State of Maryland

A Public Service Commission (PSC) Regulatory Economist Expert is expert level of work performing economic analysis of issues related to the regulatory powers of the PSC. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a designated administrator. Employees may be subject to work evenings, weekends and holidays. The work may require travel throughout Maryland and overnight travel to other states in order to perform onsite economic analysis or to attend conferences and training seminars.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The PSC Regulatory Economist Expert is differentiated from the PSC Regulatory Economist Lead/Advanced in that the PSC Regulatory Economist Expert serves as the highest level technical expert in the areas of energy policy and utility regulation and is assigned special projects, advanced testimony, leads stakeholder groups on behalf of the Commission, and may also train and review work for lower-level PSC economists.

Develops policy positions on new and/or technically complex topics;

Develops intimate knowledge of PJM and FERC related topics and processes;

Develops policy positions and comments on draft legislation;

Identify regulatory policy issues which need to be addressed, recommend policy changes to the Commission;
Implements new legislation through the drafting of regulations and/or leading stakeholder groups developed to implement the legislation;

May propose novel ways to improve utility regulation through rate design, cost allocation or through some other means;

May train or review work for lower-level economists;

May provide advice and guidance to lower-level economists;

Monitors the regulatory environment, industry issues, and industry trends to ensure that the Commission is informed of policies which may affect the State;

Serves as skilled and technical experts in specific program or operational areas;

Provides technical and policy advice to the Division, Executive Director, the Commission, and other stakeholders;

Answers inquiries pertaining to companies under the Public Service Commission’s jurisdiction;

Analyzes rate design issues for regulated utilities;

Analyzes utility regulatory structures and markets;

Analyzes financial issues regarding utility profitability and returns on investment; Analyzes issues related to competitive retail energy markets;

Analyzes issues related to low-income utility customers in order to develop programs to assist them;

Analyzes utility cost allocations and cost studies;

Analyzes new technologies impacting utilities such as electric vehicles, solar generation, etc.;

Assists legal counsel in preparing cross-examination questions;

Conducts economic analyses and evaluations of the plans, filings, and planning processes of utility companies;

Collects and analyzes data through personal interviews and review of utilities' plans and filings;

Develops technical implementation approaches related to retail energy markets;

May assist with reviewing draft legislation, preparing analysis for testimony, and testifying on behalf of the agency before the General Assembly;

May make recommendations about cost and efficacy of supply-side and demand-side planning measures and activities included in utilities plans;

May assist in preparing reports required by law from the Public Service Commission to the General Assembly, Governor, or other state agencies;

May participate in or assist in supporting the administration of stakeholder groups;

Monitors changes in federal, State and other regulations that affect utility planning processes or utility operations;

Monitors technological changes that affect utility planning;

Participates in meetings with State and federal government agencies, utilities, consultants and interested parties on matters pertaining to interagency policy development and problem resolution;

Presents the State's or Public Service Commission's position in policy meetings with utility or other interested parties;

Prepares testimony for hearings before the Public Service Commission;

Performs special projects related to energy policy, utility regulation, and relevant issues;

Testifies at hearings before the Public Service Commission;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles of economics;

Skill in organizing and presenting testimony;

Skill in the use of personal computers and related software;

Ability to analyze economic issues and develop appropriate recommendations;

Ability to communicate effectively through written and oral comments;

Ability to comprehend technical documents;

Ability to testify at public hearings;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with State, federal and public service company officials, Commissioners, attorneys, business owners, employers, employees and the general public.

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Engineering, Business, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related discipline from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Four (4) years of experience with a public service commission, consulting organization or regulated enterprise performing utility, energy policy, economic or econometrically- based analysis.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute experience with a public service commission, consulting organization or regulated enterprise performing utility, energy policy, economic or econometrically- based analysis on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree in Economics, Engineering, Business, Finance or a related discipline from an accredited college or university for one year of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in accounting classification or accounting specialty codes in the accounting and budget group field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions. Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential). As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.