Trading Associate Analyst or Analyst

Xcel Energy•Denver, CO

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Trading Associate Analyst or Analyst position at Xcel Energy involves designing and performing quantitative analysis to price wholesale energy commodity transactions, quantify and hedge risk. The role includes planning and optimizing resource commitment schedules and portfolio positions for economic operations of the power system portfolios. It also involves performing post-analysis of actual dispatch and system operations to identify efficiency improvements. The successful candidate will be placed at a level commensurate with their skills and experience. The Analyst role requires more skills and experience than the Associate Trading Analyst role.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mathematics, engineering, applied sciences, or related fields.
Minimum 4 years experience in operating mathematical models, data mining, and analytics (for Trading Analyst).
Minimum 6 months experience with generation cost modeling software such as Plexos, Aurora, Prosym, Promod, or Gentrader (for Associate Trading Analyst).
Strong computer skills and analytical thinking (for Associate Trading Analyst).

Nice To Haves

Previous work experience in electricity industry (for Trading Analyst).
One year in energy commodity trading operations (for Trading Analyst).
Knowledge of power plant operations (for Trading Analyst).
At least 1 year experience with generation cost modeling software such as Plexos, Aurora, Prosym, Promod, or Gentrader (for Trading Analyst).
Mechanical engineering background (for Associate Trading Analyst).
Power plant operations experience (for Associate Trading Analyst).

Responsibilities

Design and perform quantitative studies of historical and forecasted prices, system loads, fuel costs, and determination of the natural position of XE's power system portfolios.
Support trading and risk management activities through quantifying the natural position of each XE regulated operating company.
Troubleshoot daily operation of XE's regulated electric operating companies and provide technical support to real-time traders during daily operation of the systems.
Assist Fuels in the determination of forward fuel requirements and the daily gas nomination process.
Identify opportunities to improve system operations.
Design and create analytical studies to model opportunities and determine costs/savings (e.g. rescheduling plant maintenance, alternative operating strategies for certain resources, etc.).
Help plant operations personnel understand the market implications of plant operating decisions.
Understand mechanical aspects of power plants and the potential optionality in the various power generation technologies.
Understand electrical system constraints and operations.
Create and run modeling scenarios to optimize daily unit commitment, additional purchases/sales, and long-term energy limited or constrained seasonal purchases.
Verify accuracy of results through extensive post-analysis of XE system performance.
Evaluate short-term load forecasts, current plant/contract availability, fuel costs, and market conditions.
Determine quantities of energy to buy/sell, optimal scheduling of constrained resources, and optimal commitment decisions for plants/contractual resources.
Bid load and offer generation into organized markets on behalf of the company.
Design and perform post-analysis models of previous day system operation to determine opportunities for dispatch efficiency and purchase/sales improvements.
Perform benchmarking of models as appropriate to assure analysis integrity.
Verify accuracy of sales costing.
Continuously seek improvements to processes and analyses used for purchasing/selling commodities, scheduling of contracted resources, and commitment/dispatch of XE generation assets.
Perform pricing and costing of Real-Time Pricing Program sales and wholesale sales.
Analyze and forecast future market prices at various trading points.
Research energy market trends and energy optimization techniques/tools to support trading contributors.
Stay abreast of regulatory requirements.
Recommend trading strategies based on technical market analysis.