Commission Advisor (Rate/Financial Analyst V): DORA/Public Utilities Commission

The Policy Advisory Unit directly supports the Commissioners on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and the Commissions Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). Advisors provide technical analysis and policy advice; they manage cases; and they assist the Commissioners and ALJs in reaching their decisions in formal proceedings. Such proceedings include both adjudicated cases and rulemakings. Advisors also occasionally assist the Commissioners and ALJs with research and analysis outside of formal proceedings such as workshops and special projects. Nearly all of the work completed by the Policy Advisory Unit is conducted within a privileged deliberative process that is distinct from all other members of the Commissions staff.

Position: SGA 5174

The Commission Advisor position serves to supervise certain other members of the Policy Advisory Unit. In the context of the contested matters before the Commission the advisors hold the bulk of the requisite knowledge and expertise of the agency. Such knowledge and expertise is essential for the development implementation review and enforcement of Commission decisions. Upon judicial review of the Commission decisions the courts defer to the Commissions knowledge and expertise. This position combines with other professional members of the Policy Advisor Unit and with the staff of the Commission at large to serve as the permanent embodiment of the Commissions knowledge and expertise. (In contrast a Commissioner is unencumbered by professional qualifications and his or her tenure is temporary subject to a political appointment process driven by the Governors Office and subject to confirmation by the Colorado Senate.)

Accordingly this position principally provides technical and policy analysis to the Commissioners and ALJs. The position makes recommendations in matters involving the provision of safe reliable adequate and economic service to utility customers using data from diverse sources and specialized fields.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Developing options and solutions to complex policyrelated questions posed to theCommissioners including determining the need for new or revised Commission rules toresolve policy issues and strategies for decision making in adjudications;

• Determining the need for new or revised Commission guidance and rules to resolve policyrelated policy issues and providing recommendations for resolution;

• Making recommendations to assist the Commissioners and ALJs in reaching decisions informal proceedings such as rate cases resource and infrastructure plans and rulemakings.

• Conducting comprehensive research in order to formulate suggested positions on various technical or policyrelated matters upon request from Commissioners Administrative Law Judges or other senior Commission staff;

• Completing midyear progress reviews and annual performance evaluations of its direct reports in accordance with the employees performance plans and position descriptions as well as assuring the accuracy of leave use and management;
  

• Measuring forecasted sales investment (ratebase) earnings customer bills and rates for rendering decisions on electric and gas utility infrastructure plans and for the approval of electric resource plans and clean heat plans;

• Coordinating utility ratemaking practices with state policies for the advancement of beneficial electrification and decarbonization of the Colorado economy;

• Identifying issues or inconsistencies in the work product of supervised employees and determines the best way to address them (oneonone followup emails reminders at staff meetings etc).

There are two ways to qualify for this position: 1) Experience OR 2) A Combination of Education and Experience

Option 1: Experience

• Ten (10) years ofprogressively responsible professional* experience in one (1) of the following three (3) areas:

  • Public utility industry or in a comparable regulatory environment researching and/or analyzing energy policies or programs;

  • Rate Cases: Analyzing financial or economic information to provide neutral explanations and/or recommendations about utility financial requirements and rates;

  • Resource Planning: Analyzing financial economic or engineering information to provide neutral explanations and/or recommendations about utility resource planning and acquisitions.

• Of the ten (10) years two (2) of which must include the following:

  • Formal supervisory** or equivalent experience in managing professionallevel staff (responsible for the pay status and tenure of subordinate employees); OR

  • Experience working as a senior authority*** or equivalent performing quantitative and/or qualitative analysis.

Option 2: A Combination of Education AND Experience

• Associates Degree and Experience:Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associates degree in accounting business administration economics engineering finance public policy statistics or a field of study related to the work assignment; AND

• Eight (8) years ofprogressively responsible professional* experience in one (1) of the following three (3) areas:

  • Public utility industry or in a comparable regulatory environment researching and/or analyzing energy policies or programs;

  • Rate Cases: Analyzing financial or economic information to provide neutral explanations and/or recommendations about utility financial requirements and rates;

  • Resource Planning: Analyzing financial economic or engineering information to provide neutral explanations and/or recommendations about utility resource planning and acquisitions.

• Of the eight (8) years two (2) of which must include the following:

  • Formal supervisory** or equivalent experience in managing professionallevel staff (responsible for the pay status and tenure of subordinate employees); OR

  • Experience working as a senior authority*** or equivalent performing quantitative and/or qualitative analysis.

• Certification registration or licensure related to the work assigned will count for one (1) year of the requirement other than supervisory experience.

OR

• Bachelors Degree and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelors degree in accounting business administration economics engineering finance public policy statistics or a field of study related to the work assignment; AND

• Six (6) years ofprogressively responsible professional* experience in one (1) of the following three (3) areas:

  • Public utility industry or in a comparable regulatory environment researching and/or analyzing energy policies or programs;

  • Rate Cases: Analyzing financial or economic information to provide neutral explanations and/or recommendations about utility financial requirements and rates;

  • Resource Planning: Analyzing financial economic or engineering information to provide neutral explanations and/or recommendations about utility resource planning and acquisitions.

