Generation Research & Plng Mgr

Pay Grade

17

Position Summary

Provides decision support to senior management on issues related to the planning process for generation resources to ensure sufficient electric supply is available to meet electric demand. Research generation technologies for feasibility, cost, performance, and schedule. Utilizes engineering economic analysis methods and computer-based business models to support planning decision making on various generation projects and production cost modeling results to budgetary processes. Manages cross-functional teams with members both internal and external to the company.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Develops and manages long-range (up to 25-year) resource plans based on goals, trends, and projections, and scenario analysis.
• Leads large scale energy planning projects to provide high quality decision support recommendations to senior management.
• Researches and provides cost and performance information for resource option modeling and decision support for technologies such as, pulverized coal (sub-, super-, and ultra-super-critical types), circulating fluidized bed, reciprocating internal combustion engine,  combustion turbines (aeroderivative, heavy frame, simple cycle, & combined cycle), integrated gasification combined cycle, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind turbines, geothermal, biomass, municipal solid waste, landfill gas, hydroelectric, energy storage (chemical, thermal, & mechanical), hydrogen-fueled generation, nuclear, and other forms of new emerging technologies that may support a future low-to-no carbon generation portfolio.
• Provides planning support during the initial stages of new power plant projects, and upgrades to, or retirement of, existing power plants.
• Applies engineering economic analysis methods to evaluate power plant projects such as, present value and levelized cost analysis, discounted cash flow analysis, revenue requirements method, internal rate of return, variable operations and maintenance cost, fixed operations and maintenance cost, capital investment, weighted average cost of capital, real dollars, nominal dollars, and others.
• Utilizes computer-based business models, such as Aurora, GenTrader & Excel to support planning decision making on various generation projects as well as in support of annual budget planning processes.
• Documents the processes, oversees training of new personnel and consistently explores process enhancements.
• Creates and leads process improvement initiatives to allow for greater planning agility in areas such as Aurora modeling and high-level analysis for future resource option screening and sensitivity analysis.
• Understands Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market protocols and pricing and applies this knowledge to current CPS Energy portfolio modeling as well as to new generation technology selection and siting.
• Manages Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and other research and development efforts to extract the maximum value for CPS Energy.
• Generates Request for Qualifications and Request for Proposal packages that include Scope of Work and evaluation factors that are critical in the selection of qualified consultants for generation planning studies. Coordinates the creation and execution of Confidentiality Agreements to protect the intellectual property of CPS Energy and our counterparties.
• Serves as field representative for consultant contracts with responsibility for ensuring contractor’s work is completed within scope, schedule, and budget.
• Provides presentations to CPS Energy Board of Trustees, senior management, universities, and/or industry groups.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Skills

Minimum Knowledge and Abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
• Experience in long range planning and associated engineering economic analysis methods with an electric utility.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of power plant operations, electricity and fuel markets, thermal unit generation optimization, Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) rules, ERCOT protocols, and Environmental Regulatory and tax policies that impact power generation Resources and Planning.

Competencies

Minimum Education

Required Certifications

Working Environment

Physical Demands