Senior Regulatory Analyst

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15 days sick leave

15 days annual leave

13 paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Military leave

Health coverage including prescription

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Long‑term disability

Flexible spending accounts

Adoption assistance

Retirement plan

Supplemental retirement savings plan

Job summary

The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) seeks a regulatory planning professional to perform oversight of electric and natural gas utilities, evaluate resource plans, and provide analyses to support informed decisions by the Public Service Commission and other state bodies.

Key duties include coordinating year-long assessments, collaborating with utilities, and presenting findings and recommendations. Office-based in Columbia, SC, with a focus on reliability and consumer interests.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance, mathematics, economics, engineering or related field.
• Experience with regulatory analysis and utility sector knowledge is preferred.
• Ability to analyze complex data and communicate findings clearly.
• Familiarity with IRP and energy planning concepts is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and prepare a comprehensive South Carolina energy assessment and action plan over ten years to ensure reliable, affordable electricity and gas.
• Collaborate with electrical utilities and Santee Cooper to aggregate data from IRPs for a statewide view.
• Detail factors and make recommendations as required by statute and regulatory guidance.
• Manage external consultants when needed and present findings to PSC hearings under oath.
• Review long-range IRPs, capacity expansion models, and forecasted energy scenarios.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Regulatory analysis

Communication skills

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance, mathematics, economics, engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

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.

South Carolina is a great place to live and work! The State of South Carolina offers its employees generous benefits and a healthy work-life balance.

FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR FUTURE

• 15 days sick leave


• 15 days annual leave


• 13 paid holidays


• Paid parental leave


• Military leave


• Health coverage including prescriptions


• Dental


• Vision


• Life insurance


• Long‑term disability


• Flexible spending accounts


• Adoption assistance


• Retirement plan


• Supplemental retirement savings plan

Requirements

• 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.

Additional 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 Information

• 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.