Occ. Code 4523100
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UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 1, GRADE 18 |
4523100 |
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UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 2, GRADE 23 |
4523200 |
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UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 3, GRADE 27 |
4523300 |
New York State Department of Civil Service
Classification Standard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES
Positions in this series analyze and process rate proposals and utility rate structures of public utilities and evaluate the impact that proposed changes in rates, charges, rules and regulations will have on the utilities and consumers in New York State. In addition, they review utility emergency preparedness and reporting; evaluate reliability of the electric, natural gas, steam and water systems; monitor capital projects and operations and maintenance; audit operations for safety and compliance with regulations; monitor implementations of audit recommendations; enforce the States underground facilities damage prevention program; investigate incidents of non-compliance and consumer complaints; assist other State agencies with energy-related policy and initiatives; and work with federal government agencies.
These positions are classified only at the Department of Public Service.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 1: performance level; under the direction of a higher-level Utility Engineering Specialist, conducts emergency preparedness and response activities, electric reliability and safety standards compliance and monitoring, management audits, records and field audits of operations, capital budget review, operations and management budget review, facility and construction inspections, damage prevention, performance metrics, incident and complaint investigations, siting of transmission facilities and waiver petitions.
UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 2: first supervisory level; supervises two or more Utility Engineering Specialists 1. Incumbents are assigned to minor and major utility rate cases, testify as part of administrative proceedings on behalf of the Department of Public Service, oversee work conducted by subordinate staff, and may perform all of the duties and responsibilities of Utility Engineering Specialist 1.
UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 3: second supervisory level; administratively supervises two or more Utility Engineering Specialists 2 and lower-level staff. Incumbents testify on the most difficult issues in major utility rate cases, siting cases or other administrative proceedings on behalf of the Department of Public Service, participate in policy development related to utility rates, reliability and safety issues, and may perform all of the duties and responsibilities of lower-level Utility Engineering Specialists.
RELATED CLASSES
Utility Engineering Specialists (Gas Pipeline Safety) perform technical analysis and services related to the regulation of natural gas, hazardous liquid, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and steam pipeline systems.
ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES
RATES AND TARIFFS:
Rate Proceeding and Incentive Plans
· Analyze utility company rate submission to the Public Service Commission (PSC) with attention to operational and maintenance aspects, plant costs, facility construction, capacity and commodity procurement, etc. as each affect revenue requirements.
· Review and analyze utility company testimony, exhibits, work papers, and other submittals and develop a written response in the form of testimony and supporting exhibits.
· Assist in the preparation of legal briefs and other documents.
· Identify appropriate performance parameters for incentive plans.
Cost Allocation and Rate Design
· Review and analyze the utility companies fully allocated embedded and marginal cost-of-service studies.
· Examine utility proposals to re-allocate costs and revenue recoveries among service classifications and end-users.
· Analyze and develop rate structures and designs to recover utility company revenue requirements, send accurate price signals, and promote competition in compliance with PSC orders and legislation.
· Unbundle rates for competitive services
· Review and develop tariffs implementing PSC directed rates and programs.
Analysis of Cost of Service
· Determine the reasonableness of a utility companys operating and maintenance expenses.
Supply
· Monitor summer and winter supply hedging activities.
· Evaluate winter utility future supply plans.
Policy Analyses and Promotion
· Identify factors relevant to the development of desired regulatory processes, collect relevant data on the critical factors, develop policy alternatives, and summarize strengths and weaknesses of each.
· Research State and national industry trends, as well as innovative research in technical areas.
· Assist in identifying the need for, and develop proposals to address new policy initiatives associated with the deregulation of electric and gas utilities and/or reassess existing policies in an evolving competitive market.
Analysis of Company Records
· Maintain knowledge regarding the recordkeeping practices of utilities companies
· Access and analyze utility company data and conduct and present comparative or trend analysis on specific issues.
Mergers and Acquisitions
· Review merger/acquisition petitions and analyze their impacts on systems functions and efficiencies and revenue requirements.
· Prepare evaluations and recommendations with respect to the public interest and future operations.
· Prepare recommendations relating to the viability of the proposed merger or acquisition.
· Evaluate franchise development and the sale of utility property.
