What are the responsibilities and job description for the Power Settlements Analyst I position at Northern CA Power Agency?
Final Filing Date: First review of applications will be on March 24, 2025. NCPA reserves the right to close this posting once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Responsible for the detailed analysis and verification of operational and financial market results that are produced from the continuous, around-the-clock scheduling coordination activities associated with California’s wholesale electric and natural gas markets and bilateral power transactions. Using various in-house developed custom software applications, the Power Settlements analyst verifies the accuracy of financial results for electrical load costs as well as numerous electric generating facility projects and energy imports that utilize a diverse mix of conventional and renewable energy supply resources to serve electrical demand within the California Independent System Operation (CAISO) Balancing Authority Area (BAA). Performs detailed analysis and confirmation of allocated costs and revenues to NCPA’s Member utilities associated with its Member Power Pool operations and associated power management programs.
The Power Settlements Analyst works primarily using Oracle Structured Query Language (SQL) to develop and perform complex, ad hoc queries across different data sources to calculate financial performance with respect to Members’ budgeted costs; produce purchased power cost reports; research to confirm the accurate allocation of costs and revenues among Members; perform validation of five (5) minute interval meter data for load and supply resources, among other assigned duties and responsibilities. Utilizes different computer software applications to verify or correct results. Maintain, follow and develop, where needed, detailed processes and procedures. Ensure correction of any variances and the accurate resettlement of energy charges while maintaining detailed records and meeting performance metrics.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This position requires that the incumbent reports for work on time and maintains satisfactory attendance in accordance with Agency policy; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives to meetings and appointments on time; Performs special assignments as assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Responsibilities:
Develop and run database queries to produce various reports to identify and perform analytical research to determine settlement results as well as to determine the cause of settlement variances for the NCPA Pool, California Independent System Operator (“CAISO”), Western Area Power Administration, NCPA Energy Service Providers (“ESP”), and others.
Resolve variances within the guidelines provided by the Power Settlements Supervisor (e.g., informal troubleshooting with balancing authority or other counterparty staff, submission of formal disputes, internal inquiries to front office or information services staff).
Learn and apply continued knowledge growth to work duties, where applicable, with respect to evolving wholesale power industry policies, tariffs, business rules, and procedures.
Validate load and generator meter data received from CAISO or meter management provider with independent data sources. Validate recorder IDs derived from meters and schedules and then reported to the balancing authority.
Validate monthly natural gas and pipeline capacity and transportation bills and invoices associated with thermal generating facilities.
Perform time-sensitive monthly third-party check-out process with counter-parties and validate broker account invoices. Verify transactions in accordance with Risk Management Committee policy and procedures.
Acquire relevant power generation and purchase/sales transaction data for processing participants’ monthly Pool allocation portion of the NCPA All Resources Power Bill. These duties include preparation of the monthly All Resources Bill for forwarding month estimates and prior period true-up adjustments and allocations. Perform annual rerun of the Pool settlements for the participant’s annual budget true-up process.
Validate daily and reconcile monthly ISO settlement statements and invoices for multiple Schedule Coordinator IDs within defined timelines.
Meet or exceed settlement dispute targets. Allocate daily and monthly ISO charges and credits to NCPA ESP clients and Pool Members.
Track GHG (Greenhouse Gas) obligations for thermal resources and energy imported into California.
Assist with testing and implementation of new market initiatives and/or customers/Scheduling Coordination accounts (e.g., ISO, Western, Energy Imbalance Market (“EIM”), Community Choice Energy/Aggregators (“CCE”).
Track and validate Renewable Energy Credits. Serve as NCPA’s Qualified Reporting Entity representative to Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (“WREGIS”) or its successor.
Provide regular feedback to Power Management and Generation Services regarding settlement outcomes.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from a four-year college or university with an emphasis on quantitative analysis. Four (4) years of prior experience as a Power Settlements Analyst is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Knowledge:
Knowledge of spreadsheet software, word processing software, and e-mail skills using Windows/Microsoft-based applications; Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Power BI; Knowledge of California Independent System Operator (CAISO); database software systems; and effective communication skills.
Abilities:
Ability to retrieve detailed records and summary-level data from NCPA’s Oracle database systems through the use of Structured Query Language (“SQL”) statements in proprietary software (e.g., SAS, Toad, SQL Developer, Oracle Database Connection (“ODBC”)) and process through proprietary or open-source software programming applications (e.g., SAS, Visual Basic for Applications (“VBA”), R, Python, Excel workbooks); Ability to read, analyze, and interpret CAISO tariff, NCPA operating agreements and contracts, standard industry purchase power agreements, technical procedures, and governmental regulations; Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals; Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public; and the Ability to analyze and interpret settlement formulas expressed in summation notation.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Valid California Driver's License and insurance.
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination.
