• Job Description

  Req#: REQ-135519

  Initial Posting Date:

  08/17/2023

  Application Deadline:

  09/11/2023

  Agency:

  Public Utility Commission

  Salary Range:

  5,932.00 - 9,143.00

  Position Type:

  Employee

  Position Title:

  Economist (Utility and Energy Analyst 3)

  Job Description:

  Join the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) for an opportunity to make a difference in Oregon’s regulatory landscape! The PUC is at the forefront of the state’s efforts to create a more sustainable energy future while balancing the provision of safe, reliable, and affordable power.

  We are in search of an Economist who will use their expertise to conduct economic analysis on regulated utility operations, capital investment decisions and pricing to retail customers. As an Economist, you will play a key regulatory role across the state and the region.

  The successful candidate will join the PUC’s Rates, Safety and Utility Performance Regulatory Program, Energy Costs section, which provides in-depth, holistic economic, financial, and mathematical/statistical analysis on the regulation, practices, and programs of investor-owned energy, water, and telecommunications utilities.

  In this role, you will utilize your technical and collaborative skills working with other industry experts to develop and formulate recommendations on emerging economic and customer/industry issues. You will provide expertise on a range of market-oriented issues, such as competition, energy supply optimization while meeting environmental policies, and the alignment of utility incentives with the public interest.

  If you are seeking a rewarding employment opportunity that harnesses and grows your skills and talents, positively shapes regulatory policy, and impacts the public good while collaborating with a team of dedicated professionals in a collegial work environment, the PUC could be your next exciting career. Apply now!

  About the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC):

  Celebrating more than 150 years of history, the work of the PUC impacts nearly every household throughout the state. The agency’s mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable, and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. We use an inclusive process to evaluate differing viewpoints and visions of the public interest to arrive at balanced, well-reasoned, and independent decisions supported by fact and law. The PUC is responsible for just and reasonable pricing by the Oregon's investor-owned electric, natural gas, and telephone utilities, as well as select water companies via economic regulation. This is done through robust analysis and independent decision-making conducted in an open and fair quasi-judicial hearings process.

  Our office is located in downtown Salem, in close proximity to the State Capitol, and we maintain a Portland satellite office.

  The PUC is funded through an assessment of the regulated natural gas, electric, telecommunication, and water utilities. We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, learn, and grow professionally. As a State of Oregon agency, we offer:

  • Benefit plans that pay up to 99 percent of the premium for health-related coverage of employees and dependents.

  • Membership in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System retirement plan.

  • Eleven (11) paid holidays per year; 24 hours of personal leave per year; vacation leave earned at a minimum rate of 8 hours per month and sick leave earned at a rate of 8 hours per month; and many other benefits.

  More information about the Oregon Public Utility Commission can be found online at: www.oregon.gov/PUC

  Please Note: New employees to PUC who are Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) participating members (those meeting contribution/eligibility service-time requirements at time of hire) are paid within the PERS-AP salary range as follows (reflecting a 6.95% compensation increase for active PERS members):

  Utility Analyst 3 PERS-AP Salary Range: $6,345 - $9,780 monthly

  New employees to PUC who are not yet a PERS participating member, will receive the 6.95% compensation increase (6% employee contribution) upon meeting eligibility for PERS participation (generally, after completion of six-months of qualifying State of Oregon employment).

  Hybrid-Remote Work:

  Hybrid-Remote work promotes the health and safety of Oregonians, decreases the agency’s impact on the environment and supports flexibility and work-life balance for PUC staff.

  The duties of this position may be performed remotely, at our central office in Salem, and at the PUC’s Portland satellite office. The ability to report to Salem and Portland is required when business or operational needs are necessary for onsite activities. Hybrid-Remote work may be provided to PUC staff in accordance with the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), “Working Remotely” statewide HR policy. Currently, employees may request approval for hybrid-remote work (generally from the employee’s personal residence). Requests are evaluated based on the agency’s business needs.

  What You Will Do as an Economist/Utility Operations Analyst:

  Conduct a wide range of applied economic research and modeling utility supply operations, forecasting of power production costs, pricing of utility services, aligning utility incentives with minimizing long-term supply cost to customers, analyzing the effects of governmental environmental policies with utility supply short- and long-term operations, analyzing the effects on utility operations of joining regional energy markets and system operators, and emerging policy issues that may arise in this time of transition in the industries and markets.

  The Economist leads multi-disciplinary staff to develop recommendations for Commission action primarily focused on:

  • Review and analyze long-run marginal cost studies in the supply of natural gas and electricity including the generation, transmission and distribution functions;

  • Develop and defend recommendations for appropriate pricing structures for various types of retail customers for which the utility incurs different costs to serve;

  • Review forecasts and develop alternative forecasts of utility electric power production costs;

  • Review forecasts of different types of costs utilities incur to operate and serve customers;

  • Review recorded utility electric power production costs for prudence;

  • Review proposals to sell property;

  • Review and develop pricing frameworks for transactions between the regulated utility and non-regulated affiliates; and,

  • For smaller scale utilities, gather and compile data representing the utility’s cost of operations and develop projections of the overall expected costs to serve customers.

