Economist / Lead Load Forecaster

PSE is looking for an experienced professional who will continue to advance our long-term energy forecasting modeling and methodologies as necessary to support PSE's planning for a clean energy future. This position is responsible for developing PSE's long-term load forecast as it supports the integrated resource/system plan, financial plan, energy supply procurement and other strategies.

The ideal candidate will have a broad and deep understanding of electric and/or gas utility business operations and is a master of advanced forecasting tools and methods. In this position, excellent communication is essential; the ideal candidate will have the ability to effectively "tell the story" of a load forecast, explaining the drivers of customer growth and energy consumption trends to a wide variety of audiences.

This position is part of a highly collaborative team that works together to develop robust modeling approaches, analyses, and forecasts.

• Develops econometric models using forecast modeling software to forecast long-term customer growth, energy and peak demand.
• Documents, distributes, presents, and defends the forecasts, both internally and externally.
• Performs additional analyses relating to the forecast as needed.
• Monitors economic and energy consumption trends at the local, state, regional and national levels, and incorporate that data into the models as necessary.
• Stays current in all policies, regulatory requirements, market trends, and industry standards regarding customer energy use and technologies and programs impacting that use, such as energy efficiency and demand response.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders (including finance, regulatory, strategic planning) regarding forecast methodology and analysis to ensure our deliverables meet their needs.
• Effectively communicates with external stakeholders to develop consensus around complex load forecasting issues.
• Mentors other team members in analysis, model development, and tracking of load forecast performance and other deliverables.
• Represents PSE as expert witness on load forecasting matters, including developing testimony and responding to data requests from regulatory bodies for rate cases and other proceedings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, engineering, finance, math, or related field.
• 10 years of experience in an energy-related industry involving performance of complex analysis.
• Experience building complex spreadsheets to analyze questions and models.
• Demonstrated ability to be a supportive team member.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to develop and cultivate strong working relationships with contractual counterparties, regulators and other industry participants.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Solid written, interpersonal, and group communication skills

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in business, economics, engineering, finance, math, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience with statistical analyses, forecasting and econometric theory.
• Experience using Itron MetrixND, Eviews, LoadSEER or other modeling frameworks used for long-term load forecasting.
• Experience with SAS, SQL, R, Python or other data analytic programming tools.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.
• Demonstrated creative problem solving abilities.
• Experience as an expert witness.