Job opportunity

Regulation Division – Electricity Access & Licensing and Customer Protection

Do you want to work in a genuinely flexible and friendly CBD environment?

At the ERA, we’re thrilled to announce that three dynamic positions are available in the Regulation Division. We have healthy debates because we want employees to voice opinions and value each other’s perspectives in an inclusive environment. We empower our people to drive innovation by starting with yes when approached with good ideas. The ERA supports employees’ professional development, and provides a fully flexible working arrangement including work from home and flexible start times. We’re open to discussing part-time and other flexible arrangements that will help you succeed in this role.

You will join a supportive team that is trusted for its integrity, professionalism, and expertise.

About the Roles

The Principal Regulatory Analyst and Senior Project Officer roles are in the Electricity Access team. The primary focus of the Electricity Access team is the regulation of Western Power’s network, particularly the periodic review of Western Power’s access arrangement.

The Senior Regulatory Officer role is in Licensing and Customer Protection – a multi-disciplinary team that supports electricity, water and gas businesses to understand and comply with licence conditions. The team focuses on end-use consumers, for example by developing and implementing new entitlements for vulnerable customers, and by protecting customers from adverse billing and marketing practices.

Suitable candidates for each of the three roles will possess qualifications in a relevant discipline, well developed communication, interpersonal and stakeholder management skills and the ability to contribute to an innovative problem solving environment. You will be able to prioritise workload to meet required deadlines, have a proactive attitude and work collaboratively as part of a small team. You will also possess the ability to prepare clear and well-structured reports to effectively communicate complex economic, commercial and regulatory issues in a form that non-technical readers can understand.

Principal Regulatory Analyst – Permanent Full-time

Regulation Division – Electricity Access

This position provides specialist expertise to the management, undertaking, reviewing and evaluation of complex, sensitive and/or difficult projects relating to the regulation of network service providers. This includes the analysis and assessment of regulatory, economic and financial information and models relevant to regulated network service providers, including researching and assessing alternative approaches and best practice.

You will demonstrate a sound applied knowledge of the operations and economics of monopoly energy infrastructure and be able to apply your economic, financial and problem-solving skills and experience to deliver well-reasoned and robustly supported advice to the ERA Governing Body. 

Senior Project Officer – Permanent Full-time

Regulation Division – Electricity Access.

The core responsibility of this position is to provide high level professional project management support, to assist in the review and evaluation of specified regulatory, legislative, economic, financial, policy and operational matters specifically the revision of Western Power’s access arrangement. This includes the management and oversight of outsourced economic, engineering and legal consultancy work.

The position also assists in the analysis and assessment of regulatory, economic and financial information and models relevant to regulated network service providers, including researching and assessing alternative approaches and best practice, and preparation of advice to the ERA Governing Body.

Senior Regulatory Officer – Fixed Term 12 Months Contract with the possibility of extension and/or permanency.

Regulation Division - Licensing and Customer Protection

This role independently undertakes complex and sensitive regulatory projects. These include reviews of subsidiary legislation that provide protections for electricity, gas and water customers, as well as reviews of the licensing frameworks for those industries. The successful applicant will interpret legislation and regulation to assess licence applications and customer protection instruments, such as customer contracts and financial hardship policies, and review ERA regulatory guidelines.

This role would suit someone with policy experience who is cognisant of the benefits and costs of new regulation and is able to weigh up conflicting stakeholder views. Experience in electricity, water or gas regulation is not essential. Applicants need to be collaborative and detail-focussed, able to think analytically and have effective verbal and written communication skills. This role requires concise and timely briefings to the ERA’s executive and Governing Body on regulatory projects and emerging risks. The successful applicant will be responsible for building and maintaining professional relationships with industry stakeholders, government agencies and interested parties.

Further detailed information about these roles and their organisational context are included in the attached Job Description Forms.

About the ERA

The ERA is the independent economic regulator of electricity, gas, water and rail in Western Australia. Our purpose is to benefit all Western Australians by promoting strong economic outcomes through effective regulation and decision making. We strive to make sure current and future consumers pay no more than necessary for safe and reliable utilities.

The Regulation division administers licensing schemes for the electricity, gas and water industries, and the registration scheme for AES providers. This includes monitoring and enforcing compliance with licenses and registrations and reviewing and approving licensing customer protection instruments. The division also reviews and makes decisions on access to regulated monopoly infrastructure in the electricity, gas, and rail industries.

To find out more about the Economic Regulation Authority please visit our website www.erawa.com.au

Find out more

If you are interested in the position of Principal Regulatory Analyst or Senior Project Officer and want further information on the roles please contact Ms Elizabeth Walters, Assistant Director, Electricity Access on (08) 6557 7958 (direct Line).

If you are interested in the position of Senior Regulatory Officer and want further information on the role please contact Ms Emma Forrest, Assistant Director, Licencing and Customer Protection on (08) 6557 7948 (direct line). Please do not call for any general enquiries related to the application process. For assistance with your application or for general queries please contact Ms Paula Skittlethorpe on (08) 6557 7986 (direct line) or email human.resources@erawa.com.au.

Submitting your application

Applicants are requested to submit a comprehensive CV and provide a covering letter of no more than two pages demonstrating your knowledge, skills and ability to effectively undertake this role in accordance with the position competencies. Please include in your cover letter which position you are applying for.

All position competencies listed in the Job Description Form will be assessed during the selection process.

To submit your application, click on the “Apply for Job” button at the bottom of this page. You will be asked to complete several questions - please factor this time in when submitting an application. Late, pro forma and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Additional Information

This selection process will initially be used to fill the above vacancy. Applicants assessed as suitable during this selection process may be appointed to other similar vacancies that occur throughout the ERA for twelve months following this initial appointment. This includes circumstances where this position becomes subsequently vacant should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised position.

The Economic Regulation Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages Aboriginal Australians, young people, women, people with disabilities, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for positions within our agency.

Closing Date: 22/08/2024, 3pm WST. Please ensure you allow plenty of time to lodge your application, as late, pro forma or emailed applications will not be accepted.