Senior Regulatory Analyst

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 and evaluative research and administrative functions in the regulation of investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities. This position performs regulatory oversight duties related to utility operations, financial impacts on both utilities and customers, electric and natural gas reliability, commodity forecasts, and other regulatory oversight functions. Additionally, this position may support the evaluation of electric utilities' Integrated Resource Plans (IRP), grid modernization efforts, distributed energy resources (DER), and energy efficiency and demand side management (EE/DSM). Job responsibilities include:

• Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 58-4-150, coordinate and prepare a comprehensive South Carolina energy assessment and action plan (Plan) that identifies recommended actions over a ten-year period to ensure the availability of adequate, reliable, and economical supply of electric power and natural gas to the people and economy of South Carolina.
  • Collaborate with the electrical utilities and the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper), to aggregate data and analyses from their most recent IRPs, approved by the commission, in order to create a statewide comprehensive view.
  • Detail factors and make recommendations as outlined S.C. Code Ann. § 58-4-150.
  • Manage and coordinate work with outside consultants when necessary.
  • Develop and include recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or other public and private actions to best ensure a reliable and reasonably priced energy supply in South Carolina that supports the continued growth and success of this State. Confer with the stakeholder group to ensure the recommendations would likely achieve the intended result for the electric grid, electric generation, and natural gas resources serving South Carolina customers.
• Prepare, assist, and present findings, recommendations, and the ORS positions in procedural hearings by testifying under oath before the PSC on utility day-to-day operations, power plant construction, operations and performance, power plant and utility equipment maintenance, company policy and procedure compliance, cost of service studies, cost recovery proposals, depreciation studies, forecasting methodology, annual revenue requirements, rate design, financial reporting, IRPs, Avoided Costs, EE/DSM, Electric Vehicles, and other matters or emerging technologies related to regulated utilities.
• Review and evaluate long-range 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.
• Serve as a liaison with and provide information and other educational resources to the public, utilities, and other various stakeholders regarding electric and natural gas utility regulation.

Position Duties

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance, mathematics, economics, engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil, or nuclear) or other related field. 
• At least three years of professional experience related to the analyses, operations, or regulation of investor-owned or government owned electric or natural gas utilities.
• Knowledge of electric and natural gas utility operations and regional transmission planning structure including Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations. 
• Proficiency using current technology and computer software including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to independently research, analyze, and apply technical and complex data. 
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately in verbal and written form. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to apply basic accounting principles to review and analyze utility financial statements including, but not limited to, income statement, balance sheet and depreciation schedule.
• Familiarity with electric generation technologies and performance metrics including the application of North American Reliability Corporation (NERC) Generation Availability Data System (GADS) data.

Other Qualifications

• Position requires limited travel to include evening and/or out-of-town meetings. 
• 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