Fuel/Natural Gas Buyer (Sr. - Principal) | COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS (fuel procurement, contracts, operations)

Job Posting End Date 09-21-2026 Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date. Job Summary The Fuel Buyer positions are responsible for the procurement and transportation of Fuel ("coal, natural gas, fuel oil, and reagents") for AEP's regulated operating companies. For this particular posting the Fuel Buyer will be responsible for the procurement of natural gas. Fuel Buyer responsibilities include managing each plant's fuel supply and transportation with the goal of obtaining the lowest reasonable cost to generate electricity. The Fuel Buyer closely coordinates with both internal and external personnel to schedule deliveries and minimize fuel-related operational and quality issues. This position is responsible for understanding AEP's regulatory environment and the jurisdictional requirements of each transaction to ensure successful fuel cost recovery. Job Description WHAT YOU'LL DO - Manage the daily natural gas position for specific generating units within assigned operating companies. Make market purchases or sales as required. Inject or withdrawal natural gas from storage as required. Execute the aforementioned duties consistent with unit consumption and pipeline requirements. Perform required pipeline nominations consistent with purchase and sale activity.  - Closely coordinate with Market Operations and power plant employees to understand daily fuel requirements and to develop and provide cost information for each assigned unit. - Support the Regulated Commercial Operations hedging strategy by issuing forward month request for proposals seeking physical, fixed price natural gas supply, as required. Analyze offers received and execute transactions. - Analyze, determine and justify long-term natural gas transportation and storage strategies. Issue request for proposals, evaluate responses, negotiate contracts and justify decision-making. - Maintain a thorough knowledge of the pipelines serving the regulated operating companies' generating units and associated contractual agreements/tariffs, including contract obligations, receipt points, delivery points, transport commodity rates, fuel retainage/surcharges, allocations, etc. - Provide updates to appropriate AEP personnel regarding fuel supply and transportation operating conditions and maintenance. The update will provide detailed information as to how the operating conditions will impact the receipt and delivery of fuel. - The Fuel Buyer will be expected to assist in the development of procurement strategies, support negotiations and preparation of analysis and presentations for senior level evaluation and consideration. - Develop and maintain effective relationships with fuel suppliers and transporters to provide low-cost, reliable fuel arrangements with appropriate flexibility for AEP's regulated generating fleet. - Actively participate in fuel regulatory proceedings. This may include reviewing testimony, creating exhibits or answering data requests. It may also include acting as a witness in a fuel reconciliation case.  - Maintain an awareness of legal, accounting, regulatory/governmental issues and/or initiatives that may impact fuel supply and transportation arrangements. Recommend contract pricing provisions and amendments, when necessary. - Actively participate in the marketplace, staying abreast of market pricing trends, fuel contracting methods, supply availability, available transportation connections/alternatives and potential operational constraints. - Coordinate with regulatory, environmental, generation, contract administration, plant personnel, settlements, accounting and confirmations to appropriately resolve all fuel issues. - Communicate ideas and recommendations to key stakeholders ensuring coordinated solutions across Regulated Commercial Operations. - Support other AEP business units with routine fuel cost reporting; special projects and analysis support; Sarbanes-Oxley compliance testing; internal and external audit coordination; and other duties as assigned and appropriate. - Enter and ensure the integrity of the data records in the internal IT system (Aligne). - Demonstrates strong problem solving and influencing skills. - Must be available 24/7, including weekends and holidays if called upon to buy or sell, and schedule natural gas supply. - This position requires an in-depth understanding of all aspects related to the natural gas market. Experience buying and scheduling natural gas on at least one of the following pipelines is required: Columbia Gas Transmission, Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage, East Tennessee Natural Gas, Enable Oklahoma Intrastate Transmission, Midwestern Gas Transmission, ONEOK Gas Transportation, Enable Gas Transmission, Panhandle Eastern Pipeline, Tennessee Gas Pipeline,Gulf South Pipeline, Natural Gas Pipeline Company and Regency Intrastate Gas.  WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Based on education, experience, interview and internal equity, this opportunity will be filled commensurately at either job title. For this posting, minimum requirements are stated at the lower grade. Increased expectations are at the higher grade. Fuel Buyer Principal (grade 8): base salary = $99K - $128K Fuel Buyer Sr. (grade 7): base salary = $88K - $109K Education : Bachelor's Degree required in Engineering, Business, Finance, Accounting, Geology, Earth and Mineral Sciences or equivalent education and/or experience. MBA or professional certification would be a plus. Work Experience : Minimum of 6 years of experience in the energy or electric utility industry with a background in Fuel procurement, including contract negotiations, plant and transportation operations and regulatory requirements for fuel cost recovery, preferred. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Must be available to work overtime, call-out overtime and shift work, as required. Travel requirements are expected 10-25% of the time Physical demand level is Sedentary. Strong