VP-Planning & Market Ops

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

Responsible for resource planning, fuel procurement and hedging, and day-to-day electricity market operations. Provides executive direction to staff in the development of AECC’s Resource Plan, economic analyses, day ahead and real-time market strategies, support for rate analysis and interfacing with MISO and SPP. Develops, recommends and executes policy, strategy, staffing and capital associated with organizational units.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervision and leadership of the Market Operations Division. Working through the line of supervision, to lead the division personnel to efficient, effective, and economic achievement of the division's purpose.  
• Develop AECC’s fuel strategy. Insure adquate supply and transporation of fuel to AECC’s power plants. Oversee and implement AECC’s fuel hedging program. Advise the COO, CFO, and CEO of opportunities related to fuels including storage, transporation, and firm supply agreements.  
• Oversee AECC’s Power Market Operations. Maintain compliance with Regional Transmission Organization rules and regulations. Develop strategies for day-ahead and real-time markets. Implement strategies to maximize value of AECC resources and minimize costs. Develop and utilize short and long-range forecasts of loads and resources to support market operations.  
• Solicit and excute contracts for capacity and energy necessary to ensure adequate supply for AECC’s members.  
• Perform economic studies analyzing various alternative means of supplying electric power to AECC members utilizing historical and forecast information from within the division, from other AECC sources, and from all available outside sources. Direct the work of engineering consulting firms which may be retained by AECC for feasibility studies. Provide forecasts of capacity factor, fuel cost, revenue, variable production operation and maintenance costs, transmission generator interconnection costs from the RTOs, and related cost forecasts of new resources.  
• Provide or serve as primary liaison with the RTOs including participating in or monitoring stakeholder groups, developing positions on RTO tariff and business practice changes that are impactful to AECC, and articulating AECC concerns to the RTOs.  
• Provide AECC's technical representative with the Southwest Power Resources Association to provide input on matters relating to the use of Federal hydropower. Provide AECC's representation on matters that come out of the use of Federal power marketed by Southwester Power Administration.  
• Prepare annually a comprehensive 20-year forecast of future capacity and energy requirements of AECC members using state-of-the-art methods. Coordinates with member cooperatives and secures approval by member cooperatives of the annual Power Requirements Forecast.  
• Provides detailed technical information for preparation of rate applications to the Arkansas Public Service Commission, utilizing information from various sources within the cooperative. Provide support for analyzing and participating in FERC rate cases involving AECC. Analyzes effects of proposed rate structure changes. When appropriate, recommends rate structure changes.  
• Administer the power purchase or sale contracts with independent power producers and other utilities, transmission service contracts with other utilities and the RTOs, power marketing contracts with other utilities, and other similar contracts. Participation in negotiation of similar new or revised contracts.  
• Supervise outside consultants retained for projects arising from the responsibilities of the Market Operations Division.  
• Approve invoices for payment for all charges arising from the responsibilities of the Planning, Rates & Dispatching Division.  
• Working through the line of supervision, to participate in recruiting new employees for the division, select new employees for the division, and train employees in their job skills for continual improvement and advancement.  
• Coordinate the activities of the division with those of other divisions of the cooperative to assure harmonious and supporting relationships.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Degree in Engineering, Economics, Law or similar field, plus 15 years related experience and/or training, and 8 years related management experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.  

PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Master of Business Administration  

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts, outdoor weather conditions, wet or humid conditions, extreme cold, extreme heat, risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

High diversity, low physical. Work activities which allow for considerable amount of diversity as an incumbent performs a variety of tasks. Such tasks might be performed from a given work area, or the individual may move about physically in performing a variety of duties.  

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is continuously required to talk or hear; occasionally required to stand, walk, sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision; and distance vision. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

In pursuant of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act 593, this position is a designated safety-sensitive position according to AECC/AECI standards and processes.