Fall 2009 Internships at CPUC Division of Ratepayer Advocates
Fall 2009 Internship at the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) of the California Public Utilities Commission
for UC Students
California Public Utilities Commission http://www.cpuc.ca.gov
Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) http://www.dra.ca.gov/dra/
DRA is an independent division within the California Public Utilities Commission that advocates for reasonable rates on behalf of customers of regulated electric, gas, telecommunications, and water utilities. DRA's director, Dana Appling, directs a staff of 140 employees composed of analysts, engineers, economists, and accountants. DRA has a team of lawyers who represent the division in hearings at the Commission.
E-1 DRA is seeking a graduate student intern to assist in developing an exemplary clean energy program model in order to formulate a new California administrative framework for energy efficiency. The project will look at historical context, best practice program models, and innovative new ideas as a basis for formulating a model that can optimize cost-effective energy savings in California to support climate change policies and promote successful implementation of AB 32. The objective of the project is to express the proposed model through written text, highlighted with graphic and quantitative illustrations that describe budgets, cost-effectiveness, and organizational structure.
The position requires an intern with strong demonstrated communication and quantitative skills. The intern should be able to work independently and proactively toward deadlines in a team environment. An interest in energy policy issues is desired. The intern will gain a strong understanding of the California energy regulatory framework, clean energy policy, familiarity with key stakeholders such as related state agencies, local governments, and market players from various industries. The intern will have creative input into the project, hone written and analytical skills, make presentations to DRA management, and will complete the internship with a final report featuring a quantitative model of the proposed new policy framework.
Work will be performed under the guidance of the senior analyst/project coordinator. Preferred intern start date is as soon as possible. Please send your resume (or questions) to the email below. Please include a long-form writing sample that is heavily cited and illustrates quantitative skills (this can be displayed through 2 separate samples if necessary). Qualified candidates will receive a phone interview, with final candidates expected to attend an in-person interview.
Contact: Cheryl Cox
Division of Ratepayer Advocates
E-mail: cxc@cpuc.ca.gov
E-2 DRA is seeking a graduate student intern to assist in developing a framework for DRA to understand and develop advocacy positions concerning the proposed California Cap-and-Trade program and related issues within the developing Green House Gas (GHG) regulation in California and the Western United States. The intern will work with senior staff to structure a proposed set of DRA positions built on past DRA positions relating to carbon market regulation.
The intern will complete a report to DRA management which, at a minimum, addresses the following issues:
Define why it may be important to maintain the integrity of a cap within a regulatory mandate for the pending cap-and-trade carbon market in California.
Distinguish which aspects of a carbon market are best managed through regulation, such as an oversight entity, and which are best managed through market design.
Consider possible combinations of market designs and robust regulatory mandates which will balance the integrity of the cap with consumer cost containment.
Explore how a regulatory mandate’s effectiveness may change as a California market is linked with the Western Climate Initiative.
The position requires an intern with strong demonstrated communication and analytical skills. The intern should be able to work independently and proactively toward deadlines in a team environment. An interest in energy policy issues is desired. The intern will gain a strong understanding of the California energy regulatory framework, GHG regulatory policies, familiarity with key stakeholders such as related state agencies, local governments, and market players from various industries. The intern will have creative input into the project, hone written and analytical skills, make presentations to DRA management, and will complete the internship with a final report to DRA management.
Work will be performed under the guidance of the senior analyst/project coordinator. Preferred intern start date is as soon as possible. Please send your resume (or questions) to the email below. Please include a long-form writing sample that demonstrates communication and analytical skills, preferable in the energy area. Qualified candidates will receive a phone interview, with final candidates expected to attend an in-person interview.
Contact: Marshal Enderby
Division of Ratepayer Advocates
E-mail: cxc@cpuc.ca.gov
