Senior Engineer (Power Systems/Energy Engineering) Electricity Regulation at MECS (Pty) Ltd

Reporting to the Head of the Department: Electricity Pricing and Tariffs: the incumbent will work closely with Financial Analysts, Economists, and other technical specialists within the Electricity Regulation Division.
The incumbent will provide engineering and technical expertise to support the assessment of electricity tariff applications and price determinations.
The incumbent will also analyse and interpret technical performance data, asset utilisation, network efficiency, and operational assumptions sub-mitted by electricity licensees, and ensure that these are properly aligned with financial and economic analyses.
The role strengthens the technical integrity, cost-reflectivity, and defensibility of the company's electricity pricing and tariff decisions in line with the Electricity Regulation Act.


Requirements:


Bachelor's Degree / B Tech Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering as recognized by SAQA
Registration or eligibility for registration with ECSA will be an advantage
A postgraduate qualification in power systems, energy engineering, or related field will be advantageous
Minimum of Five (5) years' experience in the electricity sector, preferably in: Power generation, transmission, or distribution; Utility operations or performance analysis and Regulatory or tariff-related technical assessments
Experience interpreting technical performance data and linking it to cost and investment decisions


The candidate must be competent in the following:


Strong Technical and Analytical Skills
Ability to interpret complex engineering data and communicate findings clearly
Understanding of electricity system operations and infrastructure performance
Strong report writing and presentation Skills
Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.


Key responsibilities: The successful incumbent will be responsible for:

Technical Assessment of Tariff Applications:


Analyse engineering components of tariff submissions, including plant performance, network efficiency, losses, reliability indices, and capacity utilisation
Evaluate the technical justification for operating and maintenance costs, capital expenditure, and asset replacement programmes
Assess whether technical assumptions underpinning tariff applications are reasonable, efficient, and consistent with industry norms


Integration of Technical and Financial Analysis:


Work closely with financial analysts to align technical performance data with cost drivers and revenue requirements
Support the validation of assumptions used in revenue requirement and tariff models
Identify inefficiencies or inconsistencies between technical performance and financial outcomes


Performance and Efficiency Analysis:


Analyse technical performance indicators such as availability factors, losses, outages, maintenance practices, and network reliability
Benchmark utility performance against national and international best practice
Assess the prudence and efficiency of proposed capital and operating expenditure


Regulatory Support and Advisory:


Provide technical input to tariff recommendations, regulatory submissions, and decision-making processes
Support responses to stakeholder queries, objections, and appeals related to technical aspects of tariffs
Assist in the development and review of tariff methodologies, standards, and regulatory guidelines


Stakeholder and Inter-Departmental Engagement:


Engage with licensees to clarify technical aspects of tariff submissions where required
Collaborate with other departments (Licensing, Compliance, Market Surveillance, Legal)
Support participation in hearings, workshops, and consultations on tariff-related matters.