Utility Consumer Program Specialist

*Salaries have been updated to reflect the most updated negotiated contract.

Due to current testing space limitations, candidates may need to travel to a test site to take this examination. Candidates will be notified of their test site location on their admission notice.

Promotion examination open to all qualified employees of New York State Department of Public Service.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before October 21, 2023, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Public Service and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as:

For Exam No. 38-990:

Either A. Utility Consumer Program Specialist 1, Utility Consumer Program Specialist 1 (Spanish Language), Utility Consumer Program Specialist Trainee, or Utility Consumer Program Specialist Trainee (Spanish Language);

Or B. Utility Consumer Assistance Specialist 1, Utility Consumer Assistance Specialist 1 (Spanish Language), Utility Consumer Assistance Specialist Trainee, or Utility Consumer Assistance Specialist Trainee (Spanish Language).

For Exam No. 38-991:

Either A. Utility Consumer Program Specialist 2;

Or B. Utility Consumer Assistance Specialist 2 or Utility Consumer Assistance Specialist 2 (Spanish Language).

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before July 21, 2023, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List: After one year of service at the full performance level, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Eligibles who meet the ?B? qualifications, and who are subsequently appointed to an ?A? title, may request to have their name added to the ?A? list, once they have completed the time in title year(s) of service in the ?A? title. The request should be submitted in writing to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239; Attention: MLG.

Order of Certification: The order of certification of this eligible list will be:

1. "A" eligibles
2. "All" eligibles

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Duties

As a Utility Consumer Program Specialist 2, you would function as a first-level supervisor; advocate for consumers and energy affordability; implement Department policies, Commission directives, and the Public Service Law; address more complex utility or competitively provided energy, telecommunications, and water service providers? petitions in the form of Department documents and/or testimony for the Commission; perform a variety of activities dealing with implementation of enforcement procedures, certification processes, and reviewing and analyzing reports and petitions; and gather facts for the facilitation of more complex dispute resolution and economic development initiatives.

As a Utility Consumer ProgramSpecialist 3, you would function as a second-level supervisor; advocate for consumers and energy affordability; implement Department policies, Commission directives, and the Public Service Law; recommend policies and programs to address issues with service quality; address complex utility or competitively provided energy, telecommunications, and water service providers? petitions in the form of Department documents and/or testimony for the Commission; perform a variety of activities dealing with the design and implementation of enforcement procedures, certification processes, and verify the accuracy of reports and petitions; verify the facts for the facilitation of more complex dispute resolution and economic development initiatives; and oversee administrative responsibilities related subordinate staff activities.

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Subject of Examination

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the multiple-choice test. The multiple-choice evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas	For Examination Numbers
	38-990	38-991
Advising and interacting with others - These questions test for the ability to interact with other people in order to gather and present information and to provide assistance and advice in a courteous and professional manner.	X	X
Understanding and interpreting Public Service laws, rules, regulations, procedures, and utility tariffs - These questions test for the ability to read and analyze short written selections from the New York State Public Service Law, rules, regulations, procedures, and utility tariffs. All the information needed to answer the questions will be contained in the written material accompanying the questions.	X	X
Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.	X	X
Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.	X
Delivery and testing of utility services - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in the delivery and testing of utility services in New York State, and may include such areas as the requirements placed on suppliers of telephone, gas, electric, and water services; procedures followed by utilities to provide these services; procedures used to evaluate the adequacy of these services at both the supplier and consumer level; and the ability to calculate costs for these services from rate schedules.	X
Supervising a project - These questions test for the ability to conduct and supervise the activities necessary to achieve the goals and deadlines of a specific project. The questions cover such topics as setting up the project, developing the workplan for the project, assigning and reviewing work, evaluating performance and progress, coordinating phases of the project, handling problems as they arise, and meeting deadlines.		X

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Your final score on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' credits.

Credit For Seniority: Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

Admission To The Test: If approved for a multiple-choice test, you will receive an admission notice which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site using a state-provided Chromebook. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration.

Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your test arrangements, examination results, and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number, and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Religious Accommodation

Most multiple-choice tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the multiple-choice test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your multiple-choice test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a multiple-choice test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this multiple-choice test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

The use of cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices at your personal testing site or in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas, except as expressly authorized by the Department of Civil Service, could result in your disqualification.

S2/TC3 MLG-ctc
Issued: 8/4/23
*Amended: 8/21/23

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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