Market Monitor - Economist

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 operating the grid reliably 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.

The California ISO is committed to the health, safety, and work/life integration of it employees and is proud to offer flexible work arrangements. This position would be eligible to participate in a remote or hybrid schedule. Relocation assistance is available.

Under the general direction of the Manager, the market monitor conducts applied economic analysis and reporting on overall market performance and efficiency, the impact of proposed revisions to market rules, and market participant behavior. Develops and evaluates appropriate options for preventing or resolving potential market design problems, inefficiencies, gaming, market manipulation or non-compliance with market rules.    

What You Will Be Doing:

• 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 and monitoring systems used in identifying, analyzing and investigating market performance, efficiency, participant behavior and compliance with market rules.
• Conducts economic analysis related to market design issues.
• Investigates market performance, behavior and design issues and creates special analytical reports as needed.
• Reviews and analyzes variable, fixed, and opportunity costs of electric generation resources.
• Reviews proposed tariff provisions and other market design elements with a focus on improving market design, enhancing market efficiency, and preventing opportunities for market gaming and abusive market behavior.
• Investigates potential instances of market gaming, or non-compliance with the ISO tariff, regulatory contracts, and other market rules.
• Prepares and analyzes data queries, reports, charts and slide presentations to support special studies, investigations, board meetings, and regulatory filings and proceedings.
• Provides guidance and expertise to other staff within the department.
• Maintains a highly secure and protected market investigation process.
• Attends business meetings, and collaborates with colleagues to develop “best practices", and to identify and resolve issues to help create a flexible and efficient organization.
• Performs related duties and activities as appropriate.

Level of Education and Discipline:

A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) or equivalent education, training or experience in Economics, Operations Research, Business, or related technical field. Master’s (MS, MA, or MBA) or Ph.D. degree highly preferred.

Amount of Experience

Equivalent years of education and training, plus two (2) or more years related experience.

Type of Experience

Experience in one or more of the following areas: applied economic analysis, statistical analysis, industrial organization, market performance monitoring, utility operations and planning, energy trading, regulatory or policy analysis. Experience with data verification, large data sets, computer modeling, programming techniques 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, Python, as well as other analytical computer skills (e.g. Excel).

Other

Motivated intellectually curious team player with a growth mindset.  Effective communicator of complex ideas and analysis verbally, in documented form (Word) and presentation form (Power Point).

Strong quantitative skills with a strong emphasis on statistical analysis.  Experience or familiarity in working with and analyzing large data sets. Ability to work effectively in a team environment as facilitator and team member.  Must have excellent multi-tasking, critical thinking, decision-making, and interpersonal skills.  Excellent written and verbal communication and analytical skills required.

The pay range for this position is $82,350 - $127,250 / year.

**We will also consider this position at the Senior level.  This level would require a Bachelor's or equivalent years of education and training, plus five (5) or more years related experience. The pay range for this position is $98,700 - $164,500 / year.

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