Federal Intervention Policy Analysis
· Assist with interventions in federal proceedings with respect to the development of policy initiatives that impact New York State.
· Assist in the evaluation of proposed rulemakings that impact State policies regarding competitive markets, reliability of supply, and the cost to customers.
· Participate in federal proceedings to promote recommendations that will enhance State policies.
Consolidation of Water Industry
· Evaluate issues related to the consolidation of small water companies.
· Coordinate with various State agencies for funding and the implementation of consolidations, transfers of ownership or operations.
· Review supply permit requests.
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS:
Utility Emergency Preparedness and Response
· Review utility emergency plans annually; attend drills; monitor/report on utility responses during events; review utility response and associated reports to determine whether corrective actions are needed.
Reliability Trends and Reliability Performance Metric Compliance Monitoring
· Evaluate whether reliability is satisfactory based on metrics and identify potential areas for improvement.
Safety Standards Compliance and Monitoring
· Review utility testing and inspection process and perform field audits to determine if activities are performed appropriately.
Capital/O&M Budgets and Variances
· Track and monitor whether utilities are completing approved projects and activities and are within budget levels.
Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Queue Data
· Monitor and report on the levels of interconnected and proposed distributed energy resources.
Demonstration Project Reviews Not Related to Technology
· Evaluate non-technical project proposals to determine if they would result in new and beneficial learnings.
Management Audits
· Track and monitor utility implementation of audit recommendations to ensure compliance.
NYS Peak Load Reduction Program
· Maintain and implement, when required, the peak load reduction program for State facilities.
Work Stoppages/Strike Monitoring
· Monitor and evaluate whether utility workers have contracts or if management is effectively responding should a strike occur.
BULK ELECTRIC SYSTEMS:
Capital/O&M Budgets and Variances
· Track and monitor whether utilities are performing projects on schedule and on budget as approved during rate proceedings
Annual Lightened Regulation Filings Database
· Monitor and maintain a database to ensure that annual required filings of financial and facilities data as required by the Public Service Commission are occurring.
Utility Summer Preparedness
· Survey and meet with utilities to ensure all required maintenance has been performed and the necessary capital projects have been completed prior to summer to ensure system capability for the summer period.
Summer Daily Electric System Reliability Reporting
· From June 1 through August 31, prepare daily reports of key bulk system details (forecast demand, available capacity, known system issues) to inform internal upper management and key external state organizations.
Management Audits
· Track and monitor utility implementation of audit recommendations to ensure compliance.
State Energy Plan Policy
· Provide needed input and assist the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in the development of the States Energy Plan.
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Policy
· Assess the potential economic effects of changes periodically proposed by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 1
Open Competitive: bachelors degree or higher in an accredited engineering curriculum.
UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 2
Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Utility Engineering Specialist 1.
UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 3
Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Utility Engineering Specialist 2.
Attachment
Date: 11/17
NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.
PARENTHETIC ATTACHMENT
Utility Engineering Specialists perform a wide variety of duties. Utility Engineering Specialist parenthetics are classified when the majority of a given positions duties and responsibilities emphasize a particular specialty.
UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 3 (ACOUSTICS): performs all of the duties and responsibilities of Utility Engineering Specialist 3, but with a specialized scope of responsibility in the field of acoustics as it relates to the gas, electric, water, telecommunications or cable utility industry. The incumbent is responsible for administrative and high-level technical and policy issues, and may perform additional duties in the areas of noise health effects, epidemiology, and electromagnetic fields. The incumbent demonstrates expert knowledge and experience in one or more of the following: environmental noise analysis, mechanical noise and vibration control, background noise, forensic acoustics, noise level testing, site analysis, and mitigation techniques.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
UTILITY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST 3 (ACOUSTICS)
Open Competitive: Bachelors degree in engineering and three years of large-scale technical experience in one or more of the following areas: noise control analysis or project management, noise and vibration problem resolution, environmental noise analysis, mechanical noise and vibration control, forensic acoustics, industrial/environmental noise level testing, outdoor plant noise reduction, industrial hygiene, performance of independent field measurements of construction and post-construction operation noise levels to meet regulatory/specified noise requirements, or performance of noise mitigation techniques such as isolation and enclosure. A masters degree in engineering may be substituted for one year of experience.