PUC Jobs Board

The Public Utilities Commissions of Ohio (PUCO) affect nearly every household in Ohio. The PUCO regulates providers of all types of utility services which includes electric and natural gas companies, local and long-distance telephone, water and wastewater, and rail and trucking companies. More recently, the PUCO gained responsibility for facilitating competitive utility choices for Ohio consumers.

To carry out our responsibilities, the PUCO employs a professional staff that includes engineers, economists, attorneys, and safety inspectors. Continually monitoring the activities of utility and transportation companies, the PUCO works to ensure safe and reliable services for all Ohioans.

Our mission is to assure all residential and business consumers access to adequate, safe and reliable utility services at fair prices, while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices.

Utility Specialist 1 (Forecasting Specialist)

Federal Energy Advocate Division

Hourly Rate: $33.52

About the Federal Energy Advocate Division:

The Office of the Federal Energy Advocate monitors the actions of federal agencies including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Department of Energy. The office advocates for PUCO’s policy positions in proceedings before FERC to promote just and reasonable wholesale tariffs that ensure reliability and the interests of citizens of the state. The office holds primary responsibility for monitoring the activities of the PJM Interconnection. The office monitors the wholesale and retail competitive energy markets, reviews the long-term forecast reports of energy utilities in Ohio, and develops its own independent long-term forecast of energy requirements for the state.

What You'll Do:

As a Utility Specialist 1 in the Federal Energy Advocate division, you will:

• Serve as specialist in utility long-term forecasting methodologies for utility planning and energy market analysis
• Provides strategic technical guidance to teams of peers and junior staff in processing cases and preparing the annual long-term forecast Report (LTFR)
• Contributes to the development of the Independent Long-Term Forecast of Energy Requirements in the State of Ohio, adhering to established analytical protocols
• Assists in conducting investigations involving economic dispatch modeling of electricity, collaborating with senior analysts to inform market-related recommendations for state policymakers
• Assists Commission Staff in presenting energy statistics for testimony before the Commission and/or briefing policymakers on energy statistics and/or analyses
• Operates modeling software (e.g. PROMOD production cost modeling software, neural network modeling software) and aid senior staff in formulating policy and decision-making within regulatory proceedings and analytical requests

Report in location: 180 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215, Franklin County.

PUCO core hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm, however, daily start/end times may vary based on operational need across PUCO departments. Most positions perform work on-site at the PUCO Central Office. The PUCO offers flextime work schedules that allow an employee to start the day as early as 6:00am or as late as 10:30am. Flex-time schedules are based on operational need and require supervisor approval.

Salary Information: Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary is set at the lowest rate of the salary range. In most cases, successful employees will increase a step in the salary range within six months, with subsequent step increases occurring every year. In addition, the State of Ohio offers cost of living adjustments, longevity supplements after five years of public service, and wellness incentives.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Completion of undergraduate core program or 2 yrs. exp. in one or more of following academic fields: accounting, utility &/or transportation code enforcement, finance, business administration, public administration, economics, mathematics or engineering; 2 yrs. utility or transportation regulatory experience involving combination of following: PUCO operations, programs & policies affecting regulation of utility or transportation companies, state & federal laws, regulations & procedures governing utility or transportation company operations, competitive programs & alternative regulations, rate &/or tariff structure, financing & securities or economics applied to utility or transportation companies, utility or transportation regulatory processing & case hearing proceedings, cost recovery & cost adjustment methods & procedures, enforcement of customer service standards, statistical, mathematical or analytical methods used in formulating & solving problems or in decision making, developing & conducting research studies &/or investigations of enforcement, scientific, technical or legal nature involving issues of utility or transportation or alternative regulation (e.g., 2 yrs. exp. as Water/Wastewater Service Quality Coordinator, 23131, or Telephone Service Quality Coordinator, 23171, or Public Utilities Gas Pipeline Safety Compliance Investigator, 23181, or Public Utilities Electric Coordinator, 23191, or Public Utilities Customer Service Investigator, 26251).

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Utilities

Applications must clearly indicate how the applicant meets the minimum qualifications for the position. All answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by information provided in the work experience and/or education sections on your civil service application. Please do not use “see resume” as a substitution for the completed application; assumptions will not be made. If you have attached supporting documents in the past, you must make them relevant on your current application. If you don’t demonstrate how, you meet minimum qualifications in the supplemental questions, your application may be disqualified from consideration.

*****Written and/or oral assessments will be administered in person as part of the selection process at our Columbus, Ohio central headquarter office.*****

Selection devices, proficiency testing, and/or assessments may be used to determine if an applicant meets and is proficient in the minimum qualifications for this position. If you are applying for the same classification within a six-month period, your previous score from the selection instrument (interview, proficiency test, and/or assessment) may be carried forward for consideration.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.