COMPANY OVERVIEW:

El Paso Electric (EPE) is a regional energy provider that is engaged in generation, transmission, and distribution service to power approximately 460,000 customers in a 10,000-square mile area of the Rio Grande valley in west Texas and southern New Mexico. We invite you to visit epelectric.com to learn more about EPE and our strategic initiatives. Join our EPE Team and TOGETHER we will transform the energy landscape.

DATE POSTED: 04/18/24 CLOSING DATE: 05/02/24

GRADE LEVEL: 52-54

DEPARTMENT: Metering Operations

STARTING SALARY: $67,400 - $120,000 Salary is commensurate with experience.

JOB FAMILY SUMMARY PURPOSE:

Under the general direction of the Supervisor-Meter Testing, supports the day-to-day metering operations and a wide variety of activities associated with all aspects of Advanced Metering Infrastructure deployment, AMI technology evaluation, testing of these systems and production support of the AMI and MV-90 systems. With limited guidance and supervision, is responsible for identifying, analyzing, troubleshooting, and resolving operational issues impacting performance of EPE’s metering infrastructure. Contributes to identifying improvements to metering activities and procedures. Assists in the development and onboarding of the department’s technicians through coaching, mentoring and knowledge sharing. Expected to focus intently on enhancing understanding of metering principles, practices, concepts and impacts of metering on broader utility business processes.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate with or without a reasonable accommodation that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

EDUCATION:

1. Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in an engineering field.

College level course work in electrical power systems preferred.

Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE) or Engineer in Training exam (EIT) preferred.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

1. Experience with electric utility principles and practices, operations, and applicable rules and regulations, preferred in the areas of electric utility metering, revenue protection, distributed energy resources (DERs), transmission and distribution, and process improvements.
2. Knowledge of EPE’s Electric Service Requirements and thorough understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as they pertain to electrical services and metering.
3. Knowledge of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), head-end system (HES), and meter data management system (MDMS).
4. Knowledge of TXPUC and NMPRC metering requirements and regulations.
5. Knowledge of current transformer burden calculations and their application to metering.
6. Knowledge of voltage and current transformer applications in metering.
7. Knowledge of watt-load check calculations and the various types of meter forms used for power measurement.
8. Ability to operate a personal computer and various software applications to include MS Windows, Excel, PowerPoint, WATT-Net, Itron UIQ, MVLT, MV-90, and other applications utilized by the metering department.
9. Ability to configure, update and administer departmental equipment utilized in day-to-day metering operations.
10. Ability to analyze data, perform complex engineering analysis, meet deadlines, and prepare comprehensive reports.
11. Demonstrates competency in analytical techniques necessary to handle assignments of moderate complexity.
12. Exhibits the ability to understand interrelationships between systems, components, devices and processes.
13. Ability to work in confined spaces, receive and maintain certifications and training.
14. Effective verbal and written communication skills.
15. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with officers, managers, fellow employees, and the public.
16. Ability to maintain a strong sense of propriety concerning confidential matters.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Provide technical support for the engineering, design, planning, operation, maintenance, and documentation of all revenue metering equipment. This includes providing the technical expertise necessary to accomplish accurate and reliable system measurements in order to help optimize system economics and provide safe and reliable electric service.
2. Ensure that EPE metering system (measurement and collection) meets or exceeds industry standards to ensure accurate revenue capture for EPE.
3. Provide technical support and solutions to EPE internal and external customers on all issues concerning revenue metering.
4. Provide technical support and guidance to meter technicians as needed with field mitigation of meter operational and communication issues.
5. Provide technical support to EPE service area service engineers and distribution design engineers with AMI meter related issues, including meter data retrieval and analysis.
6. Work with department supervision to ensure existing and planned revenue metering systems comply with the TXPUC and NMPRC rules and regulations through:
   1. Random sample testing and evaluation
   2. Periodic testing and evaluation
   3. Acceptance testing of new metering equipment.
   4. Obsolete meter elimination
7. Work with department supervision to ensure compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) standards as they relate to metering equipment by:
   1. Ensuring evidence is up to date.
   2. Updating audit related documentation as needed.
8. Design and perform regression testing procedures for new firmware and configuration versions of AMI and MV-90 meters, MV-90 upgrade releases, AMI headend application releases, newly discovered hardware and/or firmware defects, field defects, etc.
9. Support the company’s renewable energy programs by reviewing drawings and work requests to ensure compliance with applicable EPE Retail Tariffs and Electric Service Requirements.
10. Stay up to date with Distributed Energy Resources (DER) technologies and their impacts on metering.
11. Oversee the RMA process between EPE and its vendors regarding warranty repair/replacement of faulty AMI meters.
12. Provides assistance to the MV-90 staff in order to provide accurate settlement quality meter data for Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) and CaISO submissions.
13. Collaborate with other EPE departments on interdepartmental projects and ensure that the most productive and cost-effective solutions are chosen.
14. Serve as the inhouse SME for meter engineering and measurement instrumentation.
15. Coordinate and standardize measurement equipment application, testing and maintenance procedures.
16. Examines and engineers metering specifications, maintains standards, and supports the department in evaluation, procurement and forecasting of new meters, instrument transformers, and new AMI network equipment.
17. Provide a well-coordinated interface with neighboring utilities regarding interconnection revenue metering systems.
18. Prepares requisitions for the purchase of non-stock materials, equipment, and/or services required for work order construction.
19. Valid driver’s license and be in compliance with the Company’s Driving Program policy.
20. Complies with all applicable Company policies, procedures, and code of ethics as well as all applicable governmental laws and regulations to include employment, safety and environmental standards and regulations.
21. Perform other related tasks that are not included but are within the context of the duties defined.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

1. The incumbents in this classification are subject to both outside and inside environmental conditions and temperature changes.
2. May work non-standard hours.
3. May require travel to Company work sites.
4. May require out-of-town travel.
5. Might be required to provide and use your own cellphone for communication with customers and other entities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

1. Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently, or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
2. Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
3. Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks.
4. Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.
5. Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.
6. Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
7. Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
8. Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities in which detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
9. Hearing: Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts.
10. Repetitive motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
11. Visual acuity: Color, depth perception, and field of vision to include measurement devices for close inspection and analysis.

If interested in applying for this position, you must apply on-line by 5:00 PM, May 2, 2024. (Please scroll back up to the “Apply Now” button)

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)