, regulations and standards governing the operation and quality of products and services provided by public utility companies;

Conducts field investigations of service complaints and alleged violations of the laws, rules and engineering regulations of the Public Service Commission;

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;

Provides advice, guidance and information regarding engineering and regulation compliance to representatives of public utility companies and customers;

Performs other related duties.

Class Descriptions 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.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated 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.