Internships at DPS

The Department of Public Service provides exciting opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to gain valuable experience in their course of study. 

DPS interns perform rewarding and meaningful work, and interact with government leaders and policymakers in furtherance of the DPS mission and the implementation of a green energy economy at just and reasonable rates. 

Internship opportunities, when available, will be posted on this page and can also be found on the New New York Leaders Student Intern Portal.

The internships below are examples of what DPS has offered in the past and are not currently active. Check back before the fall for upcoming opportunities.

Location: Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York

Salary: The current pay rate for Student Assistants is $18/hour (undergraduate student) or $20/hour (graduate student).

How to Apply: If you are interested in one of our current opportunities below, email the Department of Public Service at [email protected] and attach your cover letter, resume, and the posting you are applying to.

Additionally, you may create a profile in the New York State Student Internship Portal. This will allow you to search for internships, select areas of interest, upload a resume, and submit an application. You will need a personal NY.gov ID to access the internship portal.

Internship Portal

The Clean Energy Planning and Development Intern (Intern) will contribute to the development and implementation of New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) which adopts the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda in the country. CLCPA establishes aggressive targets to fully transition New York State to a green energy economy and provides a framework to ensure that the transition is equitable and just across all sectors. Interns will interact with senior staff at the Department of Public Service through briefings on project development and implementation. 

Applicants should be enrolled in a graduate program and possess the following: 

• Desire to work in the clean energy sector, supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency, building electrification, electric vehicle charging, and distributed energy resource technologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills.
• Strong skills in generating actionable insights from data through a combination of quantitative analysis and qualitative interpretation. 

Duties Description

The Intern will provide Department of Public Service (DPS) leadership with a comprehensive set of recommended changes to the regulatory, policy, and procurement practices that will reduce the amount of time and funding required to develop large-scale renewable projects in New York State. Shedding time and risk from the development cycle is critical to New York’s achievement of the landmark CLCPA goals, which include 70 percent renewable energy by 2030, 9 GWs of offshore wind by 2035 and 100 percent carbon free electricity by 2040. 

More specific areas of focus for this project include: 

• The Clean Energy Standard (CES), which is a series of clean energy procurement programs administered by the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) to develop sufficient levels of renewable and emissions-free generation to meet the ambitious clean energy goals of CLCPA. 
• Utility and New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) interconnection processes. 
• Other NYISO processes, including participation in the wholesale markets. 
• The permitting process through the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES), Article 10, and local. 
• The statewide procurements for renewable energy credits administered by NYSERDA. 
• The Coordinated Grid Planning Process (CGPP) which requires that the utilities ensure the necessary grid infrastructure investments are made to enable the renewable and clean energy goals in CLCPA. Responsibilities & Deliverables: 
• Coordinating the work carried out by consultants and subject matter experts on behalf of the Department. 
• Organizing formal technical conferences and informal stakeholder feedback sessions.
• Researching best practices from other markets and/or jurisdictions. 
• Developing a report and final presentation that summarizes the conclusions and recommendations. 

Additional Information

Salary: Undergraduate Interns earn $18 per hour.

Hours: Up to 20 hours per week.

Office Location: 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York.

Remote Work: A hybrid work schedule may be possible.

Session: This internship is for the 2025 Spring semester with the opportunity to extend into summer.

How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and reference “Clean Energy Internship: Planning & Development.”

Application Deadline: December 27, 2024

The Clean Energy Intern will contribute to implementation of New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which adopts the most ambitious climate and clean energy legislation in the country. The CLCPA establishes aggressive targets to fully transition New York State to a green energy economy and provides a framework to ensure that the transition is equitable and just across all sectors. The Department of Public Service’s Environmental Certification & Compliance Section leads the State’s implementation of its clean energy program established in the CLCPA as it relates to siting of major electric and gas transmission and electric generation facilities.

