Rate Specialist

Do you have the desire to make a difference on a new and dynamic team? 
If so, we have the opportunity for you! 

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.  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’s regulatory authority expands across 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 telecommunication infrastructure;
• Implementing federal requirements for natural gas pipeline safety.

PURA is administratively under DEEP but conducts adjudicatory proceedings independently. 

Position Highlights: 
PURA currently has an exciting opportunity for an energy professional to join the Office of Technical and Regulatory Analysis as a Rate Specialist (similar to a Research Analyst).  The Rate Specialist will be a member of the Reliability, Security, and Resilience (RSR) unit and support PURA’s Equitable Modern Grid initiative.   RSR unit is responsible for overseeing the following:

• Grid modernization
• Distributed renewable energy resources
• Resilience of critical infrastructure against the impacts of climate change
• The utilities preparedness for emergency weather events and cybersecurity incidents
• Expansion of broadband across the state

These activities may include performing complex and technical analyses, leading public outreach efforts, participating in working groups, as well as supporting traditional utility ratemaking proceedings and investigations. Most work will focus on electric and telecommunications critical infrastructure sectors, but may also include other energy and utility fields, such as gas and water.

For the full range of specific position duties, please see the "Examples of Duties" section below.

The position will be located at Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT, with an opportunity for a hybrid teleworking arrangement.

This position is 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, between the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Before you apply, make note of the following:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Important information for after you apply:

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Questions about this position should be directed to Jake Ferrari via email at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

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.

Conducts technical and policy research and analysis on topics related to the Office of Technical and Regulatory Analysis including, but not limited to, grid modernization, deployment of distributed energy resources, grid resilience, cybersecurity, broadband expansion, and emergency preparedness and response

In performing the above assignments, the Rate Specialist: 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; 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; 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.

• A bachelor’s degree in political science, engineering, economics, finance, environmental studies or a related field;
• An advanced degree in renewable energy, engineering, environmental studies, climate change, public utility regulation, finance, or economics or a related field;
• Experience working in energy or utility sector;
• Experience working on utility grid modernization programs;
• Experience performing data analysis;
• Experience writing technical reports for a general audience;
• Experience working on two or more projects simultaneously, while adhering to deadlines;
• Experience working with internal and external stakeholders; 
• Experience using Microsoft Office 365 applications.

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.