Regulatory Analyst 3

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill two (2) Regulatory Analyst 3 positions within the Energy Planning Section of the Regulatory Services Division. These expert-level positions directly support the agency’s mission by providing technical analysis and recommendations necessary for the commission’s decision-making processes with respect to electricity and natural gas utility services, with a particular emphasis on the clean energy transition. The Energy Planning Section provides regulatory oversight of seven (7) electric and natural gas utilities serving approximately 3 million customers in Washington State with annual revenues exceeding $4.5 billion. This is a hybrid opportunity, but the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state. The position is eligible to telework but will be required to report on-site to meet business needs. Occasional travel throughout the state and potentially out-of-state for conferences and events is required.

Requirements

Advanced knowledge in one or more of the following disciplines: engineering, physical or social sciences, statistics, economics, law, public utility regulation, public policy, or a closely related field.
Extensive experience in conducting research and analytical work involving regulatory, policy, financial, economic, legal, scientific, technical, or public administration matters.
Highly proficient in the evaluation of quantitative and qualitative information; identifying trends or issues; drawing supported conclusions; and developing recommendations based on data, research, and analysis.
Advanced practitioner with interpretation and application of laws, rules, policies, procedures, or regulatory requirements.
Demonstrated ability to communicate complex information effectively in writing and verbally with diverse audiences in both formal and informal settings.
Strong practitioner in building and maintaining productive, respectful, and collaborative working relationships with stakeholders, partners, and coworkers.
Consistently manages complex projects, assignments, timelines, priorities, or process improvement objectives.
Highly proficient in conducting research, analysis, regulatory, policy, compliance, auditing, investigative, or closely related experience.
Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking – Formulates judgments on complex issues, conclusions, and assertions through the identification, organization, and analysis of quantitative, qualitative, and anecdotal data, evidence, and research; reaches conclusions through the holistic review of multiple forms of evidence and identifies connections, gaps, discrepancies, and key data necessary to reach an informed decision; distinguishes information that is and is not pertinent to a decision or solution. Assesses the workload impact versus the value to the public interest of new proposal.
Fundamental Regulatory Skills – Applies economic theory, accounting standards and principles, Commission policy and interpretive statements, legal precedents, administrative rules, and statutes in a manner consistent with the subject matter; examines issues to understand and discuss historical context; researches general fields of study to understand implication on regulatory mechanisms and practices including: economics, accounting, business administration, engineering, and computer science. Effectively persuades others to voluntarily accept recommendations or advice.
Writing and Communication – Writes clearly and concisely using the Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking core competency and holistically reasoned arguments; effectively translates complex technical concepts into messages non-technical audiences can readily understand; listens carefully, reflects upon what is being said, and responds appropriately; presents information clearly, accurately, and in an audience-specific manner; demonstrates situational awareness by adapting communication styles and tools to ensure that information is accessible to everyone including people of non-white cultures and backgrounds.
Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct – Takes responsibility for actions and impacts; works collaboratively as a part of a team; respects the point of view of others and approaches disagreements about work matters with active listening and good will; ensures individual interactions incorporate equitable treatment of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Council and other marginalized communities and promptly reports incidences of inequity to a supervisor or leader; demonstrates UTC’s Values at all times, through the lens of antiracism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Leadership – Leads by example, always demonstrating the Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct core competency, exhibiting balance and fair-handedness in considering various perspectives, maintaining composure and level-headedness in difficult situations; demonstrates emotional intelligence and intellectual humility; pursues compromise and collaboration.
Project Management – Plans, designs, organizes, leads, and executes the work of an individual or team project, ensuring a high-quality work product within specific time constraints; leads the development of project plans which includes, but is not limited to, establishing realistic timelines, identification of attainable project deliverables, articulating clear roles and responsibilities for team members, and specifies criteria for successful project completion; regularly monitors progress and provides updates to direct supervisor and applicable leaders on the status of the project, including but not limited to, risks and issues that affect the completion of project deliverable(s) and general status updates; displays the Leadership core competency, and facilitates the building and managing of interpersonal relationships to ensure project success; demonstrates personal accountability and commitment to the success of a project; responsible for managing and facilitating internal and external feedback processes.
Mentorship – Explains and teaches a non-expert how to conduct analysis and reach a recommendation on the employee’s area of expertise; demonstrates the Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct and Writing and Communication core competencies; acknowledges that peers may have differences in how they best receive information due to personal, cultural, or linguistic preferences and modifies mentorship approach so that it is accessible to the recipient.
Peer Review – Feedback is expected to demonstrate Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct and the Writing and Communication core competencies; be completed within a reasonable timeframe with reasonable accommodations as necessary consistent with section guidelines; be mindful of the personal, cultural, and linguistic preferences of the recipient.
Demonstration of EDI Competencies: The ability to take action to learn and grow: Takes responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses and uses their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people they work with and serve.
UTC Core Competencies : Accountability DEI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships Inclusive Excellence & Allyship Measuring Success and Improvement Customer Focus Results Focus Communication Skills Adaptability/Flexibility Self-Development Continuous Process Improvement

