Residential Energy Policy Analyst

Under the general direction of the Program and Project Supervisor, the analyst’s role generally includes:

 

The Residential Energy Policy Analyst specifically will be responsible for recommending and effectively implementing policy to deliver energy efficiency to residential customers. Multi family buildings continue to be a difficult to treat segment of the energy efficiency market. On June 3, 2021, CPUC voted to invest $441 million, or $80 million annually for 2021-2026, for scaling up whole building weatherization of income qualified customers in multi family buildings. The draft 2021 potential and goals study forecasts that market rate residential building stock holds 52% of opportunity for electricity reduction from all California buildings. In 2021, $177 million or 28% of the approved EE budget across residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and public sectors is dedicated to reducing residential sector energy consumption. The Residential Energy Analyst’s responsibilities cut across both of income qualified and market rate initiatives. For example, specific responsibilities may include ensuring utilities successfully execute and attain benefits achieved from:

 

This staff position is unique as they serve to coordinate between program offerings to both market rate and income qualified customers. The staff in this position will coordinate among stakeholders on appropriate metrics for ensuring a sufficient benefit is achieved to justify the investments made, while also identifying any issues with duplication of effort or gaps in service to customers between the scope of the two portfolios.

 

To support California in effectively transitioning the residential efficiency to align with recent policy decisions and to ultimately support the state’s energy efficiency goals and track progress toward these goals, the Analyst will:

In these efforts, the Analyst will collaborate with state and local government agencies that have shared mission in equitably delivering benefits to residential energy customers. The analyst will also take a broad and strategic view, and collaborate with other divisions across the Commission, to add value through considering the bigger picture state and commission goals. Specifically, we will work together to meet California’s goal of a carbon-free electric system by 2045 and through the Commission’s integrated resource planning effort, do so affordably, reliably, and safely.

 

We are in a climate crisis that requires evolution of our electric grid and energy system. Energy Division’s Energy Efficiency Branch oversees policies and a portfolio of programs critical to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to support reaching state’s goal of a carbon free electric sector by 2045.

 

At the same time, California’s investments in energy efficiency programs were limited to those that result in greater dollar value from energy saved than the dollars invested (i.e. cost-effective). Energy savings targets (and thus GHG reduction) had declined in recent years because opportunities to achieve cost-effective savings have reduced. Furthermore, as regulators overseeing these EE program administrators, our priority is not only achieving energy savings and climate goals cost effectively, but simultaneously ensuring that the portfolio of EE programs align and support environmental, social justice and consumer protection goals set by the CPUC and state statutes. Therefore, in two consecutive Commission Voting meetings in 2021, May 20th and June 3rd, the CPUC reset the policy, allowing increased program dollars spent on retrofits, delivery of deeper savings to participating customers, and ensuring the customers in greatest need participate and benefit.

 

In the Procurement and Portfolio Management Section within the Energy Efficiency Branch, we regulate Energy Efficiency (EE) programs across electric and gas Investor Owned Utilities (IOU), Regional Energy Networks (RENs), and Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs). We set the energy efficiency budgets and portfolio of programs for both market-rate customers and income qualified customers. Together the budget is $1 billion annually and with tangible impacts of economic prosperity with delivery of programs, continuing to reduce customer energy bills in a time when the fraction of population unable to afford their bills is rising, reducing greenhouse gas emissions to support reaching state’s goal of a carbon free electric sector by 2045, and reduced costs of procuring new generation and transmission to meet energy demand.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is one of the most influential regulatory agencies in the United States. Amongst other things, the CPUC regulates privately owned energy, telecommunications, and water utility companies. The CPUC has worked to protect consumers and ensure the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at just and reasonable rates, with a commitment to environmental enhancement and a healthy California economy. 

Department Website: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov

To find out more and apply for this amazing opportunity, please visit: https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=255017

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free workplace. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

 

JC- 255017