Applicants should be enrolled in an undergraduate engineering program and possess the following:

• Desire to work in the clean energy sector, supporting the siting of renewable energy generation and transmission facilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills
• Strong analysis, problem solving and critical thinking skills

Duties Description

Interns will assist the Section in support of the State’s implementation of its clean energy programs by:

• Assisting the Section with Project Document Management and organization in connection with siting, certification, and environmental compliance for generation and transmission pursuant to Public Service Law and Executive Law.
• Assisting engineering and other Section Staff with review and oversight of siting projects with respect to civil design and construction, and noise mitigation assessments.
• Supporting lead Staff with preparation of Agenda Summaries, Part 102 Electric Transmission Facilities Reports, Minor Changes, coordinating information requests, and other general correspondence.
• Participating in compliance field inspections to ensure construction activities and compliance with the conditions of Certificates of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need, Siting Permits, approved Environmental Management and Construction Plans, Site Engineering and Environmental Plans, and relevant Compliance Filings.
• Additional relevant duties may be required, as directed.

Additional Information

Salary: Undergraduate Interns earn $18 per hour.

Hours: Up to 20 hours per week.

Office Location: 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York

Remote Work: A hybrid work schedule may be possible.

Session: This internship is for the 2025 Spring semester with the opportunity to extend into summer.

How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and reference “Clean Energy Internship: Environmental Certification & Compliance.”

Application Deadline: December 27, 2024

The Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Intern (Intern) will contribute to the development and implementation of New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) which adopts the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda in the country. 

CLCPA establishes aggressive targets to fully transition New York State to a green energy economy and provides a framework to ensure that the transition is equitable and just across all sectors. 

Interns will interact with senior staff at the Department of Public Service (DPS) through briefings on project development and implementation. Applicants should be enrolled in a graduate program and possess the following: 

• Desire to work in the clean energy sector, supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency, building electrification, electric vehicle charging, and distributed energy resource technologies. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills. 
• Strong skills in generating actionable insights from data through a combination of quantitative analysis and qualitative interpretation. 

Duties Description

The Intern will focus on the oversight of Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification (EM&V) activities related to the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) authorized energy efficiency and building electrification programs. DPS currently oversees over $7 Billion in energy efficiency and building electrification programs. Each of these programs has requirements to conduct EM&V analyses to assess performance, identify and recommend improvements to improve program impact, and assess market potential, among other things. 

The Intern will be a critical member of the DPS staff team overseeing this function. Activities will include, but not be limited to: 

• Reviewing and tracking of current and planned EM&V activities conducted by the program administrators consisting of the utilities and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). 
• Identifying deficiencies with current approaches and developing recommendations for improvement. 
• Participating in certain high-profile studies to provide guidance and direction. 
• Conducting limited in-house research and analysis, based on data provided through program administrators. 
• Developing systems and processes to ensure EM&V findings have been incorporated into program design and identifying mechanisms to employ to hold the program administrators accountable if this does not occur. Assisting in the conduct of the EM&V Conference to share best practices and findings among program administrators and interested stakeholders. 
• The ideal candidate should have coursework/experience relevant to evaluation, measurement, and verification, such as statistical analysis and sampling techniques, as well as the ability to synthesize qualitative data into easily understood findings. 

Responsibilities and Deliverables

The Intern will focus on, but not be limited to, the following responsibilities: 

• Developing briefing materials and presentations on findings and recommendations. 
• Assisting in drafting Department-issued Guidance Documents and Commission Orders. 

Additional Information

Salary: Undergraduate Interns earn $18 per hour.

Hours: Up to 20 hours per week.

Office Location: 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York.

Remote Work: A hybrid work schedule may be possible.

Session: This internship is for the 2025 Spring semester with the opportunity to extend into summer.

How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and reference “Clean Energy Internship: Evaluation, Measurement & Verification.”

Application Deadline: December 27, 2024

The Disadvantaged Communities Intern (Intern) will contribute to the development and implementation of New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) which adopts the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda in the country. 

CLCPA establishes aggressive targets to fully transition New York State to a green energy economy and provides a framework to ensure that the transition is equitable and just across all sectors. 

