Utilities Regulation Engineer 3

State of Iowa; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Excellent health, dental, and vision

IPERS retirement and deferred comp

Flexible spending accounts

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

State of Iowa’s Iowa Utilities Commission seeks an Utilities Regulation Engineer to support regulatory reviews, rate cases, and engineering analyses. You will examine service offerings, oversee depreciation studies, and respond to inquiries while testifying in formal proceedings.

You will lead investigations, develop criteria, and use engineering models to influence policy and ensure safe, affordable utility services for Iowans. Collaboration with staff and stakeholders is essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in civil, electrical, mechanical, nuclear, valuation engineering, or engineering economics with relevant utility experience.
• Postgraduate coursework can substitute for one year of experience in some cases.
• Licensed Professional Engineer by the Iowa board is preferred or required.
• Current experience in state executive branch may count toward qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Participate in appraisal, depreciation studies, and engineering cost studies for utility properties.
• Evaluate new service offerings for approval, modification, or denial.
• Investigate customer complaints and safety conditions of utility facilities.
• Provide information for department presentations and cross-examination questions.
• Testify and defend staff positions in regulatory proceedings.
• Inform the public of anticipated utility facility changes at meetings.
• Interpret engineering and regulatory codes for agency and public utility staff.
• Use computer models to analyze utility operations for policy, rate cases, or rulemaking.
• Lead or participate in research projects on public utility regulation issues.
• Develop criteria and evaluate data to ensure reliable service at lowest possible cost.
• Review franchise petitions and service modification requests for compliance.

Skills

Engineering principles

Utilities regulation

Design

Mathematics

Customer service

Law & government

English proficiency

Written communication

Education

Engineering degree (civil/electrical/mechanical/etc.)

Postgraduate coursework substitution (accounting/finance/economics/engineering)

Professional Engineer license

Experience in state regulatory environment

Tools

Computer modeling software

Regulatory databases

Job description

Utilities Regulation Engineer

About Us:

The Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) is a public agency dedicated to promoting transparency, accessibility, and accountability in utility regulation. Our work ensures Iowans are informed and engaged in the regulatory processes that affect their daily lives. Through effective oversight, we help safeguard public safety, reliability, and fairness in utility services. As part of our team, you’ll play a key role in ensuring compliance, supporting safe operations, and protecting Iowa communities.

What You’ll Do:

As a Utilities Regulation Engineer, you will:

• Participate in appraisal, evaluation, and depreciation studies of utility properties and engineering cost studies.

• Examine and evaluate information submitted with new service offerings to recommend approval, modification, or denial.

• Conduct or direct investigations of customer complaints and of operation, service, and public safety conditions of utility facilities.

• Provide information for Department presentations and formulate cross-examination questions for public utility company witnesses.

• Present and support the staff position in formal proceedings by testifying and submitting to cross‑examination on technical issues.

• Inform the public of anticipated major utility facility additions by acting as the agency representative at informational meetings.

• Provide interpretations of professional engineering and regulatory codes to agency and public utility personnel.

• Utilize computer models and engineering applications to analyze information regarding various aspects of utility operations for policy making, rate cases, staff training, long‑range planning, or drafting administrative rules or legislation.

• Perform as a project leader or project staff member in conducting research projects concerning public utility regulation issues.

• Identify and/or develop criteria and evaluate utility data to assure reasonable and adequate utility service to the public at the lowest possible cost.

• Review engineering data contained in franchise petitions, pipeline permits, and service modification requests to determine compliance with engineering standards and federal and state regulations.

Who We’re Looking For:

Individuals who can perform operations research and evaluation or specialized engineering work for the Utilities Division of the Iowa Department of Commerce in the investigation and regulation of one or more types of utility operations, under general supervision.

Your Competencies:

• Required Knowledge:

  • Engineering and Technology: Practical application of engineering science and technology, including principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to design and production.

  • Utilities: Utility valuation principles, techniques, and standards in areas such as depreciation methods, cost allocation, production cost allocation, rate design, and classifying/allocating utility cost of service.

  • Design: Design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • Mathematics: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • Customer Service: Principles and processes for providing customer services, including needs assessment, quality standards, and satisfaction evaluation.

  • Law and Government: Laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

  • English Language: Structure and content of the English language, including meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand

We Value You:

At the State of Iowa, we are committed to your well‑being. As a valued team member, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid Time Off: Enjoy vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave with no limits on sick leave accrual.

• Great Benefits: Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance options.

• Retirement Plan: IPERS retirement package and an option for a deferred compensation plan.

• Flexibility: Flexible spending accounts (medical and dependent care).

• Life Insurance: Free life insurance.

• Support: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Discount Programs.

To learn more about the benefits of working with the State of Iowa, benefits webpage.

Why Join Us:

At the Iowa Utilities Commission, you’ll find more than just a job — you’ll find a mission‑driven career that makes a difference. We foster a supportive and innovative work environment where your contributions directly benefit Iowa communities and promote a sustainable energy future.

At the IUC, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply and bring their unique perspectives to our team.

The Iowa Utilities Commission is an equal opportunity employer.

E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in civil engineering, petroleum engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, valuation engineering, engineering economics, depreciation engineering, or industrial (i.e., engineering management, operations research, or engineering operations) engineering, and experience equal to three years of full-time work in the planning, forecasting, researching, designing, managing, operating, or evaluating of electric, telecommunications, gas, or water facilities or systems.
2. Number one above, where twenty‑four semester hours of postgraduate coursework in accounting, business administration, computer science, economics, finance, statistics, or any engineering discipline from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of the required full-time work experience.
3. Licensed as a professional engineer by the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examination Board.
4. Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to twelve months of full‑time work as a Utilities Regulation Engineer 2.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Travel, including overnight travel, may be required for positions in this class. Employees must arrange transportation to and from assigned work areas. Some out-of-state travel may be required, as assigned by the employing agency. Select positions may require incumbents to provide their own means of transportation in order to conduct state business.