  Specifically, this job will:

  • Serve as a technical and/or policy expert on diverse regulatory matters related to utility economics and rate recovery, regulatory policy, accounting, financial analysis, operations, and power systems;

  • Evaluate the appropriateness of various modelling techniques to forecast or model costs and analyze issues using various complex spreadsheet, statistical, financial, and econometric models;

  • Lead or participate in teams conducting contested cases, multi or singular rate reviews, and other complex investigations, identify necessary data to conduct analysis and request information from utilities or gather independently, develop recommendations consistent with agency policies and statutes and proposals for settlement regarding areas of responsibility;

  • Facilitate stakeholder engagement processes that broaden participation, inclusion, and diverse perspectives in regulatory and policy decisions; and,

  • Communicate findings and recommendations through clear, concise, and well written testimony, comments, memos, and whitepapers; present and defend recommendations before various audiences including the Public Utility Commissioners.

  What’s in it for You:

  • Play a crucial role in shaping Oregon’s utility regulatory landscape, protecting Oregon ratepayers, while balancing the competing demands of industry and stakeholders.

  • Work with driven professionals who are passionate about economics and finance in public service.

  • Build upon your skills to become an expert in the Rates, Safety and Utility Performance Regulatory Program.

  • Work-life balance. Click here to learn more about Salem Oregon’s quality of life!

  What we are looking for:

  A skilled professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Accounting, Finance or a closely related field, and four years of professional-level experience in economics, accounting, or finance;

  OR

  Seven years of work experience in economics, accounting, or finance; four of which must have been at a professional level.

  A Master's degree in Economics, Accounting, Finance or a closely-related field, will substitute for one year of the professional-level work experience.

  A Doctoral degree in Economics, Accounting, Finance or a closely-related field, will substitute for two years of the professional-level work experience.

  The most competitive candidates will possess the following requested background, skills, and experience: (Note: You do not need to have education or work experience related to all the following requested skills to be considered for this position.)

  • Graduate degree in economics.

  • Work experience utilizing analytical skills to conduct complex economic, statistical, or mathematical analysis.

  • Work experience using large-scale excel spreadsheets with many tabs and links.

  • Work experience that demonstrates the ability to quickly develop a detailed understanding of complex policy and technical concepts.

  • Work experience and/or graduate-level education that demonstrates specific expertise in energy or utility regulatory policy.

  • Work experience and/or graduate-level education that supports an understanding of regulatory economics, finance, statistics, or econometrics.

  • Work experience that demonstrates the ability to develop clear, concise written recommendations based on economic and policy analysis.

  • Work experience that demonstrates the ability to provide clear and persuasive presentations to decision makers.

  • Work experience that demonstrates the ability to coordinate multiple projects and priorities at the same time.

  • Proficient with Microsoft Office software (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Teams) and Adobe products.

  How to Apply:

  To submit a complete application, you must utilize the State of Oregon “Workday” recruitment system. Utilizing the Workday system:

  1) Create a Workday account OR Login to your Workday account;

  2) Complete and submit your electronic application; and

  3) As an attachment to your Workday application, upload your current resume.

  **If you are a current employee of the State of Oregon, you MUST apply through your internal State of Oregon employee Workday account and attach the required material.**

  For more information about applying for positions with the State of Oregon via Workday, you may visit the Oregon job opportunities website at: www.oregon.gov/jobs

  If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, contact PUC Human Resources at 503-510-9416.

  Veterans:

  Eligible Veterans who meet the qualifications will be given Veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources, or call Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666.

  NOTE: If claiming Veterans’ preference please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section.

  How to Get Noticed:

  Candidates whose training and/or experience most closely match the requirements and needs of the position, and who attach all requested documents may be eligible for an interview. Submissions will be screened for consistency of information and communication skills at the professional level (clarity, conciseness, attention to detail, spelling, grammar, etc.).

  Additional Information about Employment with PUC:

  If you are hired, you may be required to provide facts about past employment and present financial interests if they could be connected with the businesses regulated by the PUC.

  The PUC does not offer VISA sponsorships. Within three-days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States.

  The salary listed is the non-Oregon Public Employment Retirement System (PERS) qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect the additional 6.95%.

  This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates; this list will be used to fill the current opening and may be used to fill other openings as they occur.

  The pay and benefits on all announcements may change without notice.

  Remote work information – Demonstrate suitability for remote work including access to a broadband internet connection that meets or exceeds the minimum acceptable requirements.

  The PUC is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity.

• About the company

  Oregon (/ˈɒrɡən/ ORR--gən) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region on the West Coast of the United States.

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