Interconnection Specialist/Sr Interconnection Specialist

PPL

Company Summary Statement

PPL Electric Utilities delivers safe, reliable and affordable electricity to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses throughout its 29-county service territory in eastern and central Pennsylvania. Through smart investments and innovation, it has built one of the most advanced electric grids in the United States. And, with over a century of expertise, PPL Electric remains focused on continuing to build the utility of the future, today. Regularly ranking among the country’s best utility companies for reliability and customer satisfaction, PPL Electric has won numerous awards, including 30 J.D. Power Awards for providing top-quality service to residential and business customers. PPL Electric is a major employer and an active supporter of the communities it serves. Empowering employees, community members and initiatives across its service territory through volunteerism and investments in organizations that support education, sustainability, and wellbeing.

Overview

PPL Corporation is looking for a customer-facing professional who will own and manage the relationship with complex, expedited and simplified Distributed Generation (DG)/Distributed Energy Resources (DER) applicants throughout the company's end to end interconnection process. Successful candidates will have strong technical and project management skills, enabling customer sponsored DER projects to be interconnected cost effectively, within state regulated timelines, while achieving high customer satisfaction. The professional will act as the customer's primary point of contact guiding them through regulatory, legislative and technical obligations, obtaining and interpreting technical documentation, performing preliminary screenings/feasibility reviews as necessary, drafting contractual agreements, and coordinating complex DER projects with multitude of internal and external stakeholders throughout the construction process. As a DER subject matter expert, the candidate will also be expected to provide outreach and educate others on DER initiatives. This position may also get involved in the preliminary (Step 0) stages of large complex electric projects in assisting customers with evaluating the feasibility of such projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage DER projects with customers, external vendors, contractors and consultants to ensure timely delivery of utility services and completion of the project.

• Conduct engineering screenings/feasibility reviews, maintain work management system and update procedures to support the design solutions that enhance DER programs.

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with network strategy, account development, inside and outsides sales, regulatory, energy product & program management, jurisdictional teams and external vendors in order to facilitate communications, integrate work and ensure the successful delivery of company’s products and programs.

• Challenge existing policies and procedures to continuously seek ways to enhance customer service and cost-effectiveness.

• Coordinate internal and external resources assigned to perform comprehensive engineering studies (i.e., Impact Study, Feasibility Study, etc.), commissioning analysis and reports in order to ensure timely delivery of DER projects per applicable jurisdictional tariffs.

• Provide technical guidance, support and coaching to others, (both internally and externally) in order to share knowledge and increase understanding of DER programs and services.

• Analyze and evaluate developments in DER and Renewable Energy technologies in order to identify impact of different scenarios on the business and strategies for integrating cost efficiencies.

• Ensure projects are following appropriate accounting procedures.

• Negotiate, develop, and administer all aspects of interconnection related agreements.

• Provide energy efficiency and growth leads to the sales organization as applicable.

• Update and maintain company websites with latest program information.

• Represent PPL Corporation as needed in various industry associations

• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Interconnection Specialist:

Bachelor's Degree in an engineering field, project management or equivalent industry experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience on a year-for-year basis, is required.
2+ years work experience.
Demonstrated project management skills
Ability to develop proficiency with the state’s Interconnection tariffs, especially as they relate to DER
Demonstrated superior customer service and analytical skills
Demonstrates the ability to interpret information and analyze relationships among several parts of a problem or situation in order to clearly articulate the findings and anticipates obstacles and thinks ahead about next steps.
Understands and identifies training or developmental needs of others and has the ability to design and establish new programs of work to support them.
Support and be part of a team environment.
Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills including human resource management, negotiations and communications. Let’s people affected by a decision know what’s happening and is able to clearly articulate reasons for a decision.
Understands theory behind policies and processes and demonstrates the ability to challenge existing processes and ways of working e.g., taking action to avoid future crisis or create opportunities to improve existing practices.
Excellent organizational, data management and computer skills
Prior work experience in reviewing and discussing Combined Heat and Power CHP/DER feasibility reviews, system impact studies and working successfully with consulting engineers and contractors preferred.
Understands the importance of procedures and standards of working and demonstrates the ability to give directions or demonstrations with clear reasons and rationales.
Be a coordinator for technical DER items that may arise with the PPL Corporation customer base.
Good knowledge of DER system design practices and installation standards.

