The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California's power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by "keeping the lights on" 24/7.

As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market that is designed to diversify resources and lower prices. It also grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

The California ISO's function is often compared to that of air traffic controllers. It would be grossly unfair for air traffic controllers to represent one airline and profit from allowing that company's planes to go through before others. In the same way, the California ISO operates independently—managing the electron traffic on a power grid we do not own—making sure electricity is safely delivered to utilities and consumers on time and reliably.

***This is a 40-hour a week, contractor position***

Under the general direction of the Manager, Monitoring & Reporting, an analyst is responsible for reporting on and conducting analyses of overall market performance and efficiency, the impact of proposed revisions to market rules, behavior of market participants; and development and evaluation of appropriate options for prevention or resolution of potential market design problems, inefficiencies, gaming or non-compliance with market rules.  This position will focus on review of negotiated reference cost parameters, which are inputs to market power mitigation.      

Your the Assignment Would Consist Of: 

• Uses engineering expertise to assess information provided in support of operations and maintenance reference cost calculations, which are used in market power mitigation in the various markets of the ISO.
• Performs evaluation of all components of operations and maintenance applications and supporting documentation (may include engineering studies, maintenance contracts, etc.), adhering to the ISO Tariff and business practice manuals.
• Communicates with market participants that request to negotiate operations and maintenance adders, and ensures accurately and timely delivery of the reference costs for inclusion in market processes.
• Monitors and analyzes market performance, market participant behavior and compliance with market rules.
• Designs and calculates indices for monitoring market performance and market participant behavior.
• Assists in the design, development and management of surveillance/monitoring systems used in identifying, analyzing and investigating market performance, efficiency, participant behavior and compliance with market rules.
• Participates in the development of enhanced Tariff provisions or other options for improving market design and efficiency, preventing and sanctioning market gaming, abuses and non-compliance with the ISO Tariff or other relevant contracts and market rules.
• Provides guidance and expertise to staff within the department.
• Performs investigations of market performance, behavior and design issues and creates special analytical reports as needed
• Prepares and analyzes data queries, reports, charts and slide presentations to support special studies, investigations, Board Meetings and Market Monitoring Assessment reports.
• Maintains a highly secure and protected market investigation process.

Level of Education 

• A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) required engineering (particularly mechanical), Economics, Business,  or Operations Research, or related technical field  
• Master’s (MS, MA, or MBA) or Ph.D degree highly preferred.

Amount of Experience 

• Two or more years of related experience.

Type of Experience 

• Experience in one or more of the following areas:  
  • mechanical engineering
  • mechanics of power plants
  • power plant operations and planning
  • maintenance contract development
  • econometrics
  • statistical analysis
  • industrial organization
  • market performance monitoring
  • utility operations and planning
  • energy trading
  • applied economic analysis
  • regulatory and policy analysis etc.  
• Experience with data verification, large data sets, econometrics, computer modeling, programming techiques and analysis of electricity and fuel market performance is helpful.   
• Demonstrated skills directly related to or transferable to market monitoring. 
• Familiarity with the analysis of electric market operations and performance, and/or design and operation of California or other Western energy markets desirable. 
• Working knowledge of SAS and SQL queries and SQL database formats, as well as other analytical computer skills (e.g. Excel).

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.