Exam Bulletin - Program Manager, Public Utilities Commission

Public Utilities Commission

Exam Code: EX-5118

Examination Plans Included:

  • PROGRAM MANAGER, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION - Open

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

Classification Details

PROGRAM MANAGER, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION: $15,263.00 - $17,336.00 per Month

View the PROGRAM MANAGER, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination 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):

  • PROGRAM MANAGER, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

    5118

For PROGRAM MANAGER, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-05118

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.

00103503 - PROGRAM MANAGER, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Either 1

One year of experience at the level of Program and Project Supervisor, Public Utilities Commission in the California State service. or

One year of experience at the level of Public Utilities Regulatory Program Specialist III in the California State service. or

Two years of experience at the level of Senior Utilities Engineer with the California Public Utilities Commission. or Two years of experience in the California state service performing economic, engineering, financial or statistical analysis related to the regulation of a gas, electric, communications or water utility in a class at the level of Public Utilities Regulatory Program Specialist II.

Or 2

Experience: Broad, extensive (more than five years) and progressively responsible technical experience with a gas, electric, communications, or water utility, or with an allied industry involving familiarity with the operations of one of these utilities or with a utility-regulatory agency. At least two years of this experience shall have been in a responsible administrative capacity. (Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must include at least one year performing the duties of a class at least equivalent to Program and Project Supervisor, Public Utilities Commission, or Public Utilities Regulatory Program Specialist III.) and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in engineering, economics, public policy, accounting, statistics, or other related fields. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Position Description

00103503 - PROGRAM MANAGER, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Plans and organizes the work and directs the staff of a branch of the Public Staff or Evaluation and Compliance Divisions concerned with the service, safety, certification, operations, earnings, valuation and rates of one or more types of public utilities, including that involving presentations before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Federal Communications Commission concerning electrical, telephone and telegraph, and natural gas producing and transmission companies; coordinates the work of the branch with that of other branches of the Division; confers with the Director and the Assistant Director of the Division, the Commissioners, and the heads of other divisions and branches on matters pertaining to utility regulation; participates in hearings and testifies as an expert witness in proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission, Federal commissions, and courts; upon assignment, represents the Division in formal matters before the Public Utilities Commission and Federal commissions; carries out special assignments and studies; meets with officials of the utilities, Federal, State, county, city governments, and civic organizations on matters dealing with public utility regulation and related subjects.

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

Examination Information

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. California Public Utilities Code pertaining to utilities other than transportation utilities and basic court decisions affecting public utility regulations
  2. Valuation of properties of utilities, including inventory, depreciation, unit costs, taxes, and rate bases
  3. Financial structure, terminology, and prescribed accounting classifications for utilities
  4. Rate-fixing procedures, including the development of revenues, expenses, taxes, depreciation, rate bases, and rate of return
  5. Physical properties of utilities and of standards of safety and service
  6. Procedures of conducting hearings before the Public Utilities Commission and other regulatory agencies
  7. Federal Communications Act, Federal Power Act, and Natural Gas Act
  8. Conservation, rate design, alternative generation, fuel cost offset proceedings, construction cost assessments
  9. Principles and methods of personnel management and supervision including understanding of and effectiveness in carrying out State and departmental equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies
Ability to:
  1. Plan, direct, and coordinate the work of a staff of assistants
  2. Plan and supervise research work and analyze data
  3. Plan and supervise the preparation of exhibits
  4. Write reports and orders and prepare recommendations to the Commission
  5. Conduct conferences
  6. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action
  7. Effectively contribute to the Commission's affirmative action objectives

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the PROGRAM MANAGER, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION 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.

Program Manager, Public Utilities Commission Training and Experience Evaluation Preview

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, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks:
  1. Attending and contributing to management meetings (e.g., develop division priority recommendations, ensure progress towards program goals, etc.) to ensure an effective workplace.
  2. Facilitating staff meetings with subordinates to discuss updates, workload, set/establish priorities, strategies, and assignments.
  3. Taking steps to correct performance issues with subordinates.
  4. Reviewing, editing, commenting on, and approving work products, to meet organizational goals and ensure consistency with applicable standards.
  5. Conducting human resources administrative actions (e.g., hiring, training, retention, staff development, probationary and annual performance review, timesheet approvals, etc.).
  6. Assuring consistency with organizational goals and objectives in strategic planning, policy development, and implementation.
  7. Developing and communicating recommendations to executive management on matters pertaining to program and policy oversight.
  8. Coordinating the work of the organizational unit with internal and external entities.
  9. Conducting personnel actions, such as discipline or termination of employees.
  10. Preparing annual workplan and/or budget documents to meet future organizational objectives, including setting priorities and allocating resources consistent with operational needs.

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)