San José Clean Energy, or SJCE, is San José's local, not-for-profit electricity supplier operated by the City of San José's Energy Department. Since 2019, our dedicated and motivated team has provided clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local benefits, and increased transparency and accessibility.
San José Clean Energy serves more than 350,000 customers and has a peak load of almost 1 GW. SJCE is responsible for purchasing over 4,500 GWh of electricity annually and has an annual operating budget of over $300 million. Serving our community with respect and integrity is at the core of what we do. Joining our team means that you will be making a big impact and in the forefront in the fight against climate change. SJCE plays an important role in meeting San José's ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and in implementing Climate Smart San José, the City's climate action plan.
SJCE centers equity in its drive to provide clean, renewable energy at competitive rates and provide local benefits. Since inception, SJCE has sprinted ahead to now provide 60% renewable and 95% carbon-free energy in our base product and has contracted to add over 1GW of new solar, wind, and battery storage to the grid. SJCE's low carbon energy supply is foundational as we work to meet the electrification goals outlined in Climate Smart San José. For more information about San José Clean Cascade Opportunity
At present, the City of San José's Energy Department (SJCE) has onevacant Power Resources Specialist I/II and one vacant Senior Power Resources Specialist position for which the City is recruiting to fill. In the event that the Senior Power Resources Specialist recruitment results in an internal promotion from the ranks of existing Power Resources Specialist Is or Power Resources Specialist IIs, the qualified candidate group identified through this process may also be used to fill the subsequent and future vacancy at the Power Resources Specialist I/II level. In addition, this recruitment may also be used to fill future Senior Power Resources Specialist and Power Resources Specialist I/II vacancies if and when they become available. If you are interested in being considered for employment in one of these classifications, please apply to this job announcement to ensure you are considered for current and future opportunities.
The Programs Team is responsible for designing and implementing customer programs for SJCE that fall under six areas: vehicle electrification, building electrification, Distributed Energy Resources, energy efficiency, program-specific rates, and resiliency. City Council recently approved an SJCE Programs Roadmap that includes a budget expansion of $12 million for FY 2024-2025 and a programs portfolio that is anticipated to result in over $18.5 million in lifetime customer savings and 44,000 metric tons of CO2 reductions. SJCE's programs largely focus on driving equitable access to clean energy technologies and improving affordability. SJCE has a goal of investing at least half of program incentive funds into "priority communities," defined according to income, pollution, and climate burden.
The ideal candidates are skilled and highly motivated individuals, with creative problem-solving skills. Both positions will be part of a fast-paced team, often working on multiple high-priority projects that impact the community. Good judgment, initiative, and cooperation with other staff and outside stakeholders will be an asset to these positions.
Senior Power Resources Speci alist - Distributed Energy Resources
The Energy Department is seeking to fill one (1) full-time Senior Power Resources Specialist to focus on Distributed Energy Resources for our Programs Team.
Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), such as customer-sited solar, battery storage, demand response, smart thermostats, and electric vehicles and chargers, are important tools to flatten the net demand curve and make bills more affordable as the electric grid transitions to 100% clean energy. SJCE has the additional long-term goals of using DERs to lower power procurement costs, ensuring equitable participation in the clean energy transition by improving access to DERs among San José's priority communities, and contributing to a more resilient grid.
Reporting to the Senior Environmental Program Manager, the Senior Power Resources Specialist will serve as the Senior Decarbonizations Programs Specialist - DERs, to oversee and expand SJCE's DER programs. In FY2024-2025, SJCE will expand its demand response program, Peak Rewards, to residential customers and will deploy options to enroll DERs. SJCE will also launch a telematics-based managed charging program, pilot a new super off-peak charging rate for residential customers, design and implement a battery storage incentive program, apply to grant opportunities to bolster program funding, and expand its Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff program, Solar Access. The Senior Decarbonizations Programs Specialist will manage a Decarbonizations Programs Specialist (Power Resources Specialist I/II) that implements various DER programs and supports the team with data analytics, greenhouse gas reduction calculations, and modeling load curves.
The ideal candidates will have experience designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating Distributed Energy Resources programs for residential or commercial customer segments.
