Economist(Hybrid)

Economist

Hybrid

Recruitment #260417-3150AR-001

Location New Britain, CT

Date Opened 4/28/2026 08:57:00 AM Salary $74,750* - $96,734/year (*New to state employees start at minimum of salary range.) Job Type Open to the Public Close Date 5/18/2026 11:59:00 PM

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Introduction

PURA has an opportunity for an Economist position in the Utility Performance and Analysis (UPA) Unit within its Office of Technical and Regulatory Analysis (TRA), located at PURA’s office in New Britain, CT. The UPA Unit is one of six technical units within PURA’s TRA Office and is responsible for modernizing utility regulation and improving public utility performance.

The Economist will assist UPA with the implementation of key portions of Public Act 20-5, known as the “Take Back Our Grid” Act, to modernize regulation of the state's electric distribution companies (EDCs) and gas utilities. Specifically, the Economist will assist UPA with the implementation of a performance-based regulation (PBR) framework for the state's EDCs, focusing on the development, collection, and analysis of performance metrics and economic evaluations of EDC grid plans and investments to ensure alignment with the public interest and policy goals.

What We Can Offer You

• Visit our NEW State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
  
  

KEY TOPICS, PROGRAMS OR DECISIONS OVERSEEN BY UPA INCLUDE

• Modernized regulatory and ratemaking mechanisms;
• Analysis of utility performance metrics and scorecards;
• Investigating innovative grid technologies for Connecticut; and
• Coordinating the state’s retail electric supply.
  
  

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Located at PURA’s Headquarters, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT.
• Full-time, 40 hours per week, working Monday-Friday.
• Hybrid in-office schedule.
• Professional growth and career advancement opportunities available.
  
  

The Economist will support the above topics, in addition to coordinating with other units in TRA. For the full range of specific position duties, please see the "Examples of Duties" section below for more information.

About Us

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) oversees Connecticut’s investor‑owned utilities to ensure safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible service across the electric, natural gas, water and telecommunications sectors.

As a quasi‑judicial agency, PURA interprets and applies state utility laws, sets rates, advances grid modernization, regulates markets, ensures infrastructure safety and supports consumers through oversight, education and system planning.

For an inside look at what it's like to work as an employee for the State of Connecticut, please watch the video below!

Selection Plan

For Assistance In Applying

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

Before You Apply

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
  
  

After You Apply

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
• For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
  
  

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Brianna Linehan at Brianna.Linehan@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in economics.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Acts as a working level economic specialist in a state agency on economic matters;
• Assists in the planning, development and improvement of business and commerce in the state;
• Conducts economic studies including research and analysis in industrial, commercial, labor, financial and regulatory areas to develop data related to programs or services of the agency assigned and formulates recommendations concerning these studies;
• Conducts and reviews cost/benefit analyses on economic development programs;
• Studies trends in labor and/or business activity and its components;
• Researches and provides oral and written reports;
• Researches and provides testimony on legislative proposals;
• Develops procedures and econometric tests for improved monitoring of financial institutions;
• Participates in economic model building and forecasting;
• May perform studies of corporate expansion into Connecticut including site location, fiscal incentives, utilities rates and labor market skills availability;
• Performs related duties as required.
  
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
• advanced economic theory and analysis;
• principles, techniques and factors involved in financial and/or regulatory economic development;
• urban and regional economics;
• methods and techniques of inferential statistics and econometric modeling;
• Skills
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
• develop programs and use prepackaged computer programs to perform economic, statistical and econometric analysis;
• perform varied assignments on economic matters;
• organize and conduct economic studies and surveys.
  

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

Six (6) years of professional experience in applied economics or economic research.

Minimum Qualifications - Substitutions Allowed

• College training in economics or a closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equallling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in economics or in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• A doctoral degree in economics or closely related fields may be substituted for two (2) additional years of the General Experience.
• Successful completion of a Connecticut Careers Trainee program approved by the Department of Administrative Services may be substituted for the General Experience.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, environmental studies, political science, sustainability, urban studies, or engineering;
• An advanced degree in economics, engineering, renewable energy, environmental studies, climate change, public utility regulation, business administration, or finance;
• Experience working in utility economics, energy economics, utility regulation, or management consulting;
• Experience working on utility grid modernization initiatives, deployment of clean and renewable energy programs, or climate change policy;
• Experience writing technical reports, white papers, position papers, policy papers, or academic articles for a general audience that provide conclusions or recommendations supported by documented evidence;
• Experience applying statistical analysis methods or economic analysis techniques to evaluate utility performance, regulatory mechanisms, or cost‑effectiveness of utility investments;
• Experience conducting quantitative analysis using energy, financial, or utility economic datasets, and synthesizing results;
• Experience applying data management practices and procedures, such as organizing, cleaning, and maintaining datasets used for quantitative or economic analysis;
• Experience building relationships and collaborating with colleagues across disciplines;
• Experience managing projects, working on 2 or more projects simultaneously, while adhering to deadlines;
• Experience using Microsoft Office 365 applications.
  
  

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

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