Assistant Consumer Advocate I/II/III

The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) seeks a full-time attorney to serve as an Assistant Consumer Advocate focusing on federal litigation and policy at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and to act as the OCA’s designated representative at PJM, the regional transmission organization coordinating the wholesale electricity system in Pennsylvania and 12 other states. While the focus of the position will be primarily federal, the position will also support state advocacy depending on the needs of the office.
 
The OCA is the statutory representative of Pennsylvania utility consumers before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), federal regulatory agencies, and state and federal courts.

Telework: Part-time telework is a potential feature of this position. The salaries for these positions will generally depend on the qualifications and experience level of the applicant and can fall within the following ranges:

Note: Candidates who have 10 years of legal experience or significant experience in utility or energy policy will be considered to be hired as a Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate with a salary higher than those listed above.

• Analyze and research regulatory filings.
• Attend and actively represent the interests of the OCA in meetings of PJM Senior Stakeholder Committees.
• Review and analyze major PJM filings at FERC and the FERC Orders that rule on those filings.
• Manage and direct expert witnesses, including coordinating the development of testimony and preparing them for cross-examination.
• Participate in Consumer Advocates of the PJM States (CAPS) meetings and activities.
• Represent the OCA in hearings before FERC and the PUC in rate cases and other filings.
• Travel to and represent the OCA in education and outreach events throughout the Commonwealth.
• Assist consumers, both formally and informally, in complaint proceedings before the PUC.
• Participate in rulemaking proceedings before the PUC and FERC.

• Licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania resident or resident within 6 months of employment.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and challenging legal environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Career objective or experience in consumer protection, administrative law and policy, or public interest field.

• An understanding of Pennsylvania energy and political landscape including knowledge of Pennsylvania’s Electricity Competition Act
• An understanding of the Federal/State division in the regulation of electricity with knowledge of the Federal Power Act.
• Knowledge of the major FERC Orders that have shaped the current state of the electric industry. (Orders 888, 890,1000, 2000, 679, 719, 745, 2222, 2023, 1920)
• An understanding of the purpose of Regional Transmission Organizations, with emphasis on PJM.
• A working knowledge of the four principal PJM Governing Documents – PJM Tariff, PJM Operating Agreement, PJM Reliability Assurance Agreement and Consolidated Transmission Owners Agreement.
• A working knowledge of how PJM’s different markets for energy, capacity and ancillary services work.
• A working knowledge of the PJM transmission planning process including differences between planning for baseline vs. supplemental projects.