Sr. Analyst Settlements

(Energy Imbalance/Regional Transmission Organization Market)

*This job is eligible for relocation assistance to aid with the costs associated with moving to the Colorado Springs area.      

Colorado Springs Utilities is looking for two Energy Imbalance Market (EIM)/Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) Energy Settlement Senior Analysts to provide support and expertise in our Planning and Finance Division (PFD). Our division has four departments: Accounting, Financial Planning and Risk, Treasury and Finance, Pricing and Rates. Both positions will reside within the Accounting Department and the Energy Settlements group. 

Under general supervision, you will manage Power Bilateral, Energy Imbalance Market (EIM), and Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) settlements, including confirmation, calculation, billing, invoicing, reconciliation of charges and payments, timely and accurate production of energy bills, invoice processing, journal entries, general ledger reconciliation, meter data validation, reporting, audit support, and utilizing EIM and RTO Market software and meter data functionality.  Additionally, this job will support the meters associated with EIM/RTO settlements. 

Key Areas of Focus:

• Conducts research to aid in the interpretation of economic relationships and aid in solving problems specific to electric load research and data analysis associated with wholesale databases
• Use EIM/RTO Energy Accounting Systems to verify the quality of meter data and ensure proper conformance of data for transmission to Utilities Settlement systems
• Support Balancing Authority Area Day After and Month End Interchange checkout activities
• Validate and run multiple settlement statements for a given operating date to include pre-settlements, forecasted loads and offers, base schedules, operational and trading coordination, tagging setup, meter submittals, dispatch instructions, shadow settlements, settlement disputes, invoicing, and month-end and year-end accounting close
• Provide analytical support for power traders by using both data mining and fundamental analysis techniques to support trading decisions
• Analyze and communicate information and reports to others for key decision-making
• Ensuring compliance with FERC, GAAP/FASB/GASB, Colorado Springs Utilities legal, contract terms, regulatory requirements, and other standards and policies
• Understand interconnected bulk power generation and transmission systems, including delivery points and paths, and physical transmission congestion risks, and interpret both the language and terms and conditions of Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT)
• Comprehension of EIM/RTO daily, monthly, and yearly settlement calendar for all aspects of settlements
• Ability to manage multiple settlement tasks taking place at the same time based on each day’s activity
• Complete accounting month-end and year-end closing activities, as well as year-end audit requirements

Who you are... You will bring your bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, Marketing, Finance, Management, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, or a closely related field as well as years of direct experience in accounting and/or energy settlements or relevant energy analytical or business research-oriented field.  We are also interested in the following so please make sure to highlight on your application/resume: 

• Experience in the application and use of EIM/RTO Energy accounting systems is preferred to include:
  • Power Cost Inc. (PCI)
  • PI Vision
  • OATI Oasis (or other tagging system) 
• Strong understanding of the EIM/RTO Energy Markets in the United States
• Understand all proposed EIM/RTO Charge Codes, Determinants, and Invoicing line items defined in the EIM/RTO Market Protocols. These charge codes are complex and multifaceted
• Basic understanding of Market Protocols
• Strong understanding of accounting principles and functional knowledge of accounting concepts including excellent analytical skills to properly assess errors & variances to reconcile data to complete settlements
• Basic understanding of SQL programming language is a plus
• Ability to execute and run pre-written SQL queries for various Settlement reconciliation activities
• Know all aspects of the energy trader’s (Front Office – FO) EIM/RTO tasks and operational goals to determine expected outcomes
• Strong Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and Word software skills
• Understand system requirements and communicate trade capture software functionality in support of software reliability and consistency
• Knowledge of regulations, laws, FERC tariffs, business pr