Head – Demand Forecasting Unit/Lead Economist

The opportunity awaits qualified results oriented professionals who are interested in joining our team at Guyana Power and Light Inc. In this regard, G.P.L Inc. invites applications from interested candidates with the requisite qualifications and experience to fill the vacancy of Head – Demand Forecasting Unit/Lead Economist within the System Planning and Research Department, Middle Street, Georgetown.

Under the general direction of the System Planning and Research Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for developing robust and up-to-date forecasts of electricity demand, peak demand, potential sales, etc., as well as contributing to the processes of identifying the expected detailed requirements on various parts of the Company’s Network.

KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS:

1. Effectively lead the team – the Demand Forecasting Unit, which is responsible for the country’s electricity/power demand forecasts.
2. Predominantly assist the overall team (the System Planning & Research Department) in reaching and maintaining company’s mandate: ‘to provide reliable, affordable, and quality (electric) utility services to all…’, which is in compliance with the Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 – ‘Objective 2: Stimulate Future Growth through Clean Energy …’; and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 – ‘Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’.
3. Conduct research and document findings relevant to the energy and power/electricity sector to aid the company’s development and expansion plans and projects.
4. Interface and build rapport with the relevant Government Agencies, Private Sector, and International Funding, Energy and Economic Agents.
5. Administer and manage the data collection process; and in extreme cases, assist with the collection of information.
6. Monitor and assess market and regulatory developments including news reports and external reviews.
7. Develop, manoeuvre and monitor the operations of the macroeconomic and energy databases, forecasting models and methodologies, and the technical framework – to produce short-, medium- and long- term forecasts of electricity demand, peak demand forecasts, risk scenarios, and load analysis output, generation requirements, electricity sales, maximum demands on individual substations, system losses, and expected purchases from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) – for the use in budget preparation, regulatory filings, and planning.
8. Identify, develop, and maintain a suitable set of econometric models, and periodically update and consistently improve the forecasting framework. Ensure that forecasts properly account for distributed energy resources and new technologies and policies (e.g. energy efficiency, demand response, electric vehicles, PV, storage, etc.).
9. Analyse and produce reports including assessments of forecasting accuracy and sources of variance.
10. Perform economic cost-benefit analyses and prepare reports for project investments.
11. Provide electricity demand-forecasting inputs to GPL’s Development & Expansion (D&E) Program and other planning activities, inclusive of financial planning.
12. Prepare presentation on forecasting results and present/deliver to the GPL’s Executives, Government Stakeholders, and any other approved entities.
13. Perform other duties that are pertinent to the objectives of the Department’s Action Plan, and by extension, the Divisional Business Plan, to support the Company’s Corporate Strategic Plan, as assigned by or through the Manager or the Divisional Director – Engineering Services.

COMPETENCY PROFILE:

• Use of Microsoft Suite, specifically, Excel.
• Use of Eviews to perform analyses and forecasting
• Outstanding problem solving and analytical skills
• Excellent conflict resolution skills
• Flexible and possess the ability to perform effectively under pressure
• Be conversant with relevant law and regulations of Guyana and GPL policies and rules
• Be conversant with Safety Act and GPL Safety Handbook
• Conversant with ISO Quality Management System
• Conversant with GPL Performance Management System (PMS)
• Be conversant with the FACTORIES ACT CHAPTER 95:02, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT CHAPTER N0 32 OF 1997, ELECTRICITY SECTOR REFORM ACT CHAPTER 57:01 OF 1999, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT NO 11 0F 1996 of the laws of Guyana, and the Guyana Power & Light License which include the STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ELECTRIC SERVICES of October, 2010.