Regulatory Analyst - Energy Planning

About the Department

The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) represents the public interest of South Carolina in utility regulation for the major utility industries – electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water/wastewater, and transportation – before the Public Service Commission (PSC), the court system, and state and federal regulatory bodies. Additionally, the ORS houses the state’s Energy Office, Broadband Office, Equipment Distribution Program (EDP), and has responsibility for oversight of railroad safety and natural gas pipeline safety in South Carolina. 

The ORS Energy Planning & Emerging Technology Department performs a wide variety of analytical, research and administrative functions in the regulation of investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities and the SC Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper). This position performs analytical duties related to the verification of utility models, data, and assumptions to ensure planning outcomes are cost-effective, reliable, and in the public interest. Additionally, this position will support the evaluation of electric utility Integrated Resources Plans (IRP), grid modernization efforts, distributed energy resources (DER), energy efficiency and demand side management programs (DSM/EE), electric vehicles (EV) infrastructure development, and other areas of emerging technology. Finally, this position will directly support implementation of various statutory requirements in the SC Energy Security Act No. 41 of 2025 (H.3309). Job responsibilities include:

• Prepare and present testimony and exhibits before the PSC for formal regulatory proceedings associated with IRPs, Avoided Costs, DSM/EE, DER, EV, or other programs related to emerging technologies. 
• Review and evaluate long-range electric IRPs as outlined by S.C. Code Ann. § 58-37-40.
• Review and analyze capacity expansion and production cost models, forecasted economic supply and demand curves, energy and capacity projections, resource adequacy, and various other technical studies.
• Analyze utility filings including, but not limited to IRPs, grid modernization plans, DER, DSM/EE, and EV programs, and Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) avoided cost filings. The position will work with the ORS Legal department to review: 
  • Testimonies, reports, and data request responses 
  • Cost of service studies, annual revenue requirements, and cost recovery proposals 
  • Utility financial reporting 

• Research and write reports, studies, data requests, and other documents.
• Analyze and interpret state and federal regulation, legislation, proposals, and other relevant material. 
• Coordinate and collaborate with professional consultants, regulated utilities, other state and federal government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and various industry and public stakeholders.
• Monitor the latest developments in the energy industry and emerging technologies.

Position Duties

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, statistics, data science, engineering (industrial, mechanical, electrical, civil) or related field and at least one year of professional experience related to the analyses or operation of electric or natural gas public utilities. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including, but not limited to, Excel (including advanced functions, data analysis, and model auditing), Word, and Outlook. 
• Critical thinking skills along with the desire to analyze/interpret data and validate results are imperative to success in the position.
• Understanding of regulatory principles, state and federal energy regulations applicable to investor-owned public utilities. Understanding of the design and operation of electric and natural gas generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
  

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge or experience in utility accounting, power system engineering, or resource planning is preferred. Familiarity with regulated utility rate making, capital and cost recovery, system production costing modeling, DSM/EE, renewable resources, transmission, and load forecasting is very desirable. 

Other Qualifications

• Position, on occasion, requires work after normal hours. 
• Must possess a valid driver's license. 
• All ORS employees are required to attend ethics training annually for continued employment. 
• All ORS employees are prohibited from owning equity in regulated utilities. 
• Work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. 
• Remote work is not available, and employees work in-office at 1901 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Benefits

Agency Information

EmployerState of South CarolinaAgency Office of Regulatory Staff Address 1901 Main Street
Suite 1500
Columbia, South Carolina, 29201 Phone803-737-0800