Principal Associate, Rate Design and Cost Allocation

Do you enjoy solving complex problems in electric utility rate design, cost allocation, and regulatory economics, including emerging challenges related to data centers, virtual power plants, electrification, and distributed energy resources? Synapse Energy Economics is seeking a strategic thought leader and technical expert to develop innovative regulatory approaches that advance the public interest.

Synapse Energy Economics is a consulting firm that has provided rigorous analysis on behalf of public-interest clients in the energy sector for more than 25 years. Our work includes expert analysis, reports, and expert witness testimony in proceedings before public utility commissions across the United States and Canada. Our clients primarily include environmental nonprofit organizations, state and federal agencies, and consumer and environmental advocacy groups.

Synapse is seeking a Principal Associate with deep expertise in electric utility rate design, cost-of-service studies, and regulatory models. The successful candidate will lead high-impact analytical work at the forefront of emerging challenges in utility regulation, including electrification, distributed energy resources, large-load tariffs, and performance-based regulation.

Our clients rely on Synapse to develop and evaluate innovative regulatory approaches that balance affordability, economic efficiency, equity, and decarbonization objectives. This work includes evaluating utility cost-of-service studies and cost allocation methodologies; developing customer protections related to large loads and data centers; designing time-varying and electrification-focused rates; and proposing compensation frameworks for distributed energy resources and virtual power plants.

Synapse is also deeply engaged in the evolution of utility regulatory models, including multi-year rate plans, performance incentive mechanisms, revenue decoupling, and other performance-based approaches intended to strengthen utility accountability and align utility incentives with public policy goals.

As a Principal Associate, you will serve as a technical leader, strategic advisor, and project lead, working closely with clients and multidisciplinary teams to develop rigorous, forward-looking regulatory analyses. You will lead the development of expert testimony, analytical reports, and regulatory strategy recommendations that shape utility policy and regulatory outcomes.

Projects may include developing recommendations to protect customers from cost shifting from data centers, proposing innovative rate designs for electric vehicles and distributed energy resources, assessing utility proposals for multi-year rate plans, conducting benefit-cost analyses of non-wires alternatives and grid modernization investments, and reviewing utility cost-of-service studies and cost allocation proposals to assess their implications for different customer classes.

In this role, you will:

• Lead rigorous technical evaluations of electric utility proposals related to rate design, cost allocation, and regulatory frameworks, identifying analytical gaps and developing alternative approaches that advance the public interest.
• Review and assess utility cost-of-service studies, class cost allocation methodologies, and rate design proposals to determine whether they appropriately reflect cost causation, produce equitable outcomes for customers, and support state energy policy objectives.
• Assess the risks and tradeoffs associated with different regulatory models, including traditional cost-of-service rate making, cost trackers, multi-year rate plans, and performance incentive mechanisms.
• Lead and manage consulting projects, ensuring high-quality analytical work and deliverables while coordinating project teams and schedules.
• Serve as a strategic advisor or expert witness in high-profile regulatory proceedings.
• Lead the preparation of proposals and contribute to business development efforts.
• Ensure the integrity, rigor, and accuracy of analytical work produced by project teams.

• A strong desire to work on behalf of public interest clients in improving energy policy and…