Economist

NW Natural
Portland - United States
S: See advert

NW Natural offers an Economist 3 (Energy or Environmental) opportunity to interested applicants. The following is a summary of the position specifics.

Purpose of Position:
Analyzes data and statistics relevant to demand and price forecasts, gas rates, DSM/DR programs, gas resource portfolio modeling and analysis for management review; advises on energy and/or environmental policy matters, assists with decision support, prepares project financial analysis as needed; prepares or assists in preparation of integrated resource plan, prepares or assists in preparation of rate design or other special studies as needed; contributes to a team environment.

Position Essential Functions:
• Prepares models and analyses for utility forecasts, integrated resource planning, and other regulatory activities.
• Prepares and assembles various data, calculations, and chart preparations needed for management review and decision making, as well as, advising management on energy or environmental policy matters..
• Prepares supply-side resource portfolio modeling and analysis.
• Prepares or assists in preparing integrated resource plan.
• Performs financial modeling and analysis including IRR, NPV, ROI, and ROE calculations to evaluate project economics.
• Maintains and updates monthly histories of residential, commercial, industrial and transportation customers by state and rate schedule; and produces special project studies from these data bases.
• Builds and manages relationships with outside regulators and interested parties, responds to data requests, prepares reports for regulatory review.
• Performs economic analysis and other special studies as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Manager.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate peak periods.
• Supports Company's commitment to a culture of safe work practices.

Position Qualifications:
• Masters required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience statistical analysis, modeling and forecasting skills.
• Must have experience building and utilizing econometric models.
• Experience with statistical or data mining programming in R, SAS, SPSS, MatLab or Stata preferred.
• Experience with IMPLAN, REMI, or other economic impact analysis software preferred but not required.
• Experience in a regulated business environment preferred. Discipline or coursework and experience in accounting helpful but not required.
• Knowledge of technical and economic characteristics of energy business strongly preferred. Familiarity with economic regulation of public utilities, energy industry terminology, and utility tariffs and rate structures preferred.
• Must have experience managing complex projects across disciplines.
• Must have advanced computer skills including advanced skills in Excel spreadsheet, Access data base and Word applications. Demonstrated skill and ability to produce effective written communication, including report preparation, and statistical documentation for a variety of audiences.
• Excellent verbal skills, ability to apply group facilitation techniques and make group presentations.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work independently to accomplish personal responsibilities.

Salary Range: $77,450-$94,900-$112,300 (Grade 21) depending on qualifications

Job summary