Legislative Analyst (Public Utilities)

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The Florida Legislature
Office of Public Counsel

The Office of Public Counsel seeks two exceptional candidates to provide professional and technical support in complex litigation impacting Florida’s utility customers.

THE WORK YOU WILL DO

The Office of Public Counsel seeks two talented and professionally experienced analysts to work under the direction of the Chief Public Utilities Analyst to provide technical support for a variety of significant cases that will have statewide impact. Relying upon the core talents and accomplishments in your current profession, you will quickly develop multi-disciplinary skillsets in accounting, finance, economics, engineering, corporate tax and investment, and public utility regulation to begin your journey to become a top industry expert. It will be your responsibility to provide technical guidance to attorneys and national experts to support affordable outcomes in utility cases for 18 million Florida customers. You will be required to evaluate and support hearings involving utility rate case affordability, data center tariffs and agreements, storm hardening plans, hurricane restoration, investigate utility facilities and operations, and promote the cost-effective integration of new energy technologies.

OUR ORGANIZATION

The Office of Public Counsel has zealously represented Florida’s customers in high profile litigation for the past 52 years. We intervene as a matter of right as the statutory representatives of residential, commercial, and industrial customers in proceedings involving the collective interests of all customers of Florida’s investor owned utilities. Our advocates actively confront critical affordability issues where the amounts in controversy can exceed billions of dollars in public hearings before the Public Service Commission.

The Office of Public Counsel performs independent analyses, presents testimony of expert witnesses, deposes and cross-examines utility witnesses, and prepares detailed legal briefs and recommendations. You will work with attorneys and staff as a member of a coordinated litigation team. Our analysts review extensive case filings and provide critical technical advice to guide the cooperative development of effective legal strategies.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED

• Learning and Personal Growth: Devote yourself to mastering the technical aspects of public utilities regulation, we will invest the substantial time and resources required to prepare you for success as a multidisciplinary public utility analyst.

• Lead the Fight for Much Needed Regulatory Change: As you gain subject-matter mastery, promote the development of new customer protections and recommend improvements that produce increasingly positive outcomes for customers.

• Expertise and Guidance: Display your growing subject-matter expertise by providing in-depth analyses of complex utility filings and effectively explain your findings in helpful briefings and emails.

• Depositions and Cross Examination: Support the effective conduct of written and oral examination of industry experts and executives by drafting technical questions that highlight the weaknesses in each utility’s case.

• Expert Witnesses: Assist attorney to prepare our industry experts for depositions and hearings.

• Demonstrate Initiative: Participate by providing your ideas on ways to improve the effectiveness of our customer advocacy. If a technique or strategy isn’t working, let’s try something different.

• Support litigation to achieve workable solutions for Florida’s communities and businesses.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Creative problem solving.

• Display increasing mastery of the multidisciplinary skills required to effectively litigate against investor-owned utility companies in Florida. These skills include accounting, finance, tax regulation, contracts, engineering, corporate management, and public utility regulation.

• Review, assess, and effectively utilize complex industry documents, corporate filings, graphs, charts, engineering schematics, and regulatory filings.

• Apply applicable state and federal legislation, laws, and rules.

• Employ analytical reasoning to anticipate challenges and implement creative solutions.

• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

• Display independent leadership, cooperative teamwork, initiative, and common sense.

• Work cooperatively with outside office staff, expert witnesses, officials, and public staff to seek workable solutions.

• Collaborate with in-house staff on an individual basis.

• Conduct effective and efficient meetings and presentations.

• Prepare authoritative and persuasive memoranda to guide industry staff in reaching well-supported outcomes that are fair, just and reasonable.

• Conduct relevant and effective computations to check the accuracy of filed documentary evidence and in support of alternatives that promote fair, just, and reasonable outcomes for our customers.

• Support the preparation of trial briefs, motions, pleadings, and oral arguments.

• Exercise stewardship over all public funds and property.

• Uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.

• Safeguard confidential and sensitive information and reinforce these standards throughout the office.

• Treat all people with courtesy, dignity, and respect.

• Zealously advocate for affordable utility rates and other positive customer outcomes.

• Put forth the full effort required to organize, plan, and achieve our litigation goals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A professional 4-year degree from an accredited university and at least five years of significant experience in one of the multidisciplinary subject areas mentioned above. Professional licenses and experience in utility industry regulation are highly valued but not required. You will quickly develop industry-specific knowledge on the job.

SALARY RANGE

$44,580 – 94,788. Current salary, relevant skills, education, experience, and licensing credentials are relevant factors for supporting requested salary.

BENEFITS

The Legislature offers a competitive benefits package, which includes excellent individual and family health benefits including free dental insurance. Retirement plan options that include employer contributions. Utilize state tuition opportunities to secure advanced degrees. Enjoy a generous upfront allotment of leave, sick leave, and holidays. Achieve work-life balance by embracing the unique

opportunity to capture a total of 200 excess hours towards block leave, after supporting 3-5 multi-day cases per year.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

This position will remain open until it is filled.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

Qualified applicants should submit an application and detailed resume through the Florida Legislature's Job Portal.

ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITY

Please notify Human Resources at (850) 488-6803 regarding accommodation for persons with disabilities.

You are encouraged to explore this opportunity by contacting the Public Counsel, Walt Trierweiler, directly by phone or text at (850) 717-0326, or by email at Trierweiler.Walt@leg.state.fl.us.

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Nearest Major Market: Tallahassee