Associate Public Utililties For Regulatory Enforcement & Ratepayer Affairs (DPUC)

Department

Public Utilities Commission

Division

Regulatory Compliance

Salary

$124,825.00 - $143,904.00

Job Profile

JC-02591900-99 - Associate Public Utilities for Regulatory Enforcement and Ratepayer Affairs (DPUC) (Non-Union Executive Branch)

Scheduled Work Days & Work Hours

This position will manage the Consumer Section

Job Requisition Number

JR103667 Associate Public Utililties For Regulatory Enforcement & Ratepayer Affairs (DPUC) (Open)

Pay Grade

C00142 A

Classification

Associate Public Utilities for Regulatory Enforcement and Ratepayer Affairs (DPUC)

Class Definition

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Within the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC), to be responsible for the administration and coordination of a program of, as well as the supervision of a regulatory staff engaged in, the enforcement of all laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures relevant to taxis, limousines, transportation network companies, towers, movers, other property carriers, and ferries carrying passengers for-hire within the state; to plan, coordinate and review the work of the professional, technical and clerical staff engaged in consumer affairs and regulatory functions within the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers; to serve as Administrator's representative to legislative commissions regarding ratepayer issues; to assist the Attorney General's Regulatory Unit on all matters relating to the motor carrier industry under the provisions of Title 39 of the Rhode Island General Laws; to administer federal Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) system to timely and properly register Rhode Island carriers, and the agency's adherence to UCR Board of Director requirements to ensure the full realization of the State of Rhode Island's share of UCR funds; and to do related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the general direction of Administrator and/or Deputy Administrator with considerable latitude for the exercise of initiative and independent judgment; work is subject to review for results obtained and conformance to federal law, state law, rules and regulations, as well as compliance with agency policy and objectives.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Plans, organizes, supervises and reviews the work of a staff engaged in the enforcement of state laws and regulations relevant to the motor carrier industry and a staff engaged in the coordination of ratepayer affairs of regulated utilities.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

• Within the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC), to be responsible for the administration and coordination of a program of, as well as the supervision of a regulatory staff engaged in, the enforcement of all laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures relevant to taxis, limousines, transportation network companies, towers, movers, other property carriers, and ferries carrying passengers for-hire within the state; to plan, coordinate and review the work of the professional, technical and clerical staff engaged in consumer affairs and regulatory functions within the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers; to serve as Administrator's representative to legislative commissions regarding ratepayer issues; to assist the Attorney General's Regulatory Unit on all matters relating to the motor carrier industry under the provisions of Title 39 of the Rhode Island General Laws; to administer federal Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) system to timely and properly register Rhode Island carriers, and the agency's adherence to UCR Board of Director requirements to ensure the full realization of the State of Rhode Island's share of UCR funds; and to do related work as required.
• To effectively oversee carriers providing Non-Emergency Medical Transportation services within the State.
• To serve as agency liaison to the General Assembly on all matters regarding for-hire passenger and property transportation.
• To serve as agency liaison to the General Assembly on all matters regarding low-income energy consumers.
• To testify before Division hearing officers and in Superior/Supreme court proceedings.
• To coordinate federally mandated interstate carrier audits.
• To serve as the Administrator's designee to legislative study commissions, and as the administrator's representative to national and international regulatory bodies.
• To serve as the Chair of the Rhode Island Towing Advisory Board.
• To supervise the regulation of motor carriers and hired transportation services within the state, including establishing reasonable requirements regarding continuous and adequate service of motor carriers and a uniform system of accounts and records of reports.
• To draft new regulations and revise existing regulations regarding all passenger carriers and property carriers regulated under Title 39 of the Rhode Island General Laws.
• To represent the Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers at legislative, judicial and other meetings and conferences as requested.
• To preside over administrative hearings pertaining to motor carrier operations, and to the issue clear and sound decisions on such hearings.
• To review, evaluate and approve all tariffs presented by regulated carriers regarding rates, terms and conditions of service and to design and defend the implementation of tariffs for non-consensual towing services to ensure that services are provide to consumers at reasonable costs and in accordance with reasonable terms.
• To be responsible for the investigation of consumer complaints and discovery of illegal operations and for prosecution of violations of law and regulations regarding motor carriers.
• To be responsible for the unit's covert enforcement operations undertaken to ensure proper and safe transportation of the public and their property.
• To coordinate enforcement activities with the Rhode Island State Police Commercial Enforcement Unit.
• To be responsible for the completion of federally mandated audits of inter-state carriers registered with Unified Carrier Registration System.
• To coordinate the state's rail safety program including the review of all pertinent railroad crossings.
• To be responsible for a comprehensive recordkeeping system of all motor carriers operating within the state.
• To advise the administrator and division staff regarding policy decisions involving motor carrier operations.
• To be responsible for fiscal audit procedures established to review the accounting procedures of motor carriers authorized to operate in the state.
• To be responsible for field audit procedures of intra-state carriers established to review full adherence to state law, agency regulations, and approved tariffs regarding motor carriers authorized to operate in the state.
• To implement and administer a program designed to inspect and verify the accuracy of taximeters used to charge customers for transportation services.
• To represent the administrator on the Executive Board of the National Conference of State Transportation Specialists (NCSTS) to obtain data on the UCR system to maximize the state's share of such registration funds.
• To represent the administrator as a member of the Advisory Board of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) to ensure the state's adherence to "best practices" regarding the regulation of transportation industries.
• To be responsible for preparing reports and orders pertaining to motor carriers.
• To perform public relations functions relating to transportation and its regulations.
• To be immediately responsible for the consumer-protection activities of the DPUC.
• To design innovative approaches to problems in utility regulation relative to billing disputes and Page 3 of 3 termination of utility service.
• To be responsible for enforcement of laws and order of the Public Utilities Commission pertaining to electricity, gas, water, telephone and other public utilities.
• To organize and plan programs for the administration of new laws relating to public utilities.
• To answer inquiries of the public concerning rights and duties under these laws.
• To develop and coordinate a community education program intended to further acquaint the general public, including industrial, consumer, and student constituencies, with the purposes, concerns, operations and achievements of the DPUC.
• To receive and investigate complaints against public utility companies from utility consumers.
• To coordinate study committees as assigned by the Administrator.
• To coordinate the activities of the division in preparation for rate hearings. To do related work as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND CAPACITIES: A thorough knowledge of federal and state laws and the rules and regulations governing motor carriers and services providing for-hire transportation of passengers and property, and the ability to explain these laws and rules so that they can be easily understood by agency staff, regulated carriers, consumers, legislators, and court personnel; a thorough knowledge of state laws and regulations governing ratepayer billings and termination/restoration of service; a working knowledge of the concepts and goals of the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Board of Directors, the National Conference of State Transportation Specialists and the International Association of Transportation Regulators; a working knowledge of the policies and procedures of the USDOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; the ability to supervise professional, technical and clerical personnel engaged in motor carrier regulation and enforcement; the ability to conduct public hearing; the ability to assume responsibility for change in methods of record keeping and regulatory activities of defined public utilities; the ability to establish and maintain working relationships with motor carrier officials, subordinates, superiors, legislators, and the general public, and related capacities and abilities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Possession of a Bachelor's degree from a college of recognized standing in Business, Communications, Public Administration or a closely related field; and

