Review Vacancy

Date Posted: 08/10/22
Applications Due: 08/25/22
Vacancy ID: 110325

Position Information

AgencyState, Department of

TitleProgram Associate (Utility Intervention Program Associate)

Occupational CategoryAdministrative or General Management

Salary GradeNS

Bargaining UnitM/C - Management / Confidential (Unrepresented)

Salary RangeFrom $105500 to $133319 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Exempt Class

Travel Percentage 0%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 9 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? Yes

Telecommuting allowed? No

Location

County Albany

Street Address One Commerce Plaza

99 Washington Avenue

City Albany

StateNY

Zip Code12210

Job Specifics

Minimum Qualifications A Bachelor’s Degree* with major study in the field of business, mathematics, finance, economics, or engineering is preferred, and six years of specialized experience in the analysis, regulation or management of public or private corporations or the operational phases of public utilities, two years of which shall have been dealing with rate analysis or policy initiatives or one year of which shall have been at a public utilities regulatory commission. Three years of the experience must have been at a supervisory level; or one year of the experience must have been at a managerial level.

• J.D or master’s degree* may substitute for one year of the specialized experience.

• PH.D* may substitute for two years of the specialized experience.

*Your degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States or its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience planning, preparing, and conducting reviews or audits of utility financial, economic, or engineering records and studies or the equivalent experience in other business sectors.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate written policy or financial analysis: which includes appropriate supporting references to relevant authorities and/or supporting financial schedules.
• Ability to provide written and verbal testimony as a witness at hearings.
• Extensive knowledge of the regulated industry and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
• Extensive knowledge of engineering, economics and financial principles and practices in the field of public utilities.
• Knowledge of the accounting and engineering factors involved in rate structure determination.
• Ability to prepare reports and/or exhibits in the development of investigations and analyses.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with state and local officials, utility representatives and the public.
• Must be willing to maintain appearance appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities as determined by the agency appointing authority.
• Possession of a professional designation such as CPA or P.E. or equivalent designation

Duties Description The Division of Consumer Protection serves to protect New York State consumers from unscrupulous and questionable marketplace business practices that may be harmful to the well-being of the citizens of this state. The Division resolves thousands of consumer complaints through voluntary mediation each year, enforces the New York State Do Not Call Law, represents utility ratepayers, and creates policies to encourage and support an informed and equitable marketplace for New York consumers.

The Department of State is seeking qualified candidates to fill two Program Associate positions within its Division of Consumer Protection, Utility Intervention Unit (UIU). The UIU represents the interests of consumers before the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) during utility rate cases and during other policy-related regulatory proceedings. Additionally, the UIU serves as the statewide consumer advocate at the New York Independent System Operators (NYISO), which administers the wholesale energy market. Utilities provide an essential service for our society’s safety and economic prosperity that include delivery of water, natural gas, electricity, and telecommunications. Because utilities generally are monopoly providers within their respective service territories, the rates that utilities can charge to consumers is established through a legal process at the PSC.


The Program Associate (Utility Intervention Unit Program Associate) duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Analyzes regulatory policies and utility rate cases for the purpose of determining the effect on consumers supply and cost of electricity, natural gas, water, wireless and broadband telecommunications, and other utilities.
• Oversee Utility Intervention Unit projects related to utilities regulation in New York.
• Independently plan and conduct investigations and reviews of policy and rate issues in investigation dockets before the Public Service Commission (PSC).
• Perform analysis of utility revenue requirements such as cost of service, depreciation, and economic studies, and cost of capital analyses.
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders from regulated entities and the PSC
• Performs comprehensive research and analysis of testimony and exhibits submitted by regulated companies, and other parties, using information from audits, written staff information requests, testimony in other cases, prior Commission orders, statutes, publications, and other source.
• Identify factors relevant to proposed regulatory policies, collect relevant data on the critical factors, develop policy alternatives as needed, and summarize the strengths and weaknesses of proposed or alternative policies.
• Review market conditions and industry trends and makes recommendations on appropriate modifications to rate structures or service changes.
• Appears as expert witness on financial, accounting, economic, and engineering matters.
Key responsibilities may include:
• Independently plan and conduct comprehensive investigations of policy and rate issues in complex dockets of investigation before the NYS Public Service Commission.
• Perform analysis of utility revenue requirement such as cost of service studies, cost of capital analyses, depreciation studies and/or economic studies.
• Prepare extensive, comprehensive, defendable written or oral testimony/comments on regulated utility and regulatory policy cases.

Additional Comments The Department of State is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, veteran status, disability status, arrest record or criminal conviction history, or any other category protected by law.

We are happy to provide reasonable and religious accommodations during the hiring process for those in need. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please send a request to HRM.Recruitment@dos.ny.gov.

All Department of State employees may be required to be tested weekly for COVID-19 unless they are fully vaccinated. Employees who are vaccinated must provide proof of vaccination status through a secure online portal.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Contact Information

Name Shawn Stiffler

Telephone (518) 474-2752

Fax (518) 402-3656

Email Address HRM.Recruitment@dos.ny.gov

Address

Street NYS Department of State

99 Washington Avenue

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12231

 

Notes on ApplyingPlease submit a resume and cover letter detailing education and experience by the application deadline. Please also include the Title, Location, and Vacancy ID#.