State of Connecticut Executive Branch

Lead Rate Specialist (1046AR)

$46.53-$59.54 Hourly / $3,721.88-$4,762.84 BiWeekly /
$97,141.00-$124,310.00 Yearly

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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.

GUIDELINES FOR JOB CLASS USE

In addition to acting as team members for cases assigned to other employees incumbents in this class maintain a constant workload of cases assigned to their own team leadership.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receives general direction from a Public Utilities Director of Utility Regulation, Public Utilities Supervisor of Technical Analysis or other employee of higher grade.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Leads teams of professional technical employees as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • 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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • and ability to apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; 
    • and ability to interpret public utility regulations and guidelines; 
    • business practices and operational procedures of public utility companies; 
    • 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; 
    • methods and procedures for conducting public utility investigations regarding consumer complaints; 
  • Knowledge of
    • revenue audits and revenue allocation procedures; 
    • computer and statistical packages; 
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Ability to utilize computer software; 
  • Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in an advanced working level capacity.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of an Associate Rate Specialist.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • 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.
  • A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

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

JOB CLASS DESIGNATION

Classified/Competitive

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP

(34)-Statistics/Research/Planning

BARGAINING UNIT

(16)-ADMIN & RESID (P-5)

EEO

(2)-Professional

SALARY INFORMATION

AR 28

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

CANCELLATION CLAUSE

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Lead Rate Specialist in Salary Group AR 28 approved effective February 15, 2012. (Reviewed for content and revised to modernize format and add Acknowledgement section) Final No. 23-288

EFFECTIVE DATE

11/03/2023
CLASS: 1046AR; EST: 2/28/1986; REV: 11/7/2023;