The Economist posting is open 12/31/2020 to 01/14/2021; see https://www.usajobs.gov/
Internship Description
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an executive agency that oversees the U.S. wholesale natural gas and electricity markets. In addition to monitoring the activity within these markets, FERC analyzes proposals to build liquefied natural gas terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines, licenses hydropower projects, and addresses issues related to grid modernization and a smarter grid.
This paid internship will be in the Office of Enforcement’s Division of Analytics and Surveillance (DAS). DAS focuses on identifying potential manipulation, anti-competitive behavior, and other anomalous activities in the natural gas and electricity markets. To support this mission, DAS analysts write code using Python, R, SQL, SAS, etc to screen FERC’s large set of non-public trading and market data as well as analyze energy trading strategies and detect potential manipulation, anti-competitive behavior, and other anomalies in the energy markets. DAS staff also participate in investigations and docketed proceedings, providing detailed transactional analysis, market event analysis, and subject matter expertise.
Successful interns have had backgrounds in economics, environmental science, computer science, data science, statistics, mathematics, finance, and public policy. Past interns also have been interested in energy policy and commodities market regulation.
FERC is consistently rated highly by The Best Places to Work survey, scoring in the top 5 mid-size agencies for the past five years. DAS itself scores even higher, reflecting a group that not only believes in their work but also the people around them.
Internship Responsibilities
Interns selected for this position will:
1. Participate in an intensive DAS-led training which will provide an overview of FERC, the legal and regulatory aspects of market monitoring, natural gas and electricity market concepts, and basic commodity trading concepts. The training will also introduce basic concepts in SAS, SQL, Python, and R.
2. Work with a mentor to develop a project involving a specific aspect of FERC’s markets. Interns will be expected to code and use FERC’s market data as a part of their project.
3. Present their work to the division at the end of their internship.
Previous DAS Interns have worked on active natural gas and electric investigations, updated screens for physical and financial energy products, and researched the potential impacts of new products and regulations on the market.
Application Requirements
**NOTE: The internship posting will be open for two weeks: 12/31/2020 to 01/14/2021**
During the posting window, the student must have or create an USAJOBS.GOV account and enter their information into the USAJOBS.GOV website portal. Please search "Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)" and pick the internship(s) for Office of Enforcement, Division of Analytics and Surveillance (DAS). The positions will be listed as either Energy Industry Analyst Intern or Economist Intern.
Please note that the Economist Intern position will require candidates to demonstrate adequate coursework in Economics to be considered. We encourage candidates without the economics credits to apply under the EIA posting. All students may apply to the EIA posting. Responsibilities between EIA and Economist internships will be identical, and all internship applicants for concurrent EIA/Economist postings will be reviewed jointly.
Finally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FERC is currently operating in a 100% remote environment, which includes this position. Typically, this position is located at HQ in Washington, DC. When FERC’s operating status changes, this position will be expected to report to the office, as per FERC policy. More information will be communicated when there is more clarity about FERC’s operating status. Until then, the Commission staff remain teleworking full-time.
