Utility Analyst Electric Division

PowerLines; Hallowell (ME); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Work Flexibility

Professional Development

Career Growth

Inclusive Culture

Job summary

PowerLines is seeking a dedicated Utility Analyst to support Maine's MPUC in evaluating utility filings and conducting in-depth regulatory analyses. The role emphasizes deep case work, data gathering, and producing actionable recommendations for decision-makers.

You will review filings, perform financial and technical evaluations, and help draft staff analyses and policy reports. A hybrid work model and professional growth opportunities are available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a related field.
• Strong analytical and modeling skills with Excel or similar tools.
• Ability to dissect filings, proposals, and regulations and draw actionable insights.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate Utility Filings: review rate change requests, grid planning proposals, interconnection requests.
• Conduct In-Depth Analysis: perform financial, operational, and technical evaluations.
• Review and Synthesize Information: collect data from utilities and build a thorough regulatory case.
• Research & Application: interpret laws, regulations, and Commission precedent.
• Advisory Role: provide staff analyses and recommended decisions to Commissioners.
• Collaborate with Stakeholders: work with team members, external stakeholders, and utilities.

Skills

Critical Thinking & Analytical Reason

Attention to Detail

Intellectual Curiosity

Clear Communication

Proactive Initiative

Time Management

Collaboration & Teamwork

Education

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

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Role

As a Utility Analyst at the MPUC, you’ll provide expert analysis, advice, and support to the Commission’s leadership on a wide range of electric regulatory matters. You will play a key role in investigating utility filings, conducting complex analyses, and helping to shape important decisions that affect the state’s energy future. This is not strictly a data-analytics role; instead, it’s about delving deep into utility cases and related matters, performing detailed analyses, and drawing actionable conclusions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Evaluate Utility Filings: Review filings from electric and natural gas utilities, such as requests for rate changes, grid planning proposals, and interconnection requests. You’ll need to assess these proposals for alignment with regulatory expectations, technical feasibility, and their impact on consumers.

• Conduct In-Depth Analysis: Investigate complex cases by performing financial, operational, and/or technical evaluations. Your analysis will help guide decisions on whether utilities are operating effectively and efficiently.

• Review and Synthesize Information: Collect data from various sources, including utilities, to understand underlying issues and to build a thorough case for regulatory action. Maintain detailed documentation of your findings and reasoning.

• Research & Application: Interpret and apply laws, regulations, and Commission precedent to your analyses and recommendations.

• Advisory Role: Provide clear and concise expert recommendations to the MPUC Commissioners, including drafting staff analyses and recommended decisions, as well as other legislative and policy reports that influence regulatory outcomes.

• Collaborate with Stakeholders: Work alongside team members, external stakeholders, and utilities to gather insights and data, and to ensure that the regulatory process is thorough and well-informed.

This position offers a unique opportunity to get hands-on with a range of regulatory challenges and to directly influence decisions that affect Maine’s energy sector.

Why This Role is Exciting

Your role as a Utility Analyst will put you in the middle of critical energy discussions, where your work will have real-world consequences. Your efforts will help ensure the state's energy systems are reliable, sustainable, and affordable for consumers. We trust our analysts to take initiative, ask the right questions, and determine how best to approach complex problems. You’ll have the freedom to manage your own work within regulatory timeframes, exercise your judgment, and take an analysis from an initial question through to a clear, actionable conclusion. If you enjoy solving complex problems and digging into the details, this is a great fit.

Additionally, we offer:

• Hybrid Work Flexibility: Work remotely three days a week and spend two days a week in our office in Hallowell. (Must reside in Maine)

• Professional Development: Access to ongoing training and growth opportunities to support your career advancement.

• Career Growth: Opportunities to advance to Analyst II and Senior Analyst positions (included in salary range above).

• Inclusive Culture: Work in a collaborative and inclusive environment, where diverse perspectives are both necessary and valued.

Who We're Looking For

We’re looking for candidates who are intellectually curious, proactive, and able to handle complex analyses with attention to detail. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a team. You should be eager to tackle complex regulatory challenges, identify key issues and present clear, actionable recommendations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Candidates must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in finance, economics, accounting, business, engineering, science, mathematics, or a related field. The following skills and traits are equally necessary:

• Critical Thinking & Analytical Reasoning: The ability to break down complex issues, ask the right questions, and approach challenges with a structured problem‑solving mindset. You should be able to dissect filings, proposals and regulations, assess them from multiple angles, and draw actionable insights. Skilled in the use of Excel or other modeling tools for managing and evaluating data related to regulatory filings and utility performance is a must.

• Attention to Detail: A keen eye for identifying discrepancies, inconsistencies, or overlooked details in filings, reports, or technical documentation. You should demonstrate precision in your work, ensuring thorough evaluations and well‑supported recommendations.

• Intellectual Curiosity: A natural inclination to dive deep into unfamiliar topics, seek out new information, and continuously learn. We want someone who is not afraid to tackle complex regulatory issues and who thrives on solving difficult problems. You’ll need to be comfortable with ambiguity.

• Clear and Effective Communication: The ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, both in writing and verbally. You’ll need to present analyses and recommendations to diverse audiences—both technical and non‑technical—and to stakeholders who may have varying levels of understanding.

• Proven Initiative: We want someone who takes ownership of their work and is proactive in addressing challenges. Your ability to initiate research, seek out solutions, and ask insightful questions will be a key part of your success.

• Time Management & Organizational Skills: The ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects. You’ll need to demonstrate the ability to work independently, stay organized, and meet internal and external deadlines across multiple assignments without compromising quality.

• Collaboration and Teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively both independently and in teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in the utility sector.

• Expertise in utility ratemaking, or accounting, electrical engineering, or regulatory compliance.