Tariff Economist

Title: Economist – Tariff

Section: Pricing and Tariff Section

Department: Economics Affairs

Sector: Economic Affairs

Entity: Department of Energy

Role Purpose:

The Economist – Tariff – is responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of strategies for sector charges, customer tariff reform, and subsidy reform.

Additionally, the Economist – Tariff is responsible for developing/designing all tariff reforms and government submissions, as well as conducting thorough impact analyses on subsidies, revenues, and costs.

Furthermore, the Economist – Tariff is responsible for assisting the Senior Economist – Tariff and other team members with the development and production of high-quality economic, financial, and statistical analysis, economic and financial models, data, and reports. Tariff development, government sector subsidies, cost forecasting, renewable energy sources, nuclear energy, new fuels, and demand forecasting are all critical areas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure that the elements of price controls and tariffs are aligned with key tenets of the energy sector - sustainability, security of supply and affordability; and confirm alignment to social, economic, and environmental objectives determined by the Abu Dhabi Government.

• Contribute to the development of sector fees, customer tariffs, and support mechanisms according to the best practices and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi's strategic objectives.

• Establish connections with other government departments to ensure that the socioeconomic impact analysis of tariff/subsidy reform decisions is fully understood and accounted for in long-term reform plans.

• Contribute to the DoE’s publication of the sector costs, revenues, and subsidy forecasts, as well as monitor the agreed tariff/subsidy reform plans and objectives, such as the cost report, tariffs, government subsidies, unlicensed entities, and licensed entities.

• Support the development of economic modeling for Consumer Trends Surveys (CTS) reports and create models as needed for analysis and reporting.

• Assist in the preparation all tariff reform documents that are required to be submitted to the government and analyze the impact of these reforms on subsidies, revenues, and costs.

• Support the price control process including the review of OPEX/ex-ante and ex-post CAPEX; setting of Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC); identification and development of new incentives and Regulatory Instructions and Guidance (RIGs); tariff and subsidy development; review and approval of MAR and tariff information (MTI); and setting of ‘cost to serve’ e.g. metering.

• Support/co-lead economic projects and workstreams as requested by the Pricing and Tariff Section Head or the Economics Affairs Director.

• Develop excellent working relationships across DoE and in other key Departments such as the Department of Finance and the Department of Economic Development.

• Promote and maintain a good image of the DoE, while conducting business in an ethical and professional manner.

Requirements:

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant discipline, e.g., Economics, Economic Policy

Core Capabilities:

• Ability to communicate and develop strong working relationships with internal teams, DoE leadership and senior management, external stakeholders, and advisors

• Ability to work influence key stakeholders (both internal and external)

• Ability to convey complex economic concepts to non-experts.

• Ability to provide ongoing career development, support, and coaching for other Economists

Experience & Exposure:

• 3-5 years of experience as Economist and/or in Regulatory roles in the utility sector
• Adequate understanding of energy sector pricing and tariffs, including wholesale pricing, mechanisms for determining transmission and distribution system usage fees, customer tariffs, pricing models for establishing a price control system, data analysis, and tools used to determine prices.
• Comprehensive knowledge of socio-economic analysis and associated tools and techniques
• Experience in energy sector regulations, including preparation of regulatory submissions, regulatory consultations, and regulatory responses
• Knowledge of the energy sector globally, regionally and in Abu Dhabi
• Good understanding of the strategic direction of the Abu Dhabi energy sector, the objectives for the sector, the strategic direction of the Department and requirements of key stakeholders
• Leadership and influencing skills
• Analytical, problem solving and critical reasoning skills
• Effective oral and written communication

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and implementation of strategies for sector charges, customer tariff reform, and subsidy reform.
• Design and execute tariff reforms and government submissions.
• Conduct thorough impact analyses on subsidies, revenues, and costs.
• Collaborate with the Senior Economist – Tariff and team members to produce economic, financial, and statistical analyses, models, and reports.
• Focus on critical areas such as tariff development, government sector subsidies, cost forecasting, renewable energy sources, nuclear energy, new fuels, and demand forecasting.
• Stay updated on industry trends and regulations to ensure compliance and optimal decision-making.
• Provide economic insights and recommendations to support decision-making processes.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation of economic analyses and reports.
• Engage in continuous professional development to enhance economic expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Economics, Economic Policy, or a relevant discipline.
• 3-5 years of experience as an Economist and/or in Regulatory roles within the utility sector.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on economic principles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration and report writing.
• Proficiency in economic and financial modeling software.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Familiarity with energy sector regulations and policies.
• Willingness to stay updated on industry trends and best practices.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in economic analyses.
• A proactive and collaborative approach to team-based work.