Andrew Hess
May 1987
MS in Engineering Management from MSOE
Job Title: Manager - Retail Gas SupplyEmployer: WPS Energy Services, Inc.
Job Description:
I have worked in the energy industry since 1987 with experience in power plant engineering (nuclear, coal & gas), natural gas distribution, gas supply, industrial marketing & electric and natural gas sales. In my current role, I develop and implement strategies for natural gas supplies, pipeline transportation, storage services, and utility services in the U.S. and Canada. I have 5 natural gas traders that work for me in this endeavor located in several areas. We operate from Western Canada to Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico on most major pipelines. The customers we serve include everyone from residential customers to the largest industrial complexes, including gas-fired power plants. We transact $500 million to $1 billion in natural gas each year.
I have found that my engineering background gives me a much better understanding of the pipeline systems I deal with as well as the retail customer's requirements of supply.
UWP Experience:
My experience at UWP was an extremely positive one for me. I found the class sizes, access to professors, and overall environment helped me tremendously in growing both as a person and as an engineer. I had the luxury of being exposed to several professors across multiple departments that challenged me and made me accomplish more than I thought I could. My experiences with the Electrical Engineering Department as well as the Math Department, Physics Department, Mechanical Engineering Department (Thermodynamics) provided me with a well-rounded experience and an appreciation for other aspects of engineering. I have great memories and respect for these individuals and their dedication. I have recommended Platteville to several people over the years and continue to do so without reservation.
TYPICAL WORK DAY:
I rarely have a "typical" workday. The price volatility of natural gas is amazing and trying to provide a reliably priced product to our customers is a continual challenge. The landscape continually changes regarding sources of new natural gas supplies, pipeline availability, storage opportunities, competitors, etc. Everyday is a new puzzle and my job is to find the best way to put the pieces together such that our customers are served in the most efficient manner.
I have many different tools to help in accomplishing these tasks. I utilize several different spreadsheet models that I have designed to perform "what if" type analyses. I have live satellite and internet feeds of New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) prices for natural gas as well as crude oil, heating oil, etc. I also utilize electronic trading systems that allow me to trade directly with other companies on an electronic platform in real time. WPS Energy also uses our own proprietary database application to keep track of all various transactions we do. Communication is very important in this role as well, using email, Instant Messenger, direct phone lines, and standard dial up telephones (some days all at the same time).
Sample Project Description:
It is very difficult to just pick one project as I have been blessed to be involved in a varied group of projects over the years. For the last several years my responsibilities have been primarily operational but I was involved in bringing natural gas retail supplies to the Province of New Brunswick from the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. WPS Energy was the first supplier of natural gas into the Enbridge distribution system in New Brunswick, a province that did not have access to natural gas distribution service prior to this time. Working with new customers, the local distribution company (Enbridge), the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, and Nova Scotia off-shore suppliers to make this all come together was very challenging yet enjoyable. It felt like you were doing something that had never been done before and was benefiting society in general by providing people and businesses with access to a new fuel source.
Prior to my current role, I was involved in many different power plant projects but one I remember well was the installation of solid-state "soft start" electric motor starters at the Weston 3 power plant's mechanical draft cooling tower. Wear and tear on the mechanical components of these large diameter fans (30 feet) was excessive due to the continuous cycling operation required during winter conditions. Installing this new (at the time) technology and integrating it into the plant's operations allowed for a smoother start of these motors and drive trains and much reduced maintenance. I still have a soft spot for engineering projects on power plant equipment where many of the things you deal with are on a very large scale.
Other Comments:
I think most people find that their careers do not necessarily follow the straight path they envisioned when they started them. My career to date has taken a fairly winding path and I consider myself fortunate to have experienced many different career opportunities and be challenged in each of those opportunities. While some of these opportunities do not involve day-to-day application of my engineering education it is that education which provided me with these opportunities. My years at Platteville taught me how to think through problems, get along with people in a team environment, and many other valuable skills beyond the quality engineering foundation they provided. When choosing where to start a career, the choice of engineering opens many doors in your future and the choice of UW-Platteville for your engineering education will serve you well.