Public Utilities Engineer 3 (35 Hour)

 

 

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment- and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy.

 

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 an opening for a Public Utilities Engineer 3 whom will join a new office within PURA focused on the regulation and oversight of utility programs and initiatives.  This position will be responsible for performing the most complex assignments within the Reliability, Security and Resilience Unit, and will be expected to perform work across multiple sectors, including electric, gas, water, cable and telecommunications.  The person in this role may be expected to lead other technical staff in the context of specific projects or proceedings from time to time, but will generally report to a supervisor responsible for the day-to-day management and supervision of the Unit.  Examples of upcoming assignments for which this position will play a crucial role include investigations into the utilities’ preparation for and response to major storm events; a deep dive into the distribution interconnection procedures employed by the electric utilities; and inspections and audits into the reliability, resilience and security programs of regulated gas, electric and water utilities.

 

We offer a competitive benefits package including health/dental insurance, generous paid time off, retirement plan, and a multitude of other benefits.

 

The position will be located at Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT.

 

This position is 35 hours per week.

 

Applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application. 

 

Questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to: DEEP Human Resources. DEEP.HumanResources@ct.gov, (860)424-3006.

This position is competitive. Open to the public.

This posting MAY require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please also check your SPAM/Junk folders.  You must reply by the deadline indicated on the notification or you will be automatically disqualified from consideration.  

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection this class is accountable for acting as a working lead and/or for performing the highest level, most complex engineering studies and investigations of equipment, plants, operations, quality/adequacy of customer service, and records and accounts of public utility companies, specializing in an engineering capacity in one of the following areas: electric, nuclear, gas, water/sewer or telecommunications.

When used as a working lead: As assigned by a supervisor, may distribute, prioritize, oversee and review unit work; may provide staff training and assistance; may conduct or assist in conducting performance evaluations; may act as a liaison with operating units, agencies, consultant staffs and other outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; may recommend policies and standards; may prepare reports and correspondence; performs related duties as required.

Performs the highest level of utility engineering studies and analyses; reviews analyses of and reports on original cost, depreciation planning and construction program studies and engineering exhibits submitted by utility companies; makes analyses in exceptionally difficult or complex cases; may act as expert witness in the prosecutorial unit or in court; has principal engineering responsibility in more complex cost studies; maintains rules and standards of equipment and service for electric, nuclear, gas, water/sewer and telecommunication companies; may provide technical expertise for nuclear prudence investigations and event analysis; may determine decommissioning costs for nuclear power plants; investigates accidents involving public utilities; oversees meter testing procedures; performs duties as required.

Examples of duties specific to this position include:

• Maintain principal responsibility for the highest level of utility engineering studies and analyses;
• Maintain rules and standards of equipment and service for electric, nuclear, gas, water/sewer and telecommunication companies;
• Draft evidentiary work, decisions, and other agency documents;
• Provide staff training and assistance;
• Act as a liaison with operating units, agencies, consultant staffs and other outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
• Participate in discussions with commissioners/staff/legal on a variety of procedural/substantive issues pertaining to engineering matters;
• Recommend policies and standards;
• Prepare reports and correspondence;
• Assist in conducting performance evaluations;
• Participate in or facilitate storm preparation and/or other PURA emergency-management activity.

Considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations; considerable knowledge of basic engineering principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of standard equipment, operating methods and practices of electric, nuclear, gas, water/sewer and telecommunication companies; considerable knowledge of principles and practices of governmental regulation of public utilities; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to utilize computer software; ability to prepare technical reports; some lead ability.

Eight (8) years of experience as an engineer in the field of electrical, nuclear, gas, telecommunications or water.

The preceding experience must have included two (2) years in one of the following areas:

A. Utility company operations experience, such as:

ELECTRICAL: Field service, distribution, transmission, engineering, codes and standards, or regulation;
NUCLEAR: Power plant operations, prudence investigations, licensing, nuclear event analysis, engineering, decomissioning cost review and regulation.
GAS: Field service, distribution, transmission, engineering, codes and standards, or regulation;
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Head-end technical operations, central office operations, distribution, engineering, codes and standards, or regulation;
WATER/SEWER: Design, construction, distribution, engineering, or regulation.

B. Management audit of the respective utility operations described in (A).

C. Utility company regulation.

D. Experience totaling one (1) year in at least two of the following areas:

Preparation of depreciation studies, or technical critiquing and report writing on such studies.

Preparation of detailed cost of service studies, or technical critiquing and report writing on such studies.

Preparation of studies of appropriate installations, including determination of required capital improvements and report writing, or technical critiquing and report writing on such studies. Appropriate installations are:

-ELECTRICAL: Electrical
-NUCLEAR: Nuclear power plants and facilities
-GAS: Pressure piping
-TELECOMMUNICATIONS: CATV or telephone systems
-WATER/SEWER: Water utility system design

Development of engineering safety codes or recommended practices for appropriate installations, or development of operating procedures to comply with such codes or practices.

1. College training in engineering 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 engineering may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
3. For State Employees one (1) year as a Public Utilities Engineer 2 may be substituted for the General and Special Experience

• Preferred Experience and Training include:
• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of governmental regulation of public utilities;
• Considerable knowledge of standard equipment, operating methods and practices of providing electric distribution, generation and transmission services;
• Considerable knowledge and experience working on grid modernization, clean and renewable energy, cybersecurity, and/or reliability and resilience programs;
• Knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques;
• Strong interpersonal skills as well as oral and written communication skills;
• Strong project management skills, with a focus on interdepartmental communication;
• Demonstrated proficiency in data analysis and database management;
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications, including SharePoint and Teams;
• Strong Oral and Written Communication skills, including demonstrated proficiency in technical writing;
  
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and to work independently.

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.