The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is hiring an Administrative Law Judge, classification Administrative Law Judge 3, to become part of our team working for the public interest in Oregon. The PUC is seeking an accomplished, energetic, and public service-focused attorney, or judge, who can manage complicated proceedings and support thorough and well-reasoned decision making.

About the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC):

The PUC sets utility rates and terms of service through broad delegated legislative responsibility and must balance the interests and rights of multiple organizations and individuals representing divergent and conflicting business, consumer, and public interests. Investor-owned utilities currently receive approximately $5 billion in revenues annually from 2.4 million Oregon consumers. The PUC receives no General or Lottery funds, and instead is funded through a dedicated per-month fee on regulated natural gas, electric, telecommunication, and water utility bills.

Our mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. We use an inclusive process to evaluate differing viewpoints and visions of the public interest and arrive at balanced, well-reasoned, independent decisions supported by fact and law. More information about our vision and values can be found at: PUC Strategic Plan and Diversity Equity and Inclusion Plan.

More information about the PUC can be found online at: www.oregon.gov/PUC.

Please Note: New employees to PUC who are Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) participating members (those meeting eligibility requirements at time of hire) are paid within the PERS-eligible/AP salary range for this position as follows:

Administrative Law Judge 3 / PERS-RP Salary Range - MMN: $9,542 - $14,768 monthly (for active PERS members reflecting a monthly 6.95% contribution/increase)

Employees new to State of Oregon employment, or who are not yet a PERS participating member, will receive the 6.95% increase (6% employee contribution) upon meeting PERS eligibility, generally after completion of six-months of qualifying State of Oregon employment.

What you will do as a PUC Administrative Law Judge:

As the successful candidate for this position, you will conduct complex administrative hearings and rulemakings, as well as analyze and solve problems of broad scope and difficulty involving regulated utilities. PUC Administrative Law Judges use of creative and strategic thinking as it applies to matters having significant long-range impacts in constantly evolving energy and utility regulatory and policy frameworks. Major duties include:

• Conducting and overseeing complex contested case and rulemaking proceedings brought before the Commission, making evidentiary and other procedural rulings, analyzing legal, factual, and policy issues, and preparing and presenting independent written legal and policy analysis to the PUC Commissioners.
• Drafting and discussing substantive decisions on energy, water, and telecommunication topics.
• Presiding over and mediating extremely complex and highly technical PUC hearings, rulemakings, and contested case proceedings.
• Scheduling and presiding over conferences, hearings, or oral arguments.
• Ensuring full and fair inquiry of all relevant matters to provide an adequate factual basis for Commission decision making.
• Analyzing testimony, exhibits, transcripts, and briefs including financial, economic, and engineering evidence.
• Conducting extensive research of applicable law, regulations, case precedent and policy.
• Building a factual record in proceedings that supports well-founded decisions.

Hybrid-Remote Work:

Currently, employees who live in the State of Oregon may request approval for hybrid-remote work (generally from the employee’s personal residence). This position may be performed remotely, and at our central office in Salem, and at the PUC’s Portland satellite office. The ability to report to Salem and Portland is required when business or operational needs are necessary for onsite activities. Hybrid-remote work is evaluated periodically to ensure business needs are being met and can be adjusted at any time.

Benefits for joining our Team:

• If you are hired, you will become a key part of an important state agency at a dynamic time.
• Play a crucial role in protecting Oregonian ratepayers and achieving climate objectives set for the agency by the Legislature, while balancing the competing demands of utilities and stakeholders.
• Working with colleagues who are innovative and passionate about public service.
• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package.
• Learning opportunities that will help grow your career with the State of Oregon.
• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited law school with a LL.B. or J.D. degree; and

Admission to the Bar of any state or federal jurisdiction; and

Three (3) years of work experience conducting contested case hearings or as a trial lawyer.

Requested Skills:

The most competitive candidates will demonstrate the following requested skills:

• An attorney in good standing with the Bar of any state or federal jurisdiction.
• Ability to conduct formal, quasi-judicial administrative hearings involving complex legal and policy issues affecting divergent business, consumer, and public interests, or other administrative law experience.
• Knowledge of legal and policy issues related to the regulation of utilities, with experience addressing utility rates and service, legislatively mandated utility standards and programs, climate change policy, industry restructuring, competitive market issues, network engineering, accounting, and financial practices.
• Ability to quickly absorb and assimilate complex and technical material and exercise sound legal judgment in addressing arguments and in forming strategies to resolve disputes.
• Ability to provide advice and interpretation of laws, rules, and policies to assist in resolving disputes, and to write clearly and effectively with good organization, grammar, and use of legal authority.

How to Apply:

To submit a complete application, you must use the State of Oregon “Workday” recruitment system. Using the Workday system:

1) Click “Apply” at the top of this job announcement.

2) Create a new Workday account OR login to your existing Workday account;

3) Complete and submit your electronic application; and

4) As an attachment to your Workday application, upload your current resume AND a cover letter addressing the above “Requested skills.” Please limit your cover letter to no more than two pages.

The PUC will consider only complete applications submitted online by the closing date/time posted on this announcement. 

**If you are a current employee of the State of Oregon, you MUST apply through your internal State of Oregon employee Workday account and attach the required material.**

Please ensure you’ve provided a thorough and updated application as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. Your application materials will be used to determine salary based on an equal pay calculator. For further information, please visit the Oregon Department of Administrative Services Equal Pay homepage.

Questions/Need Help?

If you need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act contact PUC Human Resource Analyst Jessica Leedham at 503-580-5740.

Additional Information:

Candidates whose training and/or work experience most closely match the requirements and needs of the position may be eligible for an interview. Submissions will be screened for consistency of information and communication skills at the professional level.

The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process may result in disqualification.

Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. Click on the following link for additional information on Veterans’ Preference.

The PUC does not offer VISA sponsorships. Within three-days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States.

If you are hired, you may be required to provide facts about past employment and present financial interests if they could be connected with the businesses regulated by the PUC.

This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates; this list will be used to fill the current opening and may be used to fill other openings as they occur.

The pay and benefits on all announcements may change without notice.

For positions approved for hybrid/remote work, demonstrate suitability for remote work, including access to a broadband internet connection that meets or exceeds the minimum acceptable requirements.

The PUC is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity.

About Oregon Public Utility Commission

Connections working at Oregon Public Utility Commission