Regulatory Economist - Unclassified

State of Nevada • Carson City, NV

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Regulatory Economist. The ideal candidate must be highly professional, well-organized, self-motivated, and possess leadership skills. They should be capable of working independently with minimal supervision, as well as collaboratively in a team environment with other analysts, auditors, economists, engineers, and legal staff. Responsibilities include compiling and summarizing information, preparing correspondence and reports, and contributing effectively to team and agency goals. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, along with the ability to plan, prioritize, and execute timelines without supervision.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in economics, econometrics, finance, or a closely related field and professional-level experience in energy or telecommunications regulation; OR a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in economics, econometrics, finance, or a closely related field; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Highly professional, well-organized, self-motivated, and possess leadership skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work in a team environment in collaboration with other analysts, auditors, economists, engineers, and legal staff.
• Ability to compile and summarize information and prepare correspondence, periodic or special reports related to assignments.
• Ability to contribute effectively to the accomplishment of team or agency goals, objectives, and activities.
• Skill in effective written and verbal communication.
• Ability to collaboratively or as a team complete writing assignments.
• Skills in planning, prioritizing, and executing timelines without the need for supervision.
• Knowledge of applicable Nevada and federal laws, including the Open Meeting Law, and the rules and regulations of the Commission.
• Complete and in-depth knowledge of utility company operations and regulatory principles at the state and federal levels as they relate to current trends and their implications in the telecommunications, electric, gas, water and sewer industries.
• Thorough knowledge of regulatory principles as they relate to developing competitive markets in telecommunications, electric, gas, water and sewer industries.
• Knowledge of current issues and their implications on industry restructuring, including system reliability and integrity, incentive regulation and performance-based rate making, market power and antitrust concerns, affiliate transactions and safeguards.
• Thorough knowledge of econometrics, risk management techniques, research design, statistical analysis, and quantitative methods and procedures.
• Knowledge of project management techniques including cost estimating and resource scheduling.
• Ability to effectively communicate and present complex information to the Commission and utility companies, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to sufficiently compose narrative summaries of research findings and analysis which are grammatically correct, logical, thorough, and comprehensible.
• Ability to track complex cases (e.g., general rate cases) before the Commission and provide written and/or oral testimony during Commission proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Perform applied economic research on matters related to regulated utilities and industries.
• Conduct short-term and long-term forecasting of loads.
• Analyze billing determinants of public utilities.
• Perform competitive policy analysis, market analysis, cost analysis, and rate structure analysis.
• Evaluate, analyze, and interpret utility data (e.g., load data) to explain the impact of economic factors, weather, and energy efficiency programs on customer usage and utility loads.
• Evaluate and analyze a utility’s resource plan, including resource procurement and risk management strategies, and provide economic analysis and recommendations.
• Evaluate and analyze a utility’s conservation and efficiency plan and develop recommendations.
• Evaluate a utility’s cost of service study and rate design and develop recommendations.
• Conduct rate of return on investment, financial, and macroeconomic analyses to develop a reasonable rate of return and financing for a utility.
• Review utility contracts, including renewable power purchase agreements (“PPAs”) and affiliate transactions.
• Conduct an analysis of a merger and transfer of control.
• Stay familiar with recent developments in regulated industries (electric, gas, telecommunications, water and sewer) at federal agencies and in other state jurisdictions.
• Conduct studies of regulated industries regarding competitiveness and efficient industry structure.
• Provide written testimony and orally defend testimony for proceedings before the Commission, serving as an expert witness.
• Analyze issues and evaluate other parties’ testimony for accuracy, logic, and consistency with Commission policy, state statutes, and regulations.
• Write rebuttal testimony based on analysis.
• Prepare and present testimony to legislative committees (may be required).
• Make presentations to various state, local, and federal agencies (may be required).
• Perform additional job-related duties and develop additional specific job-related knowledge and skills (may be expected).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior