The Senior Manager Interconnection Affairs is responsible for the daily management of connections to the transmission and distribution system for new or existing generation and load customers. The position will be responsible for interconnection and regulatory processes to support the attraction, development, and execution of customer requests to interconnect with PPL's transmission system. It will be the goal of the team to be leading industry for response and ease for doing business with people. The position must interact with regulatory organizations and will be expected to keep and maintain regular interactions with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and with the Regional Transmission Organizations. It will be the responsibility of this individual and their team to maintain records and status for all regulatory filings associated with interconnection processes. The individual may be required to testify or provide performance updates to regulators (FERC, PA PUC, PJM, ISO-NE, OCA, etc.). Responsible for coordinating and overseeing the daily activities of a professional team of interconnection specialists, engineers and project managers. Accountable for formal supervision, coaching, counseling, safety leadership and technical guidance of assigned staff to produce high quality, timely and cost-effective work product that facilitates the achievement of business objectives. This position reports to Vice President of Planning & Asset Management and works closely with the Director of Asset Management, Manager of Project Development, Manager of T&D Planning and other internal stakeholders.
Responsibilities
Oversee all transmission and distribution generation/distributed energy resource requests for interconnection. Oversight and management of requests from initial request to energization will be required. This includes the supervision of interconnection agreements including but not limited to scope, schedule and budget between PPL EU and generator owners/developers.
Oversee transmission and distribution load customer requests for interconnection. Oversight and management of requests from initial request to energization will be required. This includes the supervision of interconnection agreements including but not limited to scope, schedule and budget between PPL EU and generator owners/developers.
Act as the main interface with interconnection customers, ensure responses to study requests from generator developers are completed within required PJM tariff and PA PUC timeframes.
Oversee and support the timely development and execution of agreements between PPL and neighboring transmission owners and distribution owners when required. Ensure agreements are executed with neighboring utilities prior to commencement of work as specified by PJM or other regulatory requirements.
Responsible for the leadership and oversight of problem-solving technical solutions that provide options for customers to interconnection into transmission and distribution systems. Oversee projects working within teams within T&D Asset Management and other support groups to create strategies to provide a solution that leads the market in schedule, cost, and ease to do business with their utility. While also clearly communicating solutions to the customer.
Welcome new businesses leading initial communication, tracking, and setting up introductory meetings with staff in advance of opening. Proactively develop relationships with business operators and commercial real estate professionals, being an advocate for new opportunities for interconnections to our service territory. Collect and analyze market data and trends to inform retail recruitment efforts and identify emerging opportunities.
Lead the creation and execution of marketing and promotional materials to highlight opportunities for PPL in collaboration with our communities. Collaborate with internal and external economic development and public communications teams.
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the public and private sector, including elected officials, business leaders, and community organizations. Build and maintain constructive working relationships between self, direct reports and other teams.
Conducts risk analysis involved in executing the projects based on uncertainties associated with the project scope.
Accountable for change management associated with improvements to internal process and procedures related to the interconnection process and adherence to all external regulatory and compliance requirements. Assist in the completion of preparation, monitoring and forecasting of the department budget.
Participate or direct active participation in regulatory committees, as necessary to maintain awareness of issues and proposals related to system planning and interconnection process. Review and recommend, in consultation with Transmission and regulatory group on Federal Regulatory Policy department, State Regulatory/Public affairs group on pro strategies and policies to promote business objectives and ensure reliability and operational flexibility of the Bulk Electric System.
Oversee and assist in the coordination of development of annual department goals and metrics. A portion of the metrics should actively measure performance on customer experience and best in class support of interconnections.
Prepare or direct the creation and maintenance of performance metrics and trackers related to customer interconnection requests.
Provide portfolio management budget management to all customer billings, including cash management, and change order management when applicable.
Elevate and reinforce a strong safety culture within the work group, through leadership, communication, and behaviors.
Set priorities to ensure timely completion of department work product, coordinate with other supervisors related to work activities under their purview that impact project or regulatory schedules and deadlines. Serve as a liaison across business lines.
Evaluate and conduct performance reviews of direct reports, identify opportunities for growth and learning, promote leadership skills and confidence to facilitate continued professional development.
Organize and prioritize work group activities, assign, and schedule work and provide oversight, as needed to meet internal and external deadlines.
Evaluate and conduct performance reviews of direct reports, identify opportunities for growth and learning, promote leadership skills and confidence to facilitate continued professional development.
Identify and coordinate technical training for self and direct reports.
Work cross-functionally across technical and business teams, working groups or improvement committees to achieve the goals and objectives of the department and/or company focused on delivering high-quality experience to customers.
Organize and prioritize work group activities, assign, and schedule work and provide oversight, as needed to meet internal and external deadlines.
Identify and coordinate technical training for self and direct reports.
Performs other duties as assigned
Complies with all policies and standards
Qualifications
1. Bachelor's Degree in engineering, business, finance, economics, science, or related discipline.
2. 10+ years of experience working in any combination of utility (or similar industry) contract management, regulatory, legal or client/customer relations.
3. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
4. Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships across all levels of the organization.
5. Experience resolving complex issues through negotiation and diplomacy.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree in engineering, business, finance, economics, science or related discipline.
Prior experience with contracts and process applicable to transmission customer interconnections, including federal and PJM requirements and the PJM stakeholder process.
Prior experience with contracts and process applicable to distribution customer interconnections, including PA PUC regulations.
Prior experience performing distribution or transmission system planning studies including use of planning software to perform studies.
Prior experience in design of engineering and/or project management of Transmission/Distribution electric systems or generation systems.
Prior experience in customer interactions and communications
PPL Corporation
Two N Ninth St
Allentown
Pennsylvania United States
www.pplweb.com
