Manager - Rates and Fuels - ( 23000327 )

　　Description

　　PURPOSE OF POSITION:

　　Under the general direction of the Director – Rates and Fuels or designee, manages the Utility’s rate program, including fuels cost recovery rate mechanisms and City Utilities’ Transmission Formula Rate. Manages employee and customer education on utility rates. Manages staff engaged in the core accounting functions of the Rates and Fuels area including natural gas sold to customers, fuels used for power generation, inventory reconciliations, and monthly journal entry processing. Manages the variance analyses of revenue and fuels forecasts for the annual budget and five-year Operating Plan. Supports the Director – Rates and Fuels in managing staff engaged in cost-of-service analyses; revenue and fuels forecasts; and utility rate design, approval, implementation, maintenance, and compliance monitoring within billing systems, including pricing solutions which promote demand side management, energy efficiency and renewable strategies. Supports the Director – Rates and Fuels or designee in managing natural gas supplies and financial hedging activities, through coordination with The Energy Authority (TEA). Assists in presenting rate proposals and adjustments to governing bodies, including the Citizens’ Advisory Council and Board of Public Utilities.

　　ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

　　1.Manages the completion of cost-of-service studies and analyses of: AMI data, customer usage and revenues, production costs, and other studies to support utility rates.

　　2.Manages the accounting functions, including journal entries to the general ledger, associated with the purchase, consumption, and inventory of fuels used in generation of electricity and natural gas sold to customers.

　　3.Manages preparation of the annual update of CU’s Transmission Formula Rate and coordinates annual filings to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Coordinates proposed changes to the formula rate template and proposed rulemaking by the FERC.

　　4.Designs and recommends rates and charges that conform to the Board of Public Utilities’ Rate Policy Standards, including semi-annually calculating the fuel adjustment and purchased gas adjustment factors. Oversees financial analysis of costs to support rate proposal activities. Responsible for functions required to secure approval and defense of CU’s rates including presentations of rate proposals and adjustments to governing bodies, including the Citizens' Advisory Council and the Board of Public Utilities.

　　5.Supports the Director – Rates and Fuels or designee in the development and updating of models for economic forecasting and other financial models related to forecasting revenues, fuels for the budget and operating plan, and for recovery of capital. Partners with TEA as needed to analyze energy market trends.

　　6.Engages in and manages the billing of complex electric, natural gas, water and sewer bills, including the revenue accounting for complex billing services. Coordinates with IT for coding changes in the billing systems. Maintains the rates modules in the Customer Information System and the Complex Billing System.

　　7.Engages in and manages implementation and compliance monitoring of approved rate schedules in CU billing systems, including monitoring of customer and service point rate assignments and related data. Manages testing of specific customer information and metered values for reasonableness and compliance with approved rate schedules. Responsible for monitoring financial results following rate factors and structural changes.

　　8.Oversees the monthly calculations of unbilled revenues and performs analytical reviews to ensure reasonableness.

　　9.Manages the administration of ad-hoc and quarterly, semi-annual, and annual electric, water, and natural gas rate comparisons, including but not limited to, Springfield benchmark cities, regional, state, and national comparisons.

　　10.Supports Director – Rates and Fuels, or designee with coordinating natural gas purchases with CU Management and The Energy Authority, including management of purchased gas and storage volumes. Also supports natural gas fuels hedging program.

　　11.Participates in negotiation of long-term natural gas supply agreements and pipeline supply contracts.

　　12.Supports Director – Rates and Fuels in the responses to rates and fuels related questions by the Board of Public Utilities, internal and external auditors, employees, and customers and promotes understanding of City Utilities’ rate structures.

　　13.Provides backup to Director-Rates and Fuels as necessary and may assume additional responsibilities in their absence.

　　14.Performs other related duties as required or assigned by management.

　　QUALIFICATIONS:

　　Education and Experience:

　　Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Engineering, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, Business, Information Technology or related field is required.

　　Additional specialized education (mathematics, statistics, or similar) is preferred.

　　Five years of recent progressively responsible economics, engineering, forecasting, finance, accounting, or utility business experience is required. Recent utility experience in financial modeling for calculating revenue requirements, cost of service analysis, production cost analysis, rate design, and/or economic analysis is required.

　　Two years’ supervisory experience is preferred.

　　Licensing/Certification:

　　Advanced degree (MBA, MAcc, or MS in engineering) or certification, such as PE, CMA, CPA, is required.

　　Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

　　Exceptional knowledge of:

　　Cost allocation, utility pricing practices, utility accounting including FERC, finance concepts, and rate design.

　　CU’s Board and City Council approved rate schedules.

　　Microsoft Excel

　　Working knowledge of:

　　The intricacies involved in supervising employees.

　　Current and emerging technologies as well as city, state and federal policy and regulatory efforts and their impact on CU’s rate program.

　　Strong knowledge and understanding of the operation and management of a utility system.

　　Excellent analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and relational skills including the aptitude and capacity to understand electric, natural gas, and water utility and market dynamics.

　　Strong mathematical and/or statistical abilities, including advanced mathematical reasonings about forecasting methodologies and its implications.

　　Ability to:

　　Build and oversee the development of models and interpret results to make informed decisions.

　　Manage the priorities and workload of a team.

　　Relate knowledge to long- and short-range needs of the Utility.

　　Make fair and impartial decisions.

　　Interact respectfully with individuals across all levels of an organization, internally and externally.

　　Meet deadlines and schedule work for timely completion.

　　Communicate and influence at all management levels.

　　Present information clearly, concisely, and convey technical information in non-technical terms with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

　　Be part of a team and have strong interpersonal skills with the aptitude to build and maintain positive relationships at all levels in an organization.

　　Be detail oriented, highly organized, and individually responsible.

　　Quickly learn and become familiar with technical subjects.

　　Ensure EEO/ AAP compliance according to CU’s policy 2.29.

　　Physical Requirements:

　　Typically, sedentary work. Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word and receive detailed information through oral communication. Substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers, and close visual acuity to operate a computer is required. Bending and stooping may be required for filing and file retrieval. Must be able to work in stressful situations involving employees.

　　Working Conditions:

　　Normal office environment, with occasional night and weekend work required.

　　Miscellaneous Requirements:

　　Employee must remain alert and aware of their surroundings at all times and maintain the ability to respond to changing circumstances in a timely manner.

　　Must be able to work successfully with diverse groups of people.

　　TESTING:

　　Testing may be required.

　　Full/Part Time: : Full-time - Regular

　　Work Schedule: : 8AM To 5PM MON-FRI

　　Work Locations : MO-Springfield

　　Department : Pricing

　　Supervisor's Title: : Director - Rates and Fuels

　　Pay Range: : Salary Grade 59: Minimum: $90,731.16/ annual Midpoint: $113,413.56

　　Job Posting : Jan 17, 2024, 10:18:23 AM

　　Req ID: 23000327