Exam Bulletin - Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst IV

Public Utilities Commission

Exam Code: EX-3601

Examination Plans Included:

  • PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY ANALYST IV - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY ANALYST IV: $8,511.00 - $10,653.00 per Month

View the PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY ANALYST IV classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY ANALYST IV - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

    3601

For PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY ANALYST IV, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-03601

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00104615 - PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY ANALYST IV

Education: The following education is required when non-California state service experience is used to qualify at any level.

Equivalent to graduation from college with any major but with at least 24 semester units of upper division courses in economics, finance, public policy, or a closely related field. (Work experience performing technical economic, financial or policy research related to public utilities and transportation regulation may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Either 1

One year of experience in the California state service performing technical research duties in public utilities and/or transportation regulation at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst III; or

Two years of experience in the California state service performing technical research duties in public utilities and/or transportation regulation at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst II.

Or 2

Four years of progressively responsible technical research experience in a field related to public utilities and/or transportation. (Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must include one year of experience in a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst III.)

(A Master's Degree or advancement to Ph.D. candidacy in Economics, Policy, Finance, Business Administration or other fields related to public utilities and transportation requiring 30 semester or 45 quarter units for completion may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)

(A master's degree or advancement to Ph.D. candidacy requiring 60 semester or 90 quarter units for completion, two different master's degrees (each of which constitutes a full degree program) or a doctorate degree in the above fields may be substituted for two years of the required experience.)

Position Description

00104615 - PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY ANALYST IV

The positions at this level require a great degree of knowledge, skill and ability in order to provide original research and advisory services on highly complex and technical problems. Assignments require major synthesis of information and perspective utilizing data of varied types and sources.

Incumbents may have lead responsibility in directing and implementing major complex research studies or programs and may lead workshops on regulatory issues of moderate scope and complexity.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Online ExamContinuous100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Trends and issues pertaining to public utilities and transportation regulations 
  2. Principles of program evaluation and planning 
  3. Principles and concepts of economics, econometrics and finance in a research setting 
  4. Public utilities and transportation regulatory policy analysis and formulation
  5. Federal and State agencies involved in utilities and transportation regulation 
  6. Federal and State legislation and policies pertaining to public utilities and transportation
Ability to:
  1. Reason logically and creatively
  2. Utilize a variety of analytical and research techniques to resolve complex utility and transportation regulatory problems
  3. Develop and evaluate alternatives
  4. Analyze data and present ideas and information effectively, both orally and in writing 
  5. Testify as a subject-matter expert 
  6. Consult with and advise Commissioners, top management and other interested parties on a wide range of issues relating to public utilities and transportation regulations 
  7. Gain and maintain the confidence and cooperation of those contacted during the course of work 
  8. Coordinate the complex technical work of others 
  9. Serve as a team leader to analyze the more technical and difficult situations 
  10. Establish and maintain project priorities
  11. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY ANALYST IV Classification will be established for:

  • Public Utilities Commission

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst IV Training and Experience Examination Preview

Section 1: Tasks

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

  1. Independently analyzing documents (e.g., existing policies, rules, filings, contracts) to ensure compliance and/or assess impact on stakeholders (e.g., consumers, utilities, public entities, market participants).
  2. Making recommendations based on analysis and/or or investigations to shape policies in alignment with organizational goals.
  3. Independently preparing (e.g., write, review, revise) complex documents (e.g., analysis, reports, testimony, regulatory documents, briefings) to effectively communicate information and/or recommendations.
  4. Researching complex and high profile regulatory issues, industry trends, and/or documents (e.g., statutes, decisions, resolutions, advice letters) to develop analysis and/or recommendations.
  5. Communicating, in a lead role, project status and/or issues to internal and external stakeholders (e.g., staff, Federal and State agencies, management, regulated entities, contractors) to ensure project success and timely completion.
  6. Presenting information and/or findings to high level stakeholders (e.g., legislators, industry experts, commissioners, senior management) to support decision making in alignment with organizational goals.
  7. Conducting complex quantitative analyses (e.g., modeling; statistical, market, economic, financial, and/or trend analyses) to assess the impacts of policy alternatives and/or enforce program requirements.
  8. Leading the facilitation of workshops or meetings to support stakeholder (e.g., decision makers, management, colleagues, utilities, market participants) collaboration for advancing organizational goals.
  9. Collaborating with stakeholders (e.g., management, colleagues, utilities, market participants) on challenging programs or projects to successfully create and/or implement work processes and/or deliverables.

Testing Departments

  • Public Utilities Commission

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@CalHR.CA.GOV

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Public Utilities Commission
Human Resources Division
505 Van Ness Ave, Room 3008
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (800) 555-7809
pucjobop@cpuc.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. 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.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Public Utilities Commission reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)