Utilities Senior Resource Planner

Senior Resource Planner

The City of Palo Alto invites applications for the position of Senior Resource Planner. City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) serves more than 25,000 customers with electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and fiber optics across a 26‑square‑mile service territory. CPAU manages 100% carbon neutral electric and gas portfolios and leads innovative utility planning and community‑wide electrification programs covering homes, commercial buildings, and vehicles.

We are seeking a Senior Resource Planner in the Resource Management Division (RMD) who wants to be an integral part of a locally‑owned utility dedicated to delivering cost‑effective, dependable, and safe utility services. This position offers abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth and enables you to make meaningful contributions while collaborating with passionate energy professionals.

This position supervises one or more Resource Planners, Associate Resource Planners, Assistant Resource Planners or interns. The primary focus is electric, gas, and wastewater utility financial planning, including long‑term financial forecasting, cost‑of‑service analysis and rate design. Depending on experience and evolving needs, the role may also contribute to water utility financial planning and water supply portfolio planning.

• Expertise in Utility Financial Planning and Analysis: Proven experience developing and maintaining long‑range financial forecasts, including revenue requirements, reserve analysis, load forecasting, and scenario analysis for electric and gas utilities; experience with water and wastewater utilities is highly desirable.
• Cost of Service and Rate Design: Demonstrated expertise in cost‑of‑service studies, rate design, and rate implementation for utilities, particularly electric and gas; experience in water and wastewater cost of service and rate design is a plus.
• Energy Industry Knowledge: Strong understanding of the electric and natural gas utility sectors, regulatory frameworks, market dynamics, and key cost drivers; broader utility experience, including water and wastewater systems, is valued.
• Policy Acumen: Familiarity with utility rate making principles, regulatory processes, and policies affecting utilities, including experience supporting rate cases or regulatory filings.
• Communication and Persuasion: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to articulate complex issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Analytical and Modeling
  
  Skills:
  
  Proficiency in analyzing complex financial, operational and customer data and strong proficiency in financial modeling tools (e.g., Excel or similar platforms); strong ability to synthesize information to formulate strategic recommendations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with governmental bodies, community stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Financial Planning and Rate‑setting: Proficiency in utility rate making, including utility reserve analysis and policies, long‑range financial planning, new rate structure development, and detailed cost‑of‑service studies.
• Adaptability and Initiative: Proactive and adaptable in a dynamic regulatory environment with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive projects forward independently and collaboratively.

• Coordinate the planning and management activities associated with electricity, natural gas, and/or water supply portfolios.
• Oversee and participate in rate making functions, including utility reserve analysis and policies, long‑range financial planning, new rate structure development, and detailed cost‑of‑service studies.
• Assist in the management of utility supply resource portfolios by performing resource planning, acquisitions, management, and contract administration activities, including structuring and origination of energy products and deals.

• May supervise technical, clerical, and lead staff, including prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, ensuring staff is trained, and making hiring, termination and…