Public Utilities Analyst/Economist II

About the role

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is the state agency responsible for overseeing investor-owned electric power, natural gas, and water companies in Massachusetts. The DPU’s Rates and Revenue Requirements Division seeks a Public Utilities Analyst/Economist II to support the review and analysis of utility rate filings, revenue requirements, rate design, and related regulatory matters. This position offers the opportunity to work on complex finance, accounting, economic, and policy issues that directly affect Massachusetts residents and businesses.

Responsibilities

• Conduct economic analysis on regulated utility operations, capital investment decisions, and pricing to retail customers.
• Review electric, gas, and water utility filings for changes in base rate revenue requirements and rate structures; other rate trackers and surcharges; and financing petitions.
• Cross-examine company and intervention witnesses during hearings.
• Review, analyze, and prepare oral and written recommendations for the Commission on utility requests for changes in base rate revenue requirements, base revenue allocations, rate design, other surcharges, and financing agreements.
• Develop information requests, question expert witnesses during hearings, draft memoranda and policy recommendations, and write sections of DPU orders.
• Provide technical support on matters such as revenue requirements, cost of service, depreciation, taxes, cost of capital and return on equity, ratemaking and rate design, grid modernization, advanced metering infrastructure, electric vehicle infrastructure, net metering, utility owned solar and storage, interconnection of renewable energy, storm cost recovery/storm funds, pension and post-retirement benefits, vegetation management, performance incentive mechanisms, performance based regulation, gas system enhancement programs, revenue decoupling, and other assigned topics.
• Analyze rate requests and finance petitions from utility companies; solve problems, devise techniques, and develop recommendations using existing precedent, guidelines, regulations, and policy goals.
• Gather, assimilate, and analyze data and information to identify gaps and inconsistencies, make appropriate inquiries, draw conclusions, and make recommendations.
• Provide written and oral instructions in a precise and understandable manner.
• Work productively and effectively both in a team environment and individually with intermittent supervision.
• Issue data requests, cross-examine witnesses, draft memoranda and sections of DPU orders, and apply mathematical techniques of economic research.
• Respond to consumer, administrative, and utility inquiries.
• Collect, compile, and review economic data from various sources, including other agencies and trade organizations, for economic analysis purposes.
• Maintain major work contacts with professional and technical personnel, utility organizations, agency personnel, and other local, state, and federal agencies.

Requirements

• Three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in the field of economics.
• Or any equivalent combination of the required experience and the following substitutions:
  • A Bachelor's degree with a major in economics may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required experience.
  • A Graduate degree with a major in economics may be substituted for the required experience.
  • A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major other than in economics may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.

Skills

• Excellent quantitative and writing skills.
• Ability to express thoughts clearly and concisely in writing and orally.
• Competency in cross-examining company and intervention witnesses.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package.

Pay

Salary: $72,172.36

Schedule

Full-time, Day shift. Potentially eligible for a hybrid work schedule.