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Public Utility Hearing Officer (#MAFA01)
$61,258.00 Yearly Min / $76,573.00 Yearly Mid / $91,888.00 Yearly Max


Senior Public Utility Hearing Officer (#MAFA02)
$69,363.00 Yearly Min / $86,704.00 Yearly Mid / $104,045.00 Yearly Max




Description of Occupational Work

This class series uses two levels of work in the Administrative Services occupational group, Legal Services occupational series and describes quasi-judicial and administrative law work in conducting administrative proceedings and developing recommendations to the Public Service Commission for case disposition in complex regulatory proceedings on matters involving gas, electric, telecommunications, water, wastewater, cable television, and other utilities regulated by the State. 

Essential Functions

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class.  Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.
  • Presides over public hearings and other administrative proceedings.  Receives exhibits, documentary evidence and testimony from utility experts, consultants, and Commission professional staff.  Rules on matters of law such as motions and objections made by parties or their attorneys and admissibility of evidence.  Subpoenas and conducts examinations of witnesses.
     
  • Conducts pre-hearing conferences to simplify and analyze complex legal, economic, financial, and accounting issues; determines the procedures to be followed at the hearing.
     
  • Directs the post-hearing phase requiring the submission by the parties of legal briefs on complex legal, financial, economic, accounting, and operational issues.
     
  • Performs legal research for cases.  Determines legal precedents and applicable state and federal laws.  Drafts recommended decisions and proposed orders for the Commission based on findings of fact and conclusions of law.  Researches other regulatory matters for the Commission and Director.  Provides written recommendations on the disposition of any given matter.
     
  • Prepares draft regulations for the Commission’s consideration at the conclusion of rulemaking proceedings.  Prepares public notices under appropriate statutory and regulatory requirements.

Levels of Work

Public Utility Hearing Officer  

This is the first level in the Public Utility Hearing Officer series.
  • Reports to a technical supervisor. 
  • Performs the full range of Essential Functions.
  • Assists the Senior Public Utility Hearing Officer in the most complex cases.
  • Contacts include the public, utility officials, counsel, and Commission staff for the purpose of carrying out proceedings in accordance with established Commission policies and procedures.
Senior Public Utility Hearing Officer

This is the advanced level in the Public Utility Hearing Officer series.
  • Reports to an administrative supervisor.  
  • Manages the most complex cases involving major or multi-party proceedings. 
  • Assists in developing policies and procedures. 
  • Provides training, technical assistance, and guidance to lower-level hearing officers.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class. 
  • Knowledge of rules of evidence, civil procedures, constitutional, and administrative law. 
  • Knowledge of the methods and principles of legal research and legal report preparation. 
  • Knowledge of the provisions and policies embodied in various public utility statues, rulings, precedents and orders, and the programs promulgated thereunder at the commission, state, and federal level. 
  • Knowledge of accounting, economic, and financial analysis methods and concepts.
  • Knowledge of the rules of conduct for formal legal proceedings and hearings.
  • Skill in eliciting information from expert witnesses. 
  • Skill in maintaining order at contentious proceedings.
  • Skill in performing legal and economic research.
  • Skill in preparing written summations of hearing proceedings and justification of rulings. 
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, utility officials, counsel, and other professional staff.
  • Ability to interpret and apply policy, current law regulations, and precedent decisions. 
  • Ability to analyze and interpret accounting, financial, economic, and other technical data. 
  • Ability to deal with individuals having conflicting interests. 
  • Ability to render decisions on cases based on testimony given, evidence presented, and applicable laws, rules, regulations, and precedents.
In addition to the above knowledge, skills, and abilities, the Senior Public Utility Hearing Officer requires:
  • Skill in managing the most complex cases involving major or multi-party proceedings.
  • Ability to provide training, technical assistance, and guidance to lower level officers.

Job Requirements

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Public Utility Hearing Officer
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

  1. Possession of a J.D., LLB or related degree. 
  2. Six months experience in public policy administration which includes overseeing and directing the development, implementation and evaluation of public policies 
  3. Six months experience in legal research which includes researching statutes, regulations, case law and background information.
  4. Knowledge of interpreting legislation, statutes and regulations. 
  5. Possession of a valid Driver's License (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).

CLASS:
MAFA01
EST:
7/1/1987
REV:
FORMERLY JOB CLASS:
72336

CLASS:
MAFA02
EST:
1/1/1995
REV:
FORMERLY JOB CLASS:
72337