ElectriCities of NC: Rate Analyst

About the role

As a Rate Analyst, you will provide rate analysis, guidance, and excellent customer service to ElectriCities’ members concerning retail rates, wholesale cost and revenue analysis, projections, and assistance with economic development rate analysis.

Responsibilities

• Perform retail rate studies for member cities, including identifying possible changes in retail rate levels, billing structures, and rate schedule documentation while considering fair and equitable cost responsibility among customer classes.
• Maintain Excel-based models for short-term and long-term wholesale power cost projections for power agency members.
• Provide monthly reporting to monitor forecast versus actual wholesale power costs and usage.
• Assist in developing innovative rate programs for individual participants that align with industry trends, enhance economic development initiatives, and maintain positive financial margins.
• Recommend retail rates to member cities consistent with NCMPA1 and NCEMPA wholesale rates and power supply programs, striving for regionally competitive retail rates.
• Increase knowledge of current and future utility trends in renewable energy, electric vehicles (including charger rates), and other relevant rate-related topics.
• Assist in presenting retail rate studies, innovative rate designs, and special project results to member city/town boards and staff.
• Create and present electric/rate training to members’ staff, covering basic electric/billing terms, metering, rate classes, rate design, cost causation principles, bill processing, and calculations using current rate schedules.
• Assist the Settlements department as needed and fully train in all aspects of the retail billing process and systems.
• Support retail billing services, including checking retail bills for accuracy, maintaining a current library of retail rates, and reviewing reports from the Retail Billing System (RBS).
• Protect the confidentiality of load profile data, billing information, and rate schedules due to their sensitive nature.
• Maintain knowledge of and ability to perform all aspects of the retail billing process and systems, guiding enhancements to Retail Billing and Extranet that reflect changes to retail rates and customer needs.
• Monitor applicable competitor rates and perform competitive rate comparisons as needed.
• Assist in preparing special projects, analysis, and data requests involving rate-related issues, ensuring all aspects of retail billing systems are current and correct.
• Assist municipals with annual EIA Surveys.
• Provide input and support implementation of the annual business plan of the Operations Division.
• Foster teamwork with ElectriCities departments to coordinate the development of programs and services for members.
• Maintain positive professional working relationships with participants and their customers.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Finance, Math, Statistics, Engineering, or other analytic degree, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• 3+ years’ experience in retail or wholesale rate development and/or financial analysis.
• Advanced spreadsheet modeling and database experience; advanced Excel is required, and SAS programming experience is preferred.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated willingness to accept responsibility, take initiative, and be self-motivated while accepting general supervision.

Physical Requirements

• Maintain physical condition necessary to perform tasks in hybrid office/home office settings, including operating a personal computer, keyboard, video meetings, and other peripheral equipment.
• Travel and availability for work outside normal business hours and during unusual weather and system conditions may be required.
• Occasional travel within North Carolina and periodic travel within the U.S. for training and development purposes.

About ElectriCities

ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., is the membership organization that provides power supply and related critical services to over 90 community-owned electric systems in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia—collectively known as public power. ElectriCities manages the power supply for two power agencies in North Carolina and provides technical services to assist members in operating their electric distribution systems. The organization delivers innovative services, including legislative, technical, communications, and economic development expertise, to help locally owned and operated public power providers thrive.