Senior Renewable Energy Analyst

Oregon Public Utility Commission Published: September 12, 2018
Location
Skill Level
Senior Level
Job Type
Full-time
Categories
Analyst / Research / Energy
(Number of Job Posting Views: 22)

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Description

~ The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is responsible for regulating investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities, privately-owned water companies, and certain telecommunications providers. ~

The PUC's mission is to ensure that safe and reliable utility services are provided to customers at just and reasonable rates while fostering the use of competitive markets to achieve these objectives. PUC receives no General or Lottery funds. Commission responsibilities are funded through a per month fee on regulated natural gas, electric, telecommunication, and water utility bills.

The PUC offices are located in downtown Salem, in close proximity to the State Capitol, and we maintain a Portland satellite office. PUC prides itself in being a great place to have a career. As a mid-size State of Oregon agency, we provide opportunity for employees to get to know each other in a comfortable and friendly environment. We offer benefit plans that pay up to 99% of the health care premiums for coverage of employees and dependents, membership in the Public Employee Retirement System; 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. PUC receives no General or Lottery funds. Commission responsibilities are funded through a per month fee on regulated natural gas, electric, telecommunication, and water utility bills.

Position Overview

The electric and natural gas industries are currently undergoing profound, if not revolutionary, changes. Technology innovation, changes in market structures, and new environmental directives are having a large impact on these industry sectors. There is a significant need to assess policy options and to understand how those policy options impact the regulation that is the focus of the Utility Program at the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC).

As Senior Renewable Energy Analyst at the PUC you will have the potential to make a difference in the lives of millions of Oregonians. An exciting and rewarding employment opportunity with the hottest topics in the energy sector awaits you.PUC welcomes all highly qualified candidates to apply for the Senior Renewable Energy Analyst vacancy in the agency's Utility Program, Energy Resources & Planning Division.

The Senior Renewable Energy Analyst will provide analytical expertise on the implementation of Oregon's initiatives related to utility-scale renewable energy, renewable portfolio standard (RPS) implementation, community solar, voluntary green products, distributed energy resources, demand response, and energy efficiency. Additionally, this position will review utility Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) and Requests for Proposals for major resource acquisitions, and will occasionally conduct rulemakings and regulatory proceedings to develop regulatory policy in electricity-related topic areas.

Responsibilities

Renewable Energy and Distributed Energy Resource Analysis:

  • Provide internal analysis of legislative proposals that implicate renewable energy resources in electric utility territory.
  • Evaluate implementation of Oregon's solar programs such as Community Solar, Resource Value of Solar, and other solar programs.
  • Submit data requests and conduct discovery to determine whether the solar incentive rates should be updated and any discovery related to solar programs.
  • Review matters related to electric utility power costs, electric utility net-metering programs, electric utility avoided cost prices for Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) qualifying facilities, and electric utility annual Smart Grid reports.

Integrated Resource Planning (IRP):

  • Review electric utility IRPs filed with the Commission.
  • Evaluate the company's proposed resource actions and develops written comments regarding the alignment of the IRP and IRP Action Plan with the Commission's IRP guidelines, orders, administrative rules and Oregon statutes.
  • Recommend acknowledgment of the IRP Action Plan, or corrections and modifications that need to take place prior to Commission acknowledgement of the IRP.
  • Make oral presentations to the Commission and stakeholders that summarize the staff analysis and recommendations.

Requests for Proposals:

  • Review electric utility Request for Proposals (RFPs) for energy and capacity related resource additions.
  • Evaluate the company's proposed RFP and develop written comments to ensure that the bidding process is designed to treat all bidders fairly and is aligned with the company's last acknowledged IRP.
  • Recommend acknowledgement of the RFP shortlist, or corrections and modifications that need to take place prior to Commission acknowledgement of the RFP shortlist.

Rulemakings and Workshops:

  • Develop and write proposed administrative rules and proposed Commission guidelines.
  • Lead workshops involving regulated electric utilities, customer groups, and other interested parties.
  • Conduct research and studies to recommend cost-effective policy positions.

Expert Testimony and Witness:

  • Provides expert testimony in utility rate cases and testifies as an expert witness at administrative law proceedings before the PUC Commissioners by reviewing and analyzing testimony, exhibits and work papers filed by utilities with their rate applications.
  • Maintains expert witness credentials by attending seminars and lectures and reviewing technical economic and regulatory publications.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

  • A Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, or a closely related field and 4 years of professional-level work experience in economic analysis, finance, or public policy analysis.

OR

  • 7 years of work experience in economic analysis, finance, or public policy analysis; four of which must be at the professional-level.
  • A Master's degree in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, or closely related field will substitute for 1 year of the professional-level work experience.
  • A Doctorate degree in Economics, Finance, or a Juris Doctorate will substitute for 2 years of the professional-level work experience.

Requested Skills:

  • Juris Doctorate or Graduate Degree in: Economics, Finance, or Public Policy.
  • Work experience designing and implementing comprehensive strategic policy related to renewable energy, distributed energy resources, demand response programs, or energy efficiency.
  • Work experience developing public policies or related quantitative analysis related to renewables (hydro, wind, solar, biomass, etc.), distributed energy resources, electric vehicles, demand response, or energy efficiency programs.
  • Work experience contributing towards one of the following: Integrated Resource Planning; evaluation or development of energy efficiency, storage, electric vehicle or demand response programs; evaluation of PURPA avoided costs; Energy Imbalance Markets; or Cap and Trade Markets.
  • Professional-level work experience with an electric or natural gas utility, a state public utility commission, a utility consumer advocate organization, a department of energy, or other closely related employer in an energy field.
  • Professional-level work experience developing written comments intended to inform or influence the decision makers of an organization and subsequent experience delivering oral presentations explaining your findings, responding to questions, and defending the analytical or quantitative methods you applied to reach your conclusions.

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