Duties include the following, but are not limited to:
- Manage the implementation of SJCE's current and upcoming DER programs, including overseeing consultants, leading solicitations, coordinating with staff in other City departments, working with SJCE's Accounts team and marketing team to analyze commercial and residential customer uptake, and verifying results and impact through analysis of meter and other data
- Identify future DER programs based on community needs and City Council feedback, alignment with SJCE's programs prioritization framework, and funding opportunities
- Supervise and motivate staff
- Work with the Equity and Community Engagement Programs Specialist and SJCE marketing team on education and outreach campaigns to increase program participation as well as support surveys, focus groups, and interviews to understand barriers to program participation and understand community needs
- Track and apply for federal, state, and local grant opportunities and federal tax incentives that align with SJCE's current and future programs, including in partnership with other Community Choice Aggregators
- Coordinate with SJCE's Regulatory and Legislative teams on advocacy for funding opportunities and proceedings affecting programs that arise through the California Public Utilities Commission and California Energy Commission
- Track DER adoption in San Jose across neighborhoods and demographics to identify target audiences for programs and marketing
- Prepare memos and presentations and present to the City Council, Climate Advisory Commission and other stakeholder groups
- Help develop indicators to measure program effectiveness, analyze program outcomes to modify implementation activities, and develop and implement verification protocols to support cost and environmental effectiveness claims.
- Other duties as assigned
Power Resources Specialist I/II - Building Electrification
The Energy Department is seeking to fill one (1) full-time Power Resources Specialist I/II position to support the Programs Team's building electrification efforts.
Buildings account for over 30% of San Jose's greenhouse gas emissions. The City Council-approved Pathway to Carbon Neutrality identified that for buildings, the primary focus should be on electrifying space and water heating equipment in residential buildings. SJCE has additional goals for building electrification:
- Electrifying buildings efficiently by complementing electric technologies with energy efficiency and Distributed Energy Resources , and prioritizing upgrades that lead to lower utility bills
- Electrifying both residential and commercial buildings
Reporting to the Senior Decarbonization Programs Specialist who leads SJCE building electrification, the Power Resources Specialist I/II will serve as the Decarbonizations Programs Specialist - Building Electrification, to help oversee and expand SJCE's building electrification and efficiency programs. The Decarbonizations Programs Specialist - Building Electrification will work with the Senior Decarbonization Programs Specialist to coordinate SJCE programming that supports an equitable transition to a decarbonized building stock. This position will support the implementation of SJCE's existing and upcoming building electrification and efficiency programs:
- Heat pump incentive program
- On-bill financing pilot
- Workforce development programs
- Future residential and commercial energy efficiency programs
- Marketing and education campaigns around building electrification
- Research into program designs that support participation from renters
- Future commercial building electrification program design
- Future energy advisor concierge service program
- Future water heater loaner pilot program
The position will also be instrumental in coordinating applications for state and federal building decarbonization grant opportunities. The Decarbonization Programs Specialist - Building Electrification will play a key role in identifying, designing, and implementing current and future building electrification program offerings. SJCE has received approval to implement a heat pump incentive program, on-bill financing pilot, and workforce development programs in FY 2024-2025, and the Decarbonization Programs Specialist will play a key role in the development and implementation of these programs.
The ideal candidates will have experience designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating electrification, Distributed Energy Resources, or energy efficiency programs for residential or commercial customer segments. Duties include the following, but are not limited to:
- Assist with managing the implementation of SJCE's upcoming building electrification programs, including overseeing consultants, supporting solicitations, coordinating with staff in other City departments, working with SJCE's Accounts team and marketing team to analyze uptake, and working with the marketing team and community-based organizations on education and outreach campaigns to increase adoption of building electrification technologies among low-income households
- Track building electrification program participation in San Jose across neighborhoods and demographics to identify target audiences for programs and marketing
- With the Equity and Community Engagement Programs Specialist and SJCE marketing team, support surveys, focus groups, and interviews to understand barriers to building electrification adoption and understand community needs
- Help track federal, state, and local funding opportunities that align with SJCE's near-term and long-term programs, including the federal Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
- Participate in advocacy for funding opportunities that arise through the California Public Utilities Commission and California Energy Commission
- Present to the Climate Advisory Commission and other stakeholder groups as needed and help prepare materials for the City Council
- Help develop indicators to measure program effectiveness, analyze program outcomes to modify implementation activities, and develop and implement verification protocols to support cost and environmental effectiveness claims.
- Other duties as assigned