Sr. Interconnection Specialist:

Bachelor's Degree in an engineering field, project management or equivalent industry experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience on a year-for-year basis, is required.
5+ years work experience.
Demonstrated project management skills
Ability to develop proficiency with the state’s Interconnection tariffs, especially as they relate to DER
Demonstrated superior customer service and analytical skills
Demonstrates the ability to interpret information and analyze relationships among several parts of a problem or situation in order to clearly articulate the findings and anticipates obstacles and thinks ahead about next steps.
Understands and identifies training or developmental needs of others and has the ability to design and establish new programs of work to support them.
Support and be part of a team environment.
Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills including human resource management, negotiations and communications. Let’s people affected by a decision know what’s happening and is able to clearly articulate reasons for a decision.
Understands theory behind policies and processes and demonstrates the ability to challenge existing processes and ways of working e.g., taking action to avoid future crisis or create opportunities to improve existing practices.
Excellent organizational, data management and computer skills
Prior work experience in reviewing and discussing Combined Heat and Power CHP/DER feasibility reviews, system impact studies and working successfully with consulting engineers and contractors preferred.
Understands the importance of procedures and standards of working and demonstrates the ability to give directions or demonstrations with clear reasons and rationales.
Be a coordinator for technical DER items that may arise with the PPL Corporation customer base.
Good knowledge of DER system design practices and installation standards.

Preferred Qualifications:

-PE and/or PMP certification desired.

Interconnection Specialist:

Bachelor's Degree in an engineering field, project management or equivalent industry experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience on a year-for-year basis, is required.
2+ years work experience.
Demonstrated project management skills
Ability to develop proficiency with the state’s Interconnection tariffs, especially as they relate to DER
Demonstrated superior customer service and analytical skills
Demonstrates the ability to interpret information and analyze relationships among several parts of a problem or situation in order to clearly articulate the findings and anticipates obstacles and thinks ahead about next steps.
Understands and identifies training or developmental needs of others and has the ability to design and establish new programs of work to support them.
Support and be part of a team environment.
Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills including human resource management, negotiations and communications. Let’s people affected by a decision know what’s happening and is able to clearly articulate reasons for a decision.
Understands theory behind policies and processes and demonstrates the ability to challenge existing processes and ways of working e.g., taking action to avoid future crisis or create opportunities to improve existing practices.
Excellent organizational, data management and computer skills
Prior work experience in reviewing and discussing Combined Heat and Power CHP/DER feasibility reviews, system impact studies and working successfully with consulting engineers and contractors preferred.
Understands the importance of procedures and standards of working and demonstrates the ability to give directions or demonstrations with clear reasons and rationales.
Be a coordinator for technical DER items that may arise with the PPL Corporation customer base.
Good knowledge of DER system design practices and installation standards.

Sr. Interconnection Specialist:

Bachelor's Degree in an engineering field, project management or equivalent industry experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience on a year-for-year basis, is required.
5+ years work experience.
Demonstrated project management skills
Ability to develop proficiency with the state’s Interconnection tariffs, especially as they relate to DER
Demonstrated superior customer service and analytical skills
Demonstrates the ability to interpret information and analyze relationships among several parts of a problem or situation in order to clearly articulate the findings and anticipates obstacles and thinks ahead about next steps.
Understands and identifies training or developmental needs of others and has the ability to design and establish new programs of work to support them.
Support and be part of a team environment.
Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills including human resource management, negotiations and communications. Let’s people affected by a decision know what’s happening and is able to clearly articulate reasons for a decision.
Understands theory behind policies and processes and demonstrates the ability to challenge existing processes and ways of working e.g., taking action to avoid future crisis or create opportunities to improve existing practices.
Excellent organizational, data management and computer skills
Prior work experience in reviewing and discussing Combined Heat and Power CHP/DER feasibility reviews, system impact studies and working successfully with consulting engineers and contractors preferred.
Understands the importance of procedures and standards of working and demonstrates the ability to give directions or demonstrations with clear reasons and rationales.
Be a coordinator for technical DER items that may arise with the PPL Corporation customer base.
Good knowledge of DER system design practices and installation standards.