Retail Competitive Specialist (Utility Specialist 1)

Retail Competitive Specialist (Utility Specialist 1)

About the PUCO:

We are the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio — the PUCO. We support Ohio’s communities, helping keep the lights on, homes and businesses warm and roadways safe. The PUCO is the state agency responsible for the oversight of utilities such as natural gas and electricity and the enforcement of safety regulations for motor carriers and railroad crossings. Led by five commissioners, we regulate industries with an economic impact of over $24 billion on Ohio’s economy.

To accomplish this mission, we need a diverse team of employees. The PUCO employs engineers, lawyers, analysts, accountants, customer service representatives, human resource professionals, auditors, investigators, information technology specialists, technical and field staff, communication professionals and economists. But most importantly, we hire passionate Ohioans who want to make a difference in our state.

Our Mission:

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

About the Service Monitoring & Enforcement Department

The Service Monitoring and Enforcement Department examines the quality of service provided by utility companies to ensure that safe, dependable and quality services are being provided. PUCO investigators answer and respond to thousands of customer complaints and requests for information each year through the PUCO Call Center. Technical and field staff monitor and inspect electric, natural gas, telecommunication and water infrastructure for safety compliance.

The PUCO seeks a candidate to serve as Retail Competitive Specialist. Primary duties include:

• Updates company information into Salesforce
• Assist is data collections, excel spreadsheets/pivot tables.
• Assists in enforcement actions against competitive suppliers
• Updates information on the Energy Choice website
• Reviews Salesforce customer contacts regarding competitive suppliers and identify patterns/trends and possible rule violations.

You may obtain a copy of the full position description by emailing [email protected]. Please reference the Job Title and position number, PN 20069939, in your request.

Report in location: This position will primarily service Ohio and successful candidate will report to Columbus, Ohio.

Completion of undergraduate core program or 2 years experience in one or more of following academic fields: accounting, utility &/or transportation code enforcement, finance, business administration, public administration, economics, mathematics or engineering;

AND

2 years 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 years experience 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.

Review the equivalency chart here.

Please note: The minimum qualifications for a position are requirements which must be addressed to be considered for a position. Be sure to address these qualifications in your Summary of Qualifications and ensure information regarding where you obtained this experience is included in your Job Duties or Education sections of your application.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and two years’ experience within the utility field
• Experience with Microsoft Excel and Word
• Experience writing technical reports or position papers.

Successful employees in this position will possess the…

• Skill in operation of personal computer.
• Standards; specific discipline affecting utility regulation, alternative regulation or competitive markets within specialty area; investigation & enforcement techniques; computer & database software; forecasting future demands of quantity or quality of service needed within specialty area.
• Ability to use statistical methods; communicate technical data to persons in specialty area; analyze research & prepare complex reports on issues within specialty area; read & comprehend complex & controversial reports on issues affecting utility industry within specialty area; represent agency as expert on specific area of specialty in meetings, hearings &/or conferences.
• Knowledge of agency policies & procedures, state & federal laws, rules & regulations governing utility or transportation regulation & evolution to competitive markets; designated specialty area of utility or transportation regulation or deregulation within utility industry (e.g., electric, biomass, environmental compliance, natural gas distribution, telephone, telecommunications, water, wastewater, chilled water, natural gas, gas or steam, pipeline & intrastate & interstate pipeline companies, transportation/household goods & marketers/suppliers of energy sources); uniform system of accounts, generally accepted accounting principles, financial & operational accounting standards, rate & tariff structures, financing & securities or economics as applied to utility or transportation regulation &/or gas cost recovery or fuel cost adjustment methods & procedures; utility rate case process &/or regulatory hearing proceedings; cost of service analysis; established policies, procedures &/or methods for collection, reporting of & dissemination of information in utility case proceedings; alternative dispute resolution techniques, customer service & quality of service investigations & enforcement processes; research methods; statistical analysis of consumer data & utility performance indices; enforcement of utility minimum

Benefits: The PUCO offers extensive benefits including medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. Employees receive 10 paid holidays a year and paid time off with accrued vacation, sick and personal leave. Additional benefits include employer contribution to pension, pay increases, funding for professional development and employee tuition reimbursement programs.

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. We also offer cost of living adjustments, longevity supplements after five years of public service, and wellness incentives.

Additional comments:

• This position is open to all interested applicants but may be filled by internal promotion. Written and/or oral assessments may be given as part of the selection process. As this is a bargaining unit position, the provisions of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA) union contract apply.
• Pursuant to the contract between the State of Ohio and OCSEA, employees serving either in an initial probationary period, trial period or promotional probationary period, shall not be permitted to bid on job vacancies.

Unusual working conditions: Some overnight travel may be required.

The final candidate for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for this position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.