Energy Manager at Essential Utilities

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities.  If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. 

Overview: As an Energy Manager, you will play a crucial role in optimizing energy usage and implementing sustainable practices within our organization. Your primary responsibility will be to develop and oversee energy conservation initiatives to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and minimize our environmental footprint. This role combines technical expertise with strategic planning to achieve measurable outcomes in energy management.

Key Responsibilities:

Energy Audits and Assessments:

• Conduct regular audits (ASHRE Level 1, 2 & 3) to assess current energy consumption patterns and opportunities across assets using water, wastewater, and natural gas distribution industry best practices.
• Identify opportunities for improvement and recommend energy-efficient solutions and practices. Including life cycle cost and return on investment analysis.
• Focus on pumping and operations efficiency for water and wastewater facilities including with wire-to-water analysis.

Strategy Development:

• Develop comprehensive energy management strategies aligned with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
• Establish short-term and long-term energy conservation goals and objectives as it relates to both finance and carbon reduction.

Implementation and Monitoring:

• Implement energy efficiency projects and initiatives, including upgrades to pumping and motors, control systems and renewable energy integration.
• Applicability and application of utility, state and/or federal grants/rebates for energy improvement projects.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented strategies and projects through M&V.

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Analyze energy usage data to identify trends, anomalies, and areas for improvement.
• Prepare reports on energy consumption, savings achieved, and progress towards goals.
• Familiarity with greenhouse gas calculations and data requirements for Scope 1 & 2 emissions.
• Conduct additional operations data analytics and reporting as requested to support National Ops functions.

Utility Billing and Information Management:

• Manage our bill management system with over 6,000 utility accounts, including report development, user administration and training.
• Manage the utility database for consistency and adding new accounts as required.
• Review weekly utility billing statements for completeness and accuracy.
• Facilitate the development of Web tools for data analysis and outreach.

Financial Management and KPIs

• Capable of developing energy budgets for both budgeted cost and energy.
• Provide explanations for cost and usage variances.
• Develop metrics and KPIs for financial and operational goals.

Operations

• Management and direction of Peak Response and Demand Response programs.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Engagement:

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including facilities management, finance, and operations, to ensure alignment and support for energy management initiatives.
• Communicate strategies, progress, and outcomes to senior management and key stakeholders.
• Develop training programs and awareness campaigns to promote energy conservation practices among employees.
• Foster a culture of energy efficiency and sustainability within the organization.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physical Sciences, or related field.
• Certification as a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) or similar credential highly desirable. 
• Proven experience in energy management, energy auditing, and implementation of energy conservation measures.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in data analysis tools and software. Advanced skills in Excel are required, experience in SQL is a plus.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Knowledge of on-site electrical generation options, renewable energy technologies and sustainability best practices.
• Project management experience, including budgeting and scheduling.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel to different facilities or project sites across the US.
• Commitment to staying updated on industry trends and advancements in energy management.
• Experience with GIS and developing within SharePoint are beneficial.
• Understanding and use of AI Language and Data models to facilitate energy efficiency efforts and data analysis. 

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).  
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.