The applicant will interact with senior staff at the Department of Public Service (DPS) through briefings on project development and implementation. Applicants should be enrolled in a graduate program and possess the following:

• Desire to work in the clean energy sector supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency, building electrification, electric vehicle charging, and distributed energy resource technologies. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills. 
• Strong skills in generating actionable insights from data through a combination of quantitative analysis and qualitative interpretation. 

Duties Description

The Intern will focus on the Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) requirements of CLCPA as they pertain to actions of the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) and activities of DPS. CLCPA requires the PSC to design programs in a manner to provide substantial benefits for disadvantaged communities, including low- to moderate-income (LMI) customers, at a reasonable cost while ensuring safe and reliable electric service. 

Specifically, to the extent practicable, the PSC must direct available programmatic resources in such a manner that DAC receive a target of 40 percent, with no less than 35 percent, of the overall benefits of spending on clean energy and energy efficiency programs, projects, or investments. 

Additionally, CLCPA requires all State agencies to ensure that their decisions will not ’disproportionately burden disadvantaged communities’ and to ‘prioritize reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and co-pollutants in disadvantaged communities.’ The PSC/DPS have taken steps to begin this work. 

CLCPA defines ‘disadvantaged communities’ as ‘communities that bear burdens of negative public health effects, environmental pollution, impacts of climate change, and possess certain socioeconomic criteria, or comprise high-concentrations of low- and moderate-income households, as identified pursuant to section 75-0111 of [the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL)].’

The Intern will be a critical team member in further advancing this work. 

Activities will include, but not be limited to:  

• Assisting in the development of the requisite tracking and reporting mechanisms to ensure DAC Benefits tracking and reporting in compliance with the law. 
• Participating in the Energy Equity Collaborative which seeks to engage key external stakeholders that serve and represent historically marginalized or otherwise disadvantaged communities to provide guidance, feedback, and recommendations to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which will coordinate with other State agencies in the Low Income Energy Task Force as needed, on the development of climate and energy programs and on issues related to environmental justice, workforce development, energy affordability, and clean energy deployment. 
• Baselining current PSC authorized programs for compliance against the DAC metric. 
• Reviewing the current suite of PSC authorized programs and proposed modifications to further benefits to DACs. Providing direction, as needed, to program administrators (utilities and NYSERDA), developing recommendations for PSC action, and identifying appropriate measures to employ to hold program administrators accountable for the expected outcomes. 
• While DACs are not synonymous with low-income, they are closely linked. Therefore, the Intern will also support the PSC/DPS’s work in overseeing the various low-income energy efficiency and building electrification programs. 
• Participating/conducting various stakeholder engagement processes, including the review and synthesis of information provided through written public comment processes or public hearings. 

Responsibilities and Deliverables

The Intern will focus on, but not be limited to, the following responsibilities: 

• Developing briefing materials describing the current state of programs benefiting DACs. 
• Developing recommendations for improvements to the current suite of programs as well as identification of gaps in programming that should be considered. 
• Developing metrics that can be tracked and goals to be assigned to better align DAC and LMI programming with the policy outcomes as identified in CLCPA. 
• Assisting in drafting of Department-issued Guidance Documents and/or Commission Orders. 

Additional Information

Salary: Undergraduate Interns earn $18 per hour.

Hours: Up to 20 hours per week.

Office Location: 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York.

Remote Work: A hybrid work schedule may be possible.

Session: This internship is for the 2025 Spring semester with the opportunity to extend into summer.

How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and reference “Clean Energy Internship: Disadvantaged Communities.”

Application Deadline: December 27, 2024

The Data Cyber Security and Privacy Intern (Intern) will contribute to the development and implementation of New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) which adopts the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda in the country. 

CLCPA establishes aggressive targets to fully transition New York State to a green energy economy and provides a framework to ensure that the transition is equitable and just across all sectors. 

