Salary: $53,964.00 – $100,008.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Other, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Closing Date: 10/9/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is looking to fill multiple Regulatory Analyst positions in the Energy Planning Section. These are full-time positions and the ability to fill at an in-training level of Regulatory Analyst 1 or 2, with a goal class of the Regulatory Analyst 3 level. 

About UTC: 

Our mission is to protect the people of Washington by ensuring that investor-owned utility and transportation services are safe, available, reliable and fairly priced. We protect consumers by regulating the rates, services, and practices of private or investor-owned utilities and transportation companies to ensure they are safe, equitable, reliable, and affordable.
 
The UTC is continually recognized for its excellence and integrity as a regulatory agency, as we challenge the status quo and ourselves to ensure equitable outcomes for our customers and the people of Washington.
 
We recognize that our employees are the key to the agency’s success. We are committed to our work but value balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth, and offers continued learning opportunities, meaningful work, and a comprehensive benefits package. 

Duties

A little about the Regulatory Analyst Opportunity:
 
The Regulatory Analyst works on planning utility filings and directly supports the agency’s mission by providing technical analysis and recommendations necessary for Commission’s decision-making processes with respect to utility services and the rates charged for those services. This position works on complex issues with significant and broad impact on multi-billion dollar gas and electric utilities, energy customers, and other communities and populations in the state. This position plays a critical role in navigating complex technical issues by conducting reliable analysis, summarizing and packaging information clearly, accurately, and in easy-to-understand terms, identifying the critical decision points of complex filings, and balancing the interests of other persons or groups affected by Commission decisions.

What you will be doing:
 
Provide the Commission with recommendations on decisions based on analysis and a balance of the public interests. Assignments may often include unusual, strategically important, or politically sensitive issues and have a high degree of complexity. This includes reviewing, analyzing, and reaching conclusion on complex filings that have significant impacts to consumers such as: 1) Integrated Resource Plans, (2) Clean Energy Implementation Plans and Reports, (3) Biennial Conservation Plans, and (4) other energy filings.
 
Additionally, you will independently evaluate the validity of utility requests through quantitative, qualitative, and anecdotal analysis and by applying advanced principles of economics, financial accounting, and regulatory theory. Translate complex and technical concepts into accessible terms for decision-makers through memoranda, formal testimony, or presentations on tariff filings, petitions, and other relief sought by utilities and others with specific emphasis on equity analysis. Responsible to engage with policy makers, agency leaders, Commissioners, industry advocates, company representatives, and other persons or groups affected by Commission decisions in a collaborative manner and consistent with the Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct core competency. Independently research that is directly relevant to the regulation of public utilities in Washington.

Provide information and process guidance to utilities, utility customers, and other persons or groups affected by Commission decisions. Provide support to other Energy staff members with written deliverables by providing clarifying, corrective, or substantive edits to improve the quality of the final product. 
 
The Regulatory Analyst 3 (RA3) leads teams of analysts to assess complex, strategically important utility plans and rate filings. The RA3 completes the most complex assignments and provides the Commission with expert recommendations on decisions for utility planning filings through formal written memoranda, Commissioner briefings, public presentations, and in formal adjudications, such as general rate proceedings, through written and oral expert testimony. A RA3 may leads rulemaking teams or participates as a member of a rulemaking team drafting administrative rules to implement new legislation, to streamline or improve existing administrative procedures, or to eliminate or replace outdated processes.
 
The Regulatory Analyst 2 or 1 serves as a team member on utility planning filings and may lead other filings, rulemakings, policy dockets, or other defined investigative issues initiated by the Commission, other staff, or utility filings, consistent with the Leadership and Task Management core competencies.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following: 

• Analytical skills and critical thinking
• Fundamental regulatory skills
• Writing and communication
• Inclusive and collaborative conduct
• Project management

For the Regulatory Analyst 2 or 1 in-training, One or more of the following

1. An advanced degree in relevant field, such as engineering or science, statistics, business administration, economics, law, or public utility regulation plus two years doing performing regulatory or data analysis for Washington state government, one year of which must have been at the second level or equivalent; or,
2. An advanced degree in relevant field, such as engineering or science, statistics, business administration, economics, financial accounting, law, or public utility regulation plus three years of professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; or, 
3. A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in engineering or science, economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, law or related field and four years of professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; or, 
4. Two years performing regulatory or data analysis work for Washington state government, one year of which must have been at the second level or equivalent; or, 
5. Five years of work experience in engineering or science, statistics, economic analysis, financial accounting, public utility regulation, public utility law, or utility business operations, four years of which must include research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters.
6. Experience in persuasive writing or writing for decision-makers or advanced training in standards of professional writing;
7. Experience writing administrative rules or participating on a rulemaking at a regulatory agency;

Experience implementing data analytical tools and concepts, including but not limited to experience organizing and performing data mining and cleaning, statistical modelling, data visualization, and Microsoft software packages (such as Power Query, PowerBI, and Power Automate).  
 
 For the Regulatory Analyst 3, One or more of the following: 

• An advanced degree in relevant field, such as engineering or science statistics, business administration, economics, law, or public utility regulation AND two (2) years performing regulatory or data analysis for Washington state government, one year of which must have been at the second level or equivalent;
• An advanced degree in relevant field, such as engineering or science, statistics, business administration, economics, law, or public utility regulation AND three (3) years of professional research or data analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters;
• A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in engineering or science, statistics, economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, law or related field and four (4) years of professional research or data analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters;
• Three (3) years performing regulatory or data analysis work for Washington state government, one year of which must have been at the second level or equivalent; or, 
• Seven (7) years of work experience in engineering or science, statistics, economic analysis, financial accounting, public utility regulation, public utility law, or utility business operations, four years of which must include research or data analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters.
• Experience in persuasive writing or writing for decision-makers or advanced training in standards of professional writing;
• Experience writing administrative rules or participating on a rulemaking at a regulatory agency;
• Experience implementing data analytical tools and concepts, including but not limited to experience organizing and performing data mining and cleaning, statistical modelling, data visualization, and Microsoft software packages (such as Power Query, PowerBI, and Power Automate).  

Supplemental Information

• Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state.

• Occasional travel during and outside normal work hours throughout the state for public meetings or hearings related to commission filings may be required.
• Conflict of Interest: RCW 80.01.020 limits the commission’s ability to employ any person who owns stock in any company the commission regulates or is otherwise financially interested in such company. 

• Compliance with the ethics laws (RCW 42.52) is an individual responsibility, which may include disclosure of volunteer work, elected activity, outside employment, or other business activity.  
• No employee may engage in any outside employment or business activity that will interfere with the performance of their duties or result in a conflict of interest.
• No employee may engage in any volunteer or elected activity that will interfere with the performance of their duties or result in a conflict of interest

Application Process:
Due to the multiple position openings, screenings for this opportunity will start shortly after the initial posting and be continuous throughout the recruitment. It is to your advantage to apply as close to the posting date as possible.
 
In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their application to be considered for this position:

• A cover letter which includes how you meet the qualifications and why you believe you are the ideal candidate. 
• A current resume detailing your applicable experience and education.
• Three professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses, including your current or most recent supervisor.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4198333/regulatory-analyst-3-2-and-1-in-training-energy-planning-section