About the Department

WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Respect. Professionalism. Integrity. Accountability.

Policy Advisors

Help protect the consumers of Washington state!

The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the budgeted salary range of $101,976- $107,700 annually. However, there is an ability for growth and development in this salary for the individual once employed.

This recruitment is open until Monday, May 4, 2026, at 11:59pm. The first pull of applications is scheduled for April 27. It is in your best interest to submit your application early.

UTC reserves the right to make a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time after the first pull of applications. Submitted applications may be used to fill comparable positions that open within the next 60 days.

The Opportunity:
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill one (1) Energy Policy Advisor position and one (1) Energy & Accounting Policy Advisor position to provide accounting, policy, technical, and economic analysis in contested cases and other matters before the commission or concerning pending legislation and emerging policy issues.

Hybrid:

Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbents must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building when needed.

Travel:

While primarily local for meetings, travel throughout the Pacific Northwest region may be required during and outside business hours to meet agency needs. This includes occasional overnight stays.

Our Mission:
To protect the people of Washington by ensuring that investor-owned utility and transportation services are safe, equitable, available, reliable, and fairly priced.

Vision:

We strive to achieve equitable and fair outcomes for both consumers and regulated companies. We prioritize inclusion and belonging in the workplace.

For more information about our benefits or working at UTC, please visit our website.

What We Offer Our Employees:

UTC fosters an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve.
We place importance on a healthy balance between personal and professional lives; offering flexible work schedules, wellness programs, and mobile/telework opportunities.
Through the state, our employees (and their families) are offered options for medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance.
We offer enrollment into the state retirement programs and a deferred compensation plan.
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Position Duties

Some of What You’ll Do:

Using quantitative and economic analysis, you will perform forward-looking research and analysis of state, regional, and national energy policies pertaining to matters that affect regulated utilities and their consumers. The analysis and recommendations of the policy advisors are often incorporated into final written orders of the commission, which have statewide impacts on businesses and consumers, and may involve participants with diverse interests.

In the context of formal adjudications, policy advisors make recommendations on traditional and performance-based ratemakings, policy positions, strategies, or decisions in meetings, briefing memoranda, and draft orders to the Commissioners, Executive Director/Secretary, other policy team members, and Administrative Law Judges. Collaborate with other state agencies to ensure accurate interpretation of relevant statutes and programs as needed. Prepare recommendations after independently reviewing and analyzing testimony, exhibits, or pleadings in the proceeding. Incorporate feedback and coordinate with other members of the policy advisory team. Make recommendations that require being addressed through the ’Impact’, and energy justice lens.

Positions also participate in legislative activities such as performing bill analysis, reviewing fiscal notes, contributing to the development of recommended commission positions on proposals, drafting proposed bill amendments, and providing technical assistance to key decision makers.

In addition, accounting advisors review and evaluate regulatory accounting issues on matters before the commission, addresses the proposed results of operations, determines the company's rate base, adjusts these for restating actual and pro forma adjustments in accordance with accepted regulatory theory and commission precedent. This position compiles and distills data, prepares spreadsheets, models and other materials, comparing the similarities and differences between the parties' positions to assist the presiding ALJ and other stakeholders in understanding the accounting issues and ultimately the rates in contested cases.

Additional duties include, but aren’t limited to the following:

Identifies energy industry trends and evaluates new technologies, policy directions, and emerging challenges and opportunities.
Develops effective strategic proposals and responses to allow the agency to address trends, new policy directions, and emerging issues in energy-related policies with progressive regulatory tools.
Analyzes utility Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs), Clean Energy Implementation Plans (CEIPs), Integrated System Planning (ISP) and other required components of the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), as assigned.
Prepares analysis and/or reviews written analysis of IRPs and/or ISP prepared by other staff members.
Develops and implements strategies to coordinate policy development and implementation with other states, other state agencies, and the Governor’s office.
Communicates effectively and maintains excellent working relationships with the Commissioners, Executive Director/Secretary, Policy Director, ALJs, other policy staff, commission staff, regulated companies, industry representatives, and other interested parties to ensure the commission is engaged on issues related to the agency mission.
At the agency and division levels, engages in training and actively participates in efforts to promote energy justice, anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree inaccounting, economics, business, business administration, public policy, energy, conservation, or a closely related field from an accredited institution recognized by either the US Dept. of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent, AND
Three (3) years of work experience performing utility regulatory accounting and/or public utility regulation, preferably with a state or federal utility commission or a public utility company.