Interns will interact with senior staff at the Department of Public Service (DPS) through briefings on project development and implementation. Applicants should be enrolled in a graduate program and possess the following:

• Desire to work in the clean energy sector supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency, building electrification, electric vehicle charging, and distributed energy resource technologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills. 
• Strong skills in generating actionable insights from data through a combination of quantitative analysis and qualitative interpretation. 

Duties Description

The clean energy transition envisioned by CLCPA will require significant changes in how buildings use energy and, in turn, how the State’s energy systems supply this energy. Data related to energy consumption patterns is critical to understand to develop viable solutions. While this data is critical, the provision of such data must include appropriate data cyber security and data privacy protections. 

The Intern will develop an in-depth knowledge of existing energy data access mechanisms and the New York Public Service Commission’s (PSC) Data Access Framework. The PSC instituted a Strategic Use of Energy Data proceeding in 2020, followed by the ordering of the design, development, and implementation of a statewide Integrated Energy Data Resource (IEDR) and the adoption of the Data Access Framework. 

• The Intern should comprehend risk mitigation and compliance and have an interest in the intersection between technology and the law as they apply to energy related data. 
• The ideal candidate should have a desire to develop solutions that disrupt the status quo by way of innovative information technology (IT) solutions including the incorporation of innovation technologies into existing infrastructure/technology solutions in landscapes with constraints of various types. 

Responsibilities and Deliverables

• Evaluating the plans and IT investments of utilities related to the gathering and utilization of energy related data using various analytic lenses including, but not limited to proposal feasibility, complexity of solution, cost-effectiveness, accuracy of estimates, degree of fit compared to alternatives, timelines required to produce benefits, strategic value, etc. 
• Maintaining knowledge of existing energy data access mechanisms and the PSC’s Data Access Framework. 
• Constructively engaging with the project team on the design, development, and operation of the IEDR. 
• Drafting recommendations to the PSC that balance the numerous and complex issues related to the intersection of access to energy related data, privacy, and cyber security. 
• Determining whether utility data related efforts and IT investments are planned and progressing at reasonable and appropriate levels to effectively meet the needs of State policies, especially regarding time, budget, project requirements, benefit delivery, risk mitigation, and the use of industry best practices. 
• Identifying and characterizing the types of data-related IT project implementation information required from utilities. 
• Making recommendations regarding the requirement of communications protocols and other technical standards. 
• Analyzing data issues to solve problems impacting data users’ respective functions. 

Additional Information

Salary: Undergraduate Interns earn $18 per hour.

Hours: Up to 20 hours per week.

Office Location: 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York.

Remote Work: A hybrid work schedule may be possible.

Session: This internship is for the 2025 Spring semester with the opportunity to extend into summer.

How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and reference “Clean Energy Internship: Data Cyber Security & Privacy.”

Application Deadline: December 27, 2024

The Clean Energy Intern will focus on the development and implementation of New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) which adopts the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda in the country.  The CLCPA establishes aggressive targets to fully transition New York State to a green energy economy and provides a framework to ensure that the transition is equitable and just across all sectors.  Interns will interact with senior staff at the Department of Public Service through briefings on project development and implementation.

Applicants should be enrolled in a graduate program and possess the following:

• Desire to work in the clean energy sector, supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency, building electrification, electric vehicle charging and distributed energy resource technologies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills
• Strong skills in generating actionable insights from data through a combination of quantitative analysis and qualitative interpretation

Duties Description

The Clean Energy Intern will focus on the oversight and review activities related to the Energy Efficiency and Electric Vehicle programs based on the Climate Leadership and Communities Protection Act (CLCPA) climate goals as they pertain to LIPA compliance and efforts to reach set targets for the Long Island and Rockaways.

The Department of Public Service (Department) currently oversees over $97 million in Energy Efficiency and electric vehicle programs. These programs have metrics and conducting reviews to assess performance and recommend improvements to assist with program impact, ability to meet targets, and assess market needs is crucial.