Experience: A minimum of ten (10) years of employment in a responsible supervisory position in a regulatory agency involving the compliance of motor carrier or transportation laws, policies, procedures, and regulations, and utility ratepayer billing, payment plans and termination/restoration of service.

Or, possession of a master's degree from a college of recognized standing in Business, Communications, Public Administration or a closely related field and a minimum of three (3) years of employment in a responsible supervisory position in a regulatory agency involving the compliance of motor carrier or transportation laws, policies, procedures, and regulations.

Supplemental Information

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Within the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC), to be responsible for the administration and coordination of a program of, as well as the supervision of a regulatory staff engaged in, the enforcement of all laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures relevant to taxis, limousines, transportation network companies, towers, movers, other property carriers, and ferries carrying passengers for-hire within the state; to plan, coordinate and review the work of the professional, technical and clerical staff engaged in consumer affairs and regulatory functions within the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers; to serve as Administrator's representative to legislative commissions regarding ratepayer issues; to assist the Attorney General's Regulatory Unit on all matters relating to the motor carrier industry under the provisions of Title 39 of the Rhode Island General Laws; to administer federal Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) system to timely and properly register Rhode Island carriers, and the agency's adherence to UCR Board of Director requirements to ensure the full realization of the State of Rhode Island's share of UCR funds; and to do related work as required. SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the general direction of Administrator and/or Deputy Administrator with considerable latitude for the exercise of initiative and independent judgment; work is subject to review for results obtained and conformance to federal law, state law, rules and regulations, as well as compliance with agency policy and objectives. SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Plans, organizes, supervises and reviews the work of a staff engaged in the enforcement of state laws and regulations relevant to the motor carrier industry and a staff engaged in the coordination of ratepayer affairs of regulated utilities.

Benefits

For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/.

Also, be advised that a new provision in RI General Law 35-6-1 was enacted requiring direct deposit for all employees. Specific to new hires, the law requires that all employees hired after September 30, 2014 participate in direct deposit. Accordingly, any employee hired after this date will be required to participate in the direct deposit system. At the time the employee is hired, the employee shall identify a financial institution that will serve as a personal depository agency for the employee.