• Of the six (6) years two (2) of which must include the following:

  • Formal supervisory** or equivalent experience in managing professionallevel staff (responsible for the pay status and tenure of subordinate employees); OR

  • Experience working as a senior authority*** or equivalent performing quantitative and/or qualitative analysis.

• Certification registration or licensure related to the work assigned will count for one (1) year of the requirement other than supervisory experience.

Document this experience in your applicationIN DETAIL as your experience will not be inferred or assumed. Part time experience will be prorated.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

• Partial credit toward the degree requirement will be given for completed college/university coursework that did not result in a degree.A masters or doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study related to the work assignment will substitute for the bachelors degree requirement.

*Professional work involves exercising discretion analytical skill judgment and personal accountability and responsibility for creating developing integrating applying and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is: uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelors or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore extend and use additional discoveries interpretations and application and to improve data materials equipment applications and methods.

**Formal supervisory experience requires accountability for the quality and quantity of work of employees of the organization; responsibility for making decisions that affect the pay status and/or tenure of subordinates; and authority in the hiring performance planning and evaluation and progressive discipline processes.

***Senior authority experience involves leading program efforts as a pacesetter with a unique level of technical expertise in a field that is critical to success of the organization; and designing programs and systems to be used throughout the organization with external effects. Managers and peers rely on the subject matter expertise of this pacesetter when making decisions regarding the direction of policy programs and systems within their field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated professional experience researching analyzing and/or giving recommendations on emerging energy or regulated utility matters including renewable energy and/or clean energy technologies and programs;

• Demonstrated supervisory experience including leading teams training others distributing and assigning work ensuring timeliness and accuracy and completeness of work performed;

• Demonstrated experience in writing formal documents including briefing materials memoranda presentations agendas and white papers to be used by others in decision making and/or formal documents such as orders issued by governmental entities;

• Demonstrated professional experience in public speaking including presenting recommendations to decisionmakers and/or presenting research or data on technical subject matters (e.g. in a public forum or a conference);

• Demonstrated knowledge of and/or experience interpreting Colorado rules regulations and policies regarding the revenue requirements for regulated public utility industries;

• Demonstrated professional experience in peer reviewing work for accuracy and completeness;

• Demonstrated professional experience working with a team of diverse individuals with varying educational and/or experiential backgrounds;

• Demonstrated experience working in the utility industry performing analytical work and/or preparing regulatory filings OR working on energy policy.

Required Competencies:The following knowledge skills abilities and personal characteristics are required competencies and may be considered during the selection process (including examination and/or interview):

• Demonstrated written communication skills including the ability to convey information to various stakeholders in a clear accurate and concise written manner;

• Demonstrated verbal communication skills including the ability to effectively convey information to audiences in a concise manner;

• Demonstrated attention to detail;

• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills including having the ability to evaluate information in order to apply knowledge and to decide on the most appropriate course of action;

• Demonstrated ability to research highly complicated/technical matters;

• Demonstrated prioritization skills including planning organizing tasks and managing work assignments;

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team;

• Demonstrated time management skills including the ability to multitask to effectively manage competing and constantly changing priorities in order to meet tight deadlines;

• Demonstrated ability to understand and abide by workplace principles practices andbehaviors as internally identified and defined by the division and department;

• Demonstrated ability to read understand interpret apply and explain laws rulespolicies and procedures;

• Sound judgment and the confidence to make decisions on a routine basis;

• Ability to travel independently including work inoffice as required by business needs and scheduled by the supervisor;

• Integrity and high ethical standards;

• Accountability reliability including attendance;

• Ability to maintain confidential controversial or sensitive information;

• Selfstarter including the ability to work independently learn new processes utilizeown knowledge and that of supervisor and complete work with minimal supervision;

• Demonstrated professional demeanor;

• Knowledge and understanding in the use of PC software applications including Microsoft Office (Access Word Excel etc.) and Google Suite (Docs Sheets Slides etc).

Conditions of Employment:Candidates who fail to meet the conditions of employment will be removed from consideration.

• The successful passing of a reference check and/or if required a background check.

  • A reference check may include but is not limited to: contacting previous and current supervisors to verify employment and discuss performance a review of the personnel file a review of the performance record a review of jobrelated public informationetc.

  • The type of background check depends on the job duties of the position and can include a review of any criminal record credit report and/or driving record.

• Ability to travel independently including work inoffice as required by business need and scheduled by the supervisor.

Veterans Preference: Candidates who wish to assert Veterans Preference should attach a copy of their DD214 to their application. Failure to do so will result in being denied Veterans Preference.

PLEASE NOTE:Former State Personnel System employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose this information on the application. Colorado Revised Statutes require that all state employees be hired and promoted through competitive examination of merit and fitness. Failure to include the required information failure to follow instructions and/or failure to submit materials by the application deadline may result in your application not being considered for the position and may affect your score or inclusion in the final pool of qualified candidates.

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in nondiscriminatory practices in everything we do including hiring employment and advancement opportunities.

While a salary range is posted for this position an eventual salary offer is determined by a comprehensive salary analysis which considers multiple factors including but not limited to education and experience compared to others in the organization doing substantially similar work.

Appeal Rights:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email US Mail faxed or handdelivered within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the departments action.

For more information about the appeals process the official appeal form and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board go to or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 8011 State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures Chapter 8 Resolution of Appeals and Disputes at under Rules.