Rate Specialist

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in rebuilding Connecticut’s economy and creating jobs and to fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future for the state.

We have openings for two Rate Specialists. If you have experience with utilities and clean energy programs and are interested in electric grid and broadband research and planning, this role may be a great match for you!

Location: 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT

Schedule: These positions are 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Your Role

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (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.

PURA currently has job opportunities for two Rate Specialists in the Office of Utility Program and Initiatives (OUPI). The Rate Specialists will support the work of OUPI including both PURA’s Equitable Modern Grid initiative and its investigation into establishing a performance-based regulation (PBR) framework for the state’s electric distribution companies. The Rate Specialists will also assist PURA in implementing key portions of Public Act 20-5, known as the “Take Back Our Grid” Act, and Public Act No. 21-159, An Act Concerning Equitable Access to Broadband. The Rate Specialists will also support the agency’s proceedings related to Connecticut’s clean energy and energy affordability programs administered by the state’s investor-owned electric utilities, as well as similar reliability and resilience programs administered by the electric utilities and programs to ensure the equitable and timely expansion of broadband access throughout the state.

More details can be found in the class specification.

What We Can Offer You:

State of Connecticut employees participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes:

• Excellent health and dental coverage;
• A generous retirement plan;
• Paid time off;
• A healthy work - life balance!

This is a competitive recruitment, open to the public.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the minimum qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date, unless otherwise specified. You must specify your qualifications within your JobAps application.

To Apply:

• Complete a Master Application and apply directly to this recruitment.
• Please ensure that your application is complete and you have included a resume within the "Resume Tab" of your application.

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account.

What to Expect After You Apply:

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

Interviews may be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.

Applicants invited to the interview will be requested to supply the following:

• Non-State Employees - three (3) professional references with contact information
• Current State employees - last two (2) performance appraisals

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s). These documents may include: cover letter, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

The immediate vacancies are listed above, however, applicants to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Should you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Samantha Wasef, Leadership Associate – Talent Solutions: Samantha.Wasef@CT.Gov or 860.937.6357 

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Office of Consumer Counsel this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in conducting studies, analysis and research on the activities of electric, gas, water, telecommunications and cable television companies for the purpose of verifying rate structures in accordance with revenue allowed and improving rate design and investigation and mediation of disputes between claimants, consumers and/or public utility companies.

Schedules and performs studies and analyses of various companies under departmental jurisdiction; studies and recommends methods of providing services more closely associated with cost and performance based rates; assists in establishing and maintaining a database on costs, demand characteristics and rates of companies for trend analysis, econometric analysis and special studies; provides specification for computer models for use in econometric analysis and studies associated with rate structure and allocated cost of service; reviews rate and tariff schedules for compliance with regulations, findings and orders; assists in preparation for staff participation in formal hearings before department; reviews, evaluates and reports on technical papers, actions taken by regulatory or legislative bodies and other developments which have a bearing upon policies and practices of regulated companies; performs economic analysis in area of rate structure design and impact on consumer; independently reviews individual consumer complaints, prepares reports of rate and policy review work, examinations and investigations; participates in investigations or examinations of complex complaints and/or filings; attempts to resolve disputes over rate and service issues; participates in drafting recommendations for department decisions; documents procedures; may cross examine witnesses of utility companies; conducts technical and policy research and analysis on topics related to the Office of Utility Programs and Initiatives work including, but not limited to, broadband, clean energy, utility arrearage forgiveness and other financial assistance programs, reliability, security, and resilience programs inclusive of cybersecurity and vegetation management, among others; acts a project manager for discrete agency investigations, as assigned, 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; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of and ability to interpret public utility regulations and guidelines; knowledge of principles and practices of rate structure design; knowledge of economic, financial and statistical methodologies used in analyzing rate structure; knowledge of business practices and operational procedures of public utility companies; knowledge of methods and procedures for conducting investigations and examinations; some knowledge of computer and statistical analytical packages; oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; ability to utilize computer software.

Six (6) years of professional experience in electric, gas, water, telecommunications or cable television regulatory matters.

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.

The preferred candidate will have the following: 

• One (1) year of professional work experience in energy policy or utility regulation;
• Experience working on grid modernization;
• Experience working clean and renewable energy, energy affordability;
• Experience working broadband/telecommunications, electric reliability and resilience, and/or performance-based regulation;
• Experience working in data, economic, and statistical analysis;
• Experience in report writing;
• Experience with project management skills, as well as the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and to work independently;
• Experience working in Microsoft Office 365 applications, including SharePoint and Teams;
• Both of the following:

1. A bachelor’s degree in political science, engineering, economics, finance, environmental studies and;

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.