Energy Market Analyst Senior - Austin Energy

City of Austin•Austin, TX

About The Position

The Energy Market Analyst Senior performs analysis to optimize Austin Energy’s generation portfolio, fuel usage, and energy purchases and sales. The role evaluates wholesale market activity across multiple timeframes, portfolio performance and strategy effectiveness, net power supply costs, margins, and factors that drive portfolio risk. The analyst models conventional generation, renewables, load, and battery storage; conducts scenario analysis and what-if studies; and evaluates and recommends power and gas products and instruments to manage risk. As a senior team member, the analyst translates complex market data into clear, defensible recommendations that inform portfolio positioning and management. The position supports essential utility operations and has been designated as a Critical Employee position. Work may be performed at the designated work site or an alternate work location when applicable; during extraordinary situations or emergencies, schedules may be modified and employees may be reassigned to provide essential services. The work location is 4815 Mueller Blvd., Austin, TX 78723. Regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with possible evening, weekend, or holiday work to support 24-hour utility operations. The position requires a criminal background investigation, NERC Clearance, and an ERCOT Digital Certificate (EDC) security review.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and five years of experience in a related field.
A related master’s degree may substitute for up to one year of experience.
A related Ph.D. may substitute for up to two years of experience.
Knowledge of Austin Energy’s wholesale fuel and energy requirements.
Knowledge of the impacts of recent deregulation trends in fuel and energy markets.
Knowledge of applicable processes, techniques, and methods.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and ordinances governing fuel and energy markets.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
Ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to use computers and related software applications.
Ability to analyze complex data and solve problems.
Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
Ability to cross-train in related areas.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
Must obtain NERC Clearance.
Must satisfy the security review requirements for issuance of an ERCOT Digital Certificate (EDC).
Must undergo a criminal background investigation.

Nice To Haves

Advanced Microsoft Excel expertise and experience handling large datasets using SQL, Power Query, or similar tools.
Experience analyzing ERCOT wholesale markets or other nodal markets, including congestion patterns.
Familiarity with power and gas products and instruments, particularly in the ERCOT context.
Experience with commercial energy modeling and valuation tools such as Ascend Analytics or cQuant.
Experience modeling conventional generation, renewables, load, and battery storage.
Experience analyzing trade profit and loss (P&L) and trade strategies, and forecasting Day-Ahead and Real-Time energy prices.

Responsibilities

Determine optimum solutions for short-term and long-term generating capacity requirements.
Design, develop, and implement complex load forecasting systems for different time horizons to support Fuel and Electric Operations Planning.
Design, develop, and implement software and solutions for wholesale power, fuel, and hedging transactions.
Develop and recommend strategies to hedge transmission congestion risk.
Design, develop, and implement solutions supporting ERCOT Qualified Scheduling Entity functions, including scheduling, bidding, settlement, and market monitoring.
Provide technical expertise and participate in ERCOT market design and development.
Determine unit commitment and dispatch schedules for generating resources using generation simulation software.
Project short- and long-term energy consumption, energy costs, and generation requirements to serve Austin Energy system load.
Analyze financial impacts of power, fuel, and hedging transaction opportunities.
Procure, administer, and use Austin Energy electric system generation simulation and production-costing models.
Evaluate the economics of conservation, renewable energy, and other projects supporting Austin Energy’s Strategic Plan.
Provide analytics for decisions about sales of excess generation capacity and energy.
Analyze and validate generating-unit heat-rate curves and performance data.
Research and provide technical expertise on weather impacts to customer demand and power requirements.
Analyze wholesale market activity, portfolio performance, strategy effectiveness, net power supply costs, margins, and portfolio risk factors.
Model conventional generation, renewables, load, and battery storage; conduct scenario analysis and what-if studies; and evaluate power and gas products and instruments to offset risk.
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.