The Clean Energy Intern will be a critical member of the Department Staff team overseeing this function.  Activities will include, but not be limited to:

• Assisting senior staff assigned to the Long Island Office in fulfilling responsibilities in accordance with the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act (CLCPA) climate goals, LIPA Reform Act, specifically addressing U2.0 metrics, New Efficiency New York, Reforming the Energy Vision (REV), clean energy orders and related issues.
• Identifying relevant policy goals/requirements in the CLCPA as they pertain to the LIPA territory.
• Assisting with quarterly review of utility performance metrics and providing input on new/modified annual metrics to track.
• Maintaining current awareness of the Department and stakeholders’ concerns regarding Energy Efficiency (EE) programs and coordinating with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the DPS Albany EE team.
• Assisting with external oversight and engaging in outreach activities pertinent to informing ratepayers of proposed tariff modifications, public information on consumer assistance, energy savings/efficiency programs, Long Island’s clean, renewable, and distributed energy resources, and annual Utility 2.0 and Energy Efficiency Plans\
• Assisting in collecting and analyzing data relevant to assessing the adequacy of existing and/or proposed metrics to determine their efficiency and effectiveness at achieving program targets and deliverables.
• Performing data gathering, analysis, evaluation, forecasting, and modeling for the Markets and Innovation Section of the Long Island Office.
• Reviewing and summarizing the public comments of Long Island residential/commercial ratepayers and assisting in developing Department responses.
• Reviewing and analyzing clean energy industry business practices and models both in-state and nationally.
• Conducting in-depth research on energy policies, regulations, and market trends to support the achievement of CLCPA targets related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and emission reductions.
• Providing support on utility rate proceedings, which may include, drafting testimony; testifying; reviewing and analyzing utility energy efficiency programs and strategies, demand response programs and strategies; reviewing budgets; and analyzing and developing utility performance metrics.
• Providing analyses of policy implications, identifying potential challenges and opportunities for innovations. 

Additional Information

Salary: Undergraduate Interns earn $18 per hour.

Hours: Up to 25 hours per week.

Office Location: 125 East Bethpage Road, Plainview, New York

Remote Work: A hybrid work schedule may be possible.

Session: This internship is for the 2025 Spring semester with the opportunity to extend into summer.

How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and reference “Clean Energy Internship: LIO.”

Application Deadline: December 27, 2024

The Department of Public Service (Department) Office of Rates and Tariffs (ORT) Intern (Intern) will contribute to developing and implementing policies and practices needed to ensure electric, gas, steam, and water utilities’ rates and charges are just and reasonable. 

ORT is responsible for analyzing and recommending resolutions to issues related to the rates and charges, and to the rules and requirements contained in utility tariffs for six major electric utilities, nine major gas utilities, two major water utilities, one major steam utility, approximately 40 small municipal electric utilities, eight small gas utilities, and over 230 small water utilities. 

ORT is also responsible for developing and/or providing analysis of initiatives and programs to enable achievement of clean energy goals associated with the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which adopts the most ambitious climate and clean energy legislation in the country. 

Applicants should be enrolled in an undergraduate engineering program and possess the following: 

• Desire to work in the utilities and clean energy sectors. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills. 
• Strong analysis, problem solving and critical thinking skills. 
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment. 

Duties Description

Interns will perform duties in ORT under the supervision and direction of a Utility Engineering Specialist (UES) 1 or UES 2. The Intern will participate in rate proceedings, analyze company records, review tariff filings, examine cost allocations and rate design, evaluate supply planning, analyze depreciation studies, evaluate mergers and acquisitions, and investigate system operations and planning. 

Additional Information

Salary: Undergraduate Interns earn $18 per hour.

Hours: Up to 20 hours per week.

Office Location: 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York.

Remote Work: A hybrid work schedule may be possible.

Session: This internship is for the 2025 Spring semester with the opportunity to extend into summer.

How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and reference “Office of Rates and Tariffs Intern.”

Application Deadline: December 27, 2024