Note: Additional years of professional experience in utility regulation may be substituted for the degree requirement year-for-year up to four (4) years, which must include at least two (2) years performing program, policy, or rule analysis.

An advanced degree in accounting, finance, economics, public policy, or a closely related field from an accredited institution recognized by either the US Dept. of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities in the following areas:

Knowledge and ability to analyze policy, proposed rules and regulations.
Ability to communicate professionally and effectively in a variety of settings.
Ability to write effectively in a variety of formats for all audience types.
Demonstrated ability to effectively work within Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Required Competencies:

Critical Thinking Skills – Formulates judgments on complex issues through the identification, organization, and analysis of factual evidence; Reaches conclusions through logical reasoning; Distinguishes information that is not pertinent to a decision or solution.
Writing and Communication Skills – Presents information clearly, accurately, and coherently, using organized thought and reasoning; Communicates in an audience-specific manner, with content and form useful to the intended audience and for the intended purpose; Effectively translates complex technical concepts into messages non-technical audiences can readily grasp; Listens carefully, reflects upon what is being said, and strives to understand competing viewpoints.
Project Management – Plans, designs, organizes, and executes the work of an individual or team project, ensuring a high-quality work product within specific time constraints. Identifies and communicates goals, key deliverables, and criteria for success. Outlines responsibilities and resource requirements, organizes tasks and establishes meaningful timelines. Regularly monitors progress and takes corrective action where necessary. Provides leadership, building and managing interpersonal relationships to ensure project success; demonstrates personal accountability and commitment to the success of a project.
Leadership – Leads by example, exhibiting balance and fair-handedness in considering various perspectives and engaging with others in a considerate manner; Demonstrates emotional intelligence and intellectual humility; Demonstrates critical thinking and tactical execution; Pursues collaboration; Actively engages in strategic planning exercises and critical examinations of business processes; Listens carefully and helps others. Fosters an environment that values and encourages equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Competencies (expected of all employees):

The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
EDI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment.
Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth.
Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships.
Inclusive Excellence & Allyship.

UTC Core Competencies (expected of all employees):

Accountability
Measuring Success and Improvement
Customer Focus
Results Focus
Communication Skills
Adaptability/Flexibility
Self-Development
Continuous Process Improvement

Desired Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

One (1) year experience or more, analyzing and developing policy guidance.
Knowledge of regulatory theory and practice, including rate-of-return ratemaking; and state, regional, and federal policy regarding energy industries.
Experience with project management and developing project plans/deliverables.
Experience developing and applying regulatory and ratemaking policies and standards.
Experience participating in the legislative process.
Knowledge of commission policies, rules, procedures, goals, objectives, and strategies and the body of commission precedent.
Knowledge of the Administrative Procedure Act and quasi-judicial legal process.

Other Qualifications

How to Apply:

Interested in joining the UTC team? Click the Apply button at the top to begin! To be considered for further screening, ensure you attach the following documents to your completed application:

Letter of Interest - describing how you meet the position qualifications and why you believe you are the ideal candidate.
Resume - detailing your applicable competencies, experience and education.
References - At minimum, three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses must be included with your application; one (1) contact MUST be your current or most recent supervisor.

The initial screening of candidates will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application materials, including answers provided to the ‘Supplemental Questionnaire’, along the additional application materials submitted as part of the application process.

NOTE, indicating ‘see resume’ will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section or supplemental questionnaire of the application packet and may result in your submission being marked incomplete.

For information about YesVets, please click here.

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their redacted DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact UTC Human Resources at humanresources@utc.wa.gov.

All information may be verified; additional documentation may be required. Candidates may be disqualified if the education and/or work experience does not include information used to meet the minimum qualifications of the job.

The UTC is an equal opportunity employer. We want to make sure you have an equal opportunity to join our team. Our commitment is making sure current and future employees are treated fairly and equally without regard to age, sex (including gender identity), race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or religious or political affiliation.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process may contact the recruiter via telephone on (360) 664-1134 or email the UTC HR office at humanresources@utc.wa.gov. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service on 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

For more information about the UTC, please visit:

www.utc.wa.gov, www.facebook.com/wautc

The State of Washington:
http://access.wa.gov