Public Utilities Specialist (Rates)

📍 Multiple Locations · 🏛 Western Area Power Administration · 💰 $106,437–$144,741 per year · 🎓 GS 13 · 🧭 Public Utilities Specialist (1130) · ⏳ Closes Nov 20, 2026 · 9 days left · 🗓 Posted Nov 10, 2026
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About this job

As a PUS (Rates), you will lead, develop, and implement power, transmission, and ancillary service rate designs, establish rates, and power repayment studies (PRS); review contracts, internal controls procedures, power marketing plans and resource studies, transmission, ancillary service, and other operational studies, and participate in the development/implementation of relevant Open Access Transmission Tariffs (OATT) and Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) orders.

Duties

As a Public Utilities Specialist (Rates), you will: Exercise lead responsibility for development and analysis and preparation of transmission service tariffs including point- to-point, network transmission service and ancillary services for assigned transmission system. Apply cost models and Power Repayment Studies to evaluate costs and revenue requirements, incorporating applicable tariff changes and/or FERC orders to ensure compliant, cost-reflective rate structures. Coordinate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including customers, management, federal agencies, and industry groups, to achieve consensus on rate strategies and repayment. Serve as a technical expert representing WAPA in matters regarding Transmission Services revenue recovery and revenue application to project repayment for both external customers and customer groups, as well as senior level management within WAPA and other Federal Agencies.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level [GS-12] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Developing, building, and implementation of transmission, ancillary service rate designs and/or conducting comprehensive power repayment studies (PRS). Utilizing automated financial and data management systems and advanced computer applications to query, extract, and perform in-depth data analysis on high-volume data sets. Collaborating across a wide variety of professional contacts, stakeholders, and customers to provide information and resolve complex problems and disputes. Analyzing and tracking historical and forecasted data (such as generation, sales, revenues, purchases, transmission services or operating costs) to analyze and evaluate impacts on power and/or transmission rates. Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional GS employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages.

Education

For this position, education cannot be substituted for experience.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period. Employees serving on a probationary or trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service. Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration. This position requires the ability to operate a Government vehicle. The incumbent must be at least 18 years of age, able to obtain and maintain Defensive Drivers certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's Training will be completed upon employment. The employee is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450), upon entering the position and annually. Total salary varies depending on location of position.

Evaluations

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified". You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (11/20/2026) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13110218.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date. You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/ If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.

Applications are handled only on the official announcement. This page is a readable copy of the public announcement data — the official version controls if anything differs.

Apply on USAJobs (official) ↗

Required documents

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes: Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date). Current Federal employees: Most recent non-award SF-50 (Standard Form 50 - Notice of Personnel Action). To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility. Full position title; appointment type; occupational series; pay plan, grade, and step; tenure code; and service computation date (SCD). If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive service, in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive status and highest grade held on a permanent basis. . If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility. If applicable: Veterans: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information. Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition. Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated. You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings. You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.

Other information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE. For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov. Applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) when applying or competing for a job due to a medical condition or to exercise religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement. Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level. Upon reporting, and annually thereafter, the selectee may be required to file one or more financial statements and/or a procurement integrity certification. These certifications may be subject to public disclosure. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized. Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages. Phoenix, AZ is on the PX Pay Table. Billings, MT is on the RUS Pay Table.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this Public Utilities Specialist (Rates) job pay?

The announcement lists a salary of $106,437–$144,741 per year (GS 13).

When is the last day to apply?

Applications close on Nov 20, 2026 — 9 days from today.

Where is this job located?

This position is located in Multiple Locations with the Western Area Power Administration.

How do I apply?

Applications are submitted through the official announcement on USAJobs. Use the Apply button on this page to go to the official posting — this site never takes applications itself.

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Data: USAJobs (U.S. Office of Personnel Management), retrieved 2026-11-11 · Announcement 27-WB-01796-13110218-IMP · Official announcement. FederalJobs is unofficial and is not affiliated with OPM or the agency.
Public Utilities Specialist (Rates)
Nov 20, 2026 deadlineApply