Public Utilities Engineer 3 (40 Hour)(Hybrid)

Introduction

Are you looking to grow your Engineering career?

If so, we invite you to check out this opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), has an exciting opportunity for a Public Utilities Engineer 3 in our New Britain office.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

Position Highlights

• The successful candidate for the position will work on state, regional, and federal programs and planning processes associated with the state and federal initiatives, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), as well as OCC's core mission of advocating for fair and equitable utility rates and reliable, quality utility service in state, regional and federal forums.
• Responsibilities of this position include:
  • Review submissions by electric and gas distribution and transmission systems owners to state, regional, and federal regulatory authorities and evaluate those projects for feasibility, necessity, compatibility with state and regional long-term planning documentation and policies, and cost.
  • Review filings by electric, gas, and water utilities filed as part of rate cases or other regulatory proceeding and assess those submissions for need, cost-effectiveness and least-cost alternatives, as well as feasibility.
  • Evaluate electric distribution companies’ resilience and reliability planning processes, distribution engineering and grid needs assessment; hosting capacity analysis and interconnection of DERs; Information technology systems, Identification and evaluation of solutions for grid needs, including non-wires alternatives and DER interconnection.
  • Review submissions by transmission owners to ISO-New England for asset condition projects and evaluate those projects for feasibility, necessity, compatibility with the region’s long-term planning documentation and policies, and appropriate cost estimates.
  • Monitor the Asset Condition Database that is maintained by ISO-New England and the transmission owners.
  • Participate in proceedings and meetings of state and regional authorities as well as committees and working groups established by those authorities related to electric distribution and transmission projects, grid reliability and resilience, storm response and expansion.
  • Technical and drafting assistance for written comments or other deliverables.
  • Review any tariff modifications or proposals submitted by transmission owners or ISO-New England related to transmission projects or asset condition projects.
  • Review filings with FERC related to formula rates or any other ratemaking proceeding submitted by a transmission asset owner for reimbursement of transmission projects or asset condition projects.
  • Assist in contesting ratemaking proceedings before administrative or judicial bodies.
  • Assist in conducting discovery related to ratemaking proceedings, including but not limited to interrogatories, audits, depositions, and requests for admissions.
  • Testify at administrative and judicial proceedings in support of legal challenges related to ratemaking proceedings.
  • Assist in preparation of legal challenges to transmission projects and asset condition projects.
  • Serving as a team member of a small, highly skilled staff dedicated to the mission of consumer advocacy.
  • Working independently and creatively to solve complex problems.
  • Other related duties as deemed necessary.

About Us

The OCC is an independent State agency that acts as the advocate for consumer interests in matters which may affect Connecticut ratepayers relating to electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications. The OCC works on cutting edge energy policy issues and serves as the voice of the consumer. We are a statutory party to all proceedings before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and are authorized to appear and participate in any regulatory or judicial proceedings, federal or state, in which the interests of Connecticut utility consumers may be involved.

In addition to representing consumer interests before PURA, the OCC:

• Participates in proceedings before federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC);
• Advocates on behalf of consumer interests in state and federal courts; and
• Promotes the interests of consumers at the Connecticut legislature and in regional and national forums.

The OCC is also a member of New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) as the representative of Connecticut ratepayers in this regional body.

Our work covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Energy infrastructure (e.g., electric transmission and distribution lines, non-wires alternatives);
• Renewable energy, distributed generation, and grid modernization;
• Energy efficiency and demand response;
• Wholesale and retail electric and gas markets and rates;
• Water rates, infrastructure, and resource planning;
• Utility service quality and storm response;
• Electric vehicles and energy storage;
• Telecommunications service, service quality, and infrastructure, broadband access, and telecommunications policy.

Selection Plan

TO APPLY

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting. 
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING

• Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFTER YOU APPLY

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

CONNECT WITH US

• Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Nick Naples at Nicholas.Naples@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Office of Consumer Counsel this class is accountable for acting as a working lead and/or for performing the highest level, most complex engineering studies and investigations of equipment, plants, operations, quality/adequacy of customer service, and records and accounts of public utility companies, specializing in an engineering capacity in one of the following areas: electric, nuclear, gas, water/sewer or telecommunications.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Performs the highest level of utility engineering studies and analyses;
• Reviews analyses of and reports on original cost, depreciation planning and construction program studies and engineering exhibits submitted by utility companies;
• Makes analyses in exceptionally difficult or complex cases; 
• Has principal engineering responsibility in more complex cost studies;
• Maintains rules and standards of equipment and service for electric, nuclear, gas, water/sewer and telecommunication companies;
• Investigates accidents involving public utilities;
• Oversees meter testing procedures;
• May act as expert witness in regulatory proceedings or in court;
• Performs duties as required.

When used as a working lead:

• As assigned by a supervisor, may distribute, prioritize, oversee and review unit work;
• May provide staff training and assistance;
• May conduct or assist in conducting performance evaluations;
• May act as a liaison with operating units, agencies, consultant staffs and other outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
• May recommend policies and standards;
• May prepare reports and correspondence;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations;
  • relevant agency policies and procedures;
  • basic engineering principles and techniques;
  • standard equipment, operating methods and practices of electric, nuclear, gas, water/sewer and telecommunication companies;
  • principles and practices of governmental regulation of public utilities;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
  • utilize computer software;
  • prepare technical reports;
  • lead.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of experience as an engineer in the field of electrical, nuclear, gas, telecommunications or water.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

The General Experience must have included two (2) years in one of the following areas:

• Utility company operations experience, such as:
  • ELECTRICAL: Field service, distribution, transmission, engineering, codes and standards, or regulation;
  • NUCLEAR: Power plant operations, prudence investigations, licensing, nuclear event analysis, engineering, decommissioning cost review and regulation.
  • GAS: Field service, distribution, transmission, engineering, codes and standards, or regulation;
  • TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Head-end technical operations, central office operations, distribution, engineering, codes and standards, or regulation;
  • WATER/SEWER: Design, construction, distribution, engineering, or regulation.
• Management audit of the respective utility operations described in the first bullet.
• Utility company regulation.
• Experience totaling one (1) year in at least two of the following areas:
  • Preparation of depreciation studies, or technical critiquing and report writing on such studies.
  • Preparation of detailed cost-of-service studies, or technical critiquing and report writing on such studies.
  • Preparation of studies of appropriate installations, including determination of required capital improvements and report writing, or technical critiquing and report writing on such studies. Appropriate installations are:
    • ELECTRICAL: Electrical
    • NUCLEAR: Nuclear power plants and facilities
    • GAS: Pressure piping
    • TELECOMMUNICATIONS: CATV or telephone systems
    • WATER/SEWER: Water utility system design
  • Development of engineering safety codes or recommended practices for appropriate installations, or development of operating procedures to comply with such codes or practices.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training in engineering may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in engineering may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• For state employees one (1) year as a Public Utilities Engineer 2 may be substituted for the General and Special Experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of utility distribution systems;
• Understanding of emerging electric technologies including but not limited to photovoltaic solar, electric vehicles, and battery storage;
• Experience interpreting electric grid diagrams, circuit schematics, and construction plans;
• Experience using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) programs and spreadsheet programs in data analysis;
• Experience with or knowledge of simulation software used in distribution system planning;
• Experience organizing and prioritizing tasks;
• Experience communicating technical information pertaining to engineering to non-engineering audiences verbally and in writing;
• Experience with the operation of the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) and/or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including transmission infrastructure planning, electric power reliability, rate treatment, and wholesale energy markets;
• Experience or knowledge of legal proceedings;
• Experience working in a team setting.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.