Senior Engineer (Power systems/energy engineering) electricity regulation

SUMMARY:
3 YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT ROLE AVAILABLE
Position: Senior Engineer
Division: Electricity Regulation
Department: Electricity Pricing and Tariffs

Reporting to the Head of the Department: Electricity Pricing and Tariffs: the incumbent will work closely with Financial Analysts, Economists, and other technical specialists within the Electricity Regulation Division.
 
The incumbent will provide engineering and technical expertise to support the assessment of electricity tariff applications and price determinations.
 
The incumbent will also analyse and interpret technical performance data, asset utilisation, network efficiency, and operational assumptions sub-mitted by electricity licensees, and ensure that these are properly aligned with financial and economic analyses.
 
The role strengthens the technical integrity, cost-reflectivity, and defensibility of the company’s electricity pricing and tariff decisions in line with the Electricity Regulation Act.

POSITION INFO:
Requirements: Bachelor's Degree \/ B Tech Degree \/ Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering as recognized by SAQA Registration or eligibility for registration with ECSA will be an advantage A postgraduate qualification in power systems, energy engineering, or related field will be advantageous Minimum of Five (5) years' experience in the electricity sector, preferably in: Power generation, transmission, or distribution; Utility operations or performance analysis and Regulatory or tariff-related technical assessment s Experience interpreting technical performance data and linking it to cost and investment decisions The candidate must be competent in the following: Strong Technical and Analytical Skills Ability to interpret complex engineering data and communicate findings clearly Understanding of electricity system operations and infrastructure performance Strong report writing and presentation Skills Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams. Key responsibilities: The successful incumbent will be responsible for: Technical Assessment of Tariff Applications : Analyse engineering components of tariff submissions, including plant performance, network efficiency, losses, reliability indices, and capacity utilisation Evaluate the technical justification for operating and maintenance costs, capital expenditure, and asset replacement programmes Assess whether technical assumptions underpinning tariff applications are reasonable, efficient, and consistent with industry norms Integration of Technical and Financial Analysis : Work closely with financial analysts to align technical performance data with cost drivers and revenue requirements Support the validation of assumptions used in revenue requirement and tariff models Identify inefficiencies or inconsistencies between technical performance and financial outcomes Performance and Efficiency Analysis : Analyse technical performance indicators such as availability factors, losses, outages, maintenance practices, and network reliability Benchmark utility performance against national and international best practice Assess the prudence and efficiency of proposed capital and operating expenditure Regulatory Support and Advisory : Provide technical input to tariff recommendations, regulatory submissions, and decision-making processes Support responses to stakeholder queries, objections, and appeals related to technical aspects of tariffs Assist in the development and review of tariff methodologies, standards, and regulatory guidelines Stakeholder and Inter-Departmental Engagement: Engage with licensees to clarify technical aspects of tariff submissions where required Collaborate with other departments (Licensing, Compliance, Market Surveillance, Legal) Support participation in hearings, workshops, and consultations on tariff-related matters.