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree involving major study in economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, law or related field.
Expert proficiency in persuasive writing or writing for decision makers.
Specialized experience writing administrative rules or participating in rulemaking at a regulatory agency.
Advanced proficiency in implementing data analytics tools, methodologies, and concepts, including organizing, mining, cleaning, and analyzing complex datasets; applying statistical modeling techniques; developing data visualizations; and utilizing Microsoft data and automation tools such as Power Query, Power BI, energy system modeling tools (e.g., Plexos, Aurora, etc.), and Power Automate to support business processes, performance measurement, and decision-making.
Experience performing regulatory analysis for Washington State government, including work equivalent to the Regulatory Analyst 2 level or higher.
Experience applying quantitative, financial, economic, accounting, legal, engineering, or policy analysis principles to support recommendations, regulatory decisions, operational improvements, or public interest outcomes.
Professional experience conducting regulatory analysis, policy analysis, research, compliance review, financial analysis, economic analysis, utility regulation, utility operations, or related analytical work in a governmental, regulatory, legal, utility, or public policy environment.
Experience leading, coordinating, mentoring, or supporting teams, projects, or workgroups, including assigning or monitoring work activities and facilitating collaboration.

Responsibilities

Provides advanced-level knowledge as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) working on utility filings related to energy planning and the clean energy transition by providing detailed analysis that balances the public interest.
Makes recommendations necessary for the commission’s decision-making processes with respect to energy planning, implementation plans and reports.
Performs work on complex issues with significant and broad impact on multi-billion-dollar gas and electric utilities, energy customers, and other communities in the state.
Researches and analyzes a wide variety of subjects to evaluate utility energy filings, which may include: Clean energy planning and implementation, Energy storage and emerging technologies, Energy equity, Transportation electrification, Energy efficiency, Distributed energy resources, Building electrification.
Provides the commission with recommendations on decisions for utility filings through formal written memoranda, commissioner briefings, public presentations, and in formal adjudications, such as general rate proceedings with written and oral testimony.
Independently undertakes research that is directly relevant to the regulation of investor-owned utilities in Washington state by reviewing key commission orders, policy statements, industry trends, and developments across the United States for information relevant to current and future commission proceedings.
Engages with policy makers, agency leaders, commissioners, industry advocates, company representatives, and other persons or groups affected by commission decisions in a collaborative manner.
Reviews, analyzes, and reaches conclusions on complex and critical utility filings that may be broadly scoped and have significant impacts to consumers and utilities.
Leads teams of analysts to assess energy planning filings by identifying and prioritizing key issues, collaborating with Energy section leaders and assigned attorneys, serving as the point of contact, ensuring team members are apprised of significant issues or events, providing quality control on analytical and written deliverables, writing testimony summarizing staff’s position or overarching policy, and displaying emotional intelligence and intellectual humility as a leader.
Initiates and leads complex, specialized staff investigations concerning a utility’s business practice or potentially problematic regulatory issue, quantifies the financial impact of that practice or issue (if any), identifies the qualitative and quantitative impacts of the practice or issue to ratepayers and the public interest, identifies the root cause of the issue, and recommends resolution through a specific course of action to appropriate decision makers including agency leaders.
Provides information and process guidance to utilities, utility customers, and other persons or groups affected by Commission decisions.
Leads rulemaking teams and/or contribute as a participant by drafting administrative rules to implement new legislation, streamline or improve existing administrative procedures, or eliminate or replace outdated processes.
Leads and participates in agency processes as a representative of the UTC, including preparing fiscal notes, providing responsive materials for requests for public records, and attending section and agency-required meetings.