Senior Gas Resource Planning Analyst

Xcel Energy•Minneapolis, MN

5h•Onsite

About The Position

Design and implement complex gas supply, transportation, and storage service plans for both the gas distribution portfolio and electric generation portfolio. Perform complex modeling for various supply alternatives to ensure portfolio reliability and cost optimization. Negotiate gas transportation and storage agreements. Perform financial analysis of interstate and intrastate pipelines rates, provide expert testimony, and negotiate rate case settlements. Share knowledge and train others in these job skills.

Requirements

BS degree in Economics, Finance, Mathematics, Engineering, or closely related field. Equivalent work experience may be accepted in lieu of degree.
Minimum of 8 years of natural gas or electric industry experience, preferably in resource planning, design day modeling, or related areas of identifying, forecasting, and delivering energy resources.
Extensive knowledge of linear programming and model development required.
Must have financial analysis skills and advanced written and oral communication skills to prepare testimony and negotiate contracts.

Responsibilities

Independently perform complex resource modeling for the gas supply portfolios for XE's gas and electric operations and train others as well.
Develop sophisticated resource models in SendOut and Plexos (portfolio optimization-linear program models) to determine the optimal gas purchases for each operating business unit.
Collaborate with Gas Supply to develop and implement each season's gas purchase plan, estimated at $2B per year of expenditures.
Work with model developers (such as SendOut and Plexos) on new software code to address changing needs.
Create forecast projecting peak gas requirements for gas distribution and electric generation.
Accurately model to correctly predict customer needs and prevent loss of gas & electric service to customers.
Utilize forecast to determine the quantity and variety of transportation and storage contracts held across 12 different geographically dispersed pipeline systems as well as determine when to modify or purchase additional transportation and storage capacity services for an evolving, complicated portfolio, estimated at $200M/year of expenditures.
Prepare and defend extensive regulatory filings to recover the costs related to the $2B annual gas fuel budget.
Interface with regulators, intervenors, political or special interest groups, customers, and gas suppliers to obtain consensus, support, and/or regulatory approval of optimal resource plans. This includes providing written and oral testimony, negotiations, and presentations.
Serve as an expert policy and strategy witness on the Company's behalf.
Perform financial analysis of interstate and intrastate pipeline rate cases.
Prosecute the pipeline case by preparing written and oral testimony in formal administrative hearings to argue for just, reasonable tariff rates and beneficial services from the pipeline.
Pursue settlement of rate cases by building coalitions with other pipeline customers, determining financial assumptions and expected case outcomes with other customers, and negotiating key settlement terms with customers, FERC or state commission staff, and pipeline officials.
Prepare, implement, and maintain dynamic annual and long-range gas supply plans for the gas distribution and electric generation operating units. Plan must optimize reliability and cost effectiveness of XE's $2B budget for gas supply, storage, and transportation.
Partner closely with the Gas Supply Manager and Gas Buyer/Traders to evaluate market opportunities and perform analysis on proposed transactions.