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Job summary
The Distributed Energy Resources Services Manager is responsible for developing distributed energy resources (DERs) and DER integration solutions through collaboration and coordination between the organization and its owner communities to provide benefits to all customers and to support achievement of Resource Diversification Policy and strategic initiatives. The Distributed Energy Resources Services Manager leads in the research, development, recommendation, procurement and implementation of DERs and DER integration solutions—which may include DERs, interconnection policies, enabling communication and control technologies, programs or electric rates—in consultation with a cross functional team of Platte River and owner community utility staff to develop DERs and to make them visible, predictable, reliable and responsive to electric system operators.
 

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Researches, develops, recommends, procures and implements approved distributed energy resource projects and integration solutions that develop DERs and make them visible, predictable, reliable and responsive to electric system operators. Electric system operators include those operating the owner communities’ distribution systems and the organization’s transmission, generation and distributed energy resources
• Collaborates with a cross-functional team of Platte River and its owner communities’ utility staff to develop DER projects and integration solutions that consider the perspectives of operations, distribution planning, transmission planning, resource planning, information/operation technology, cyber security, finance and customer energy solutions
• Works closely with the organization and its owner communities’ planning and operations staff to support their planning efforts. Works closely with resource planning, operations and finance departments to ensure DERs provide reliability and financial sustainability benefits commensurate with costs
• Collaborates closely with the organization’s and its owner communities’ finance and rates staff to ensure coordination between programmatic and ratemaking approaches to distributed energy resources integration
• Provides technical support to organization’s and its owner communities’ energy solutions, customer services and marketing and communications staff to ensure distributed energy resources integration solutions are well received and supported by the owner communities’ customers
• Leads a team including IT/OT staff, other stakeholders in the organization and the owner communities to specify, procure, implement, integrate, optimize, and manage systems necessary for distributed energy resource integration to form a virtual power plant (VPP) and distributed energy resource management system (DERMS)
• Leads in the development of a VPP and DERMS to simplify and streamline the ability to forecast and dispatch DERs to support reliable operations and benefits in an organized electric market
• Maintains awareness of individual owner community planning and solution development and implementation. Serves as a technical resource to the organization’s owner communities in DER project and integration solution development. Tracks DER adoption within the owner communities
• Hires and manages consultants, vendors and trade allies as required to develop and implement projects and integration solutions
• Works collaboratively with key stakeholders to understand their interests and to gain support for the organization’s DER initiatives
• Develops and manages budgets necessary to complete assigned work
• Maintains current with local, state and federal regulations and potential impacts
• Maintains awareness of technology development and utility integration approaches
• Works under the general supervision of distributed energy resources manager to ensure alignment with department goals, to communicate successes and to seek support when challenges are encountered

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to research, develop, recommend and coordinate the implementation of distributed energy resources solutions
• Extensive knowledge of at least one distributed energy resources type or technology, such as distributed solar, distributed storage, demand response, load flexibility, electric vehicle charge management
• Extensive knowledge of one or more distributed energy resources integration solutions, programs or systems (VPP, DERMS)
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and programs
• Excellent relationship building ability, teamwork and team leadership ability
• Ability to work with, engage and gain support of diverse internal and external stakeholders through open dialog and an enthusiastic and inquisitive approach
• Excellent customer service skills

Preferences

• Knowledge of distributed energy resources solutions for electric vehicle charge management programs, distributed energy storage, distributed solar and demand response
• Knowledge of DERMS and/or virtual power plant (VPP) technology
• Knowledge of distributed energy resources telemetry and communication technologies, standards and protocols
• Knowledge of distribution system planning and operations.
• Knowledge of other utility systems, such as demand response management systems (DRMS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), meter data management systems (MDMS), customer information systems (CIS) and advanced distribution management systems (ADMS).
• Knowledge distributed energy resources operation in an organized wholesale market environment (e.g., SPP, MISO, CAISO, NYISO).
• Knowledge of NERC and FERC requirements, specifically FERC Order 2222, Participation of Distributed Energy Resource Aggregations in Markets Operated by Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators and Order 841, Electric Storage Participation in Markets Operated by Regional Transmission

Qualifications
Education and licenses

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technology, business or related field is required
• Current valid driver’s license and ability to remain insurable under the vehicle liability policy

Required work experience

• Three years of experience researching, developing and implementing DER projects and integration solutions in a utility environment, with a focus on solutions that improve visibility, predictability, reliability and responsiveness to system needs (electric vehicle charge management, distributed storage, distributed solar, and demand response programs)
• Three years of experience working in and leading a cross-functional team
• Experience providing excellent customer service

Preferred work experience and education

• Five years of experience researching, developing and implementing DER integration solutions in support of distribution system planning and operational needs
• Three years of experience with distributed energy resources telemetry and communication technologies, standards and protocols
• One year of experience with other utility systems, such as DRMS, SCADA, AMI, MDMS, CIS and ADMS
• One year of experience in DER operation in an organized wholesale market environment (SPP, MISO, CAISO, NYISO)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

About Platte River Power Authority

Platte River Power Authority is a not-for-profit utility that generates and delivers safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and financially sustainable energy and services to its owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland. Platte River's generation portfolio includes thermal, hydro, wind and solar resources.

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