IN-PERSON CLASSROOM SEMINARS

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2013 Utility Regulation Conference: Rate Case, ROE and Reliability --In Partnership with SNL Energy


A Two-Day Classroom Seminar (CPE Approved)

Register Soon to get Early Bird Pricing.

While utilities' approaches to rate cases have remained relatively consistent, the regulatory climate has grown more adverse. Regulators are seeking more competitive returns for their stakeholders given market returns and looking for more accountability in regards to reliability.

For the 6th Annual Rate Case Symposium, we've brought leading subject matter experts together to present and examine the best emerging strategies for more favorable orders and decisions.

What You Will Learn
  • Best emerging strategies for more favorable orders and decisions
  • Current initiatives from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and what they mean to your utility
  • The viewpoints of critical intervenors and strategies to address the challenges
  • An understanding of the relationship between value principles and ROE
  • The perspectives and concerns of credit agencies and Wall Street financial analysts toward your rate case process and outcomes
Seminar Agenda
Untitled Document
8:00 am

DAY ONE - Monday, December 9

Registration and continental breakfast open
8:45 am

Welcome and Introductions

9:00 am

Keynote Address: Themes in Regulation

Lillian A. Federico
President
Regulatory Research Associates
10:00 am

Networking Break

10:15 am

Current Trends in Rate Cases

  • What are some issues we are seeing in the states regarding ratebase recognition of new investment?
    • How are commissions treating new investment?
    • Are regulators generally authorizing a cash return on CWIP or allowing the utilities to book AFUDC? How are they handling the post-in-service gap? How do these policies impact regulatory lag?
    • What are their thoughts on GAAP vs. IFRS?
  • A survey of Return on Equity trends around the country
    • How politicized is the process becoming given the economic climate?
    • Will states be receptive to changes as interest rates escalate?
    • How are earned returns stacking up vs. allowed returns?
  • How are factors outside utilities' control affecting revenue realization? What types of expense recovery are commissions prone to disallow?
11:15 am

Effect on M&A

  • How are all of the issues discussed affecting state's views of M&A?
  • How do state regulators view M&A?
  • Survey of recent transactions, takeaways, best practices
  • Have mergers historically created value for shareholders?
12:15 pm

Lunch

1:30 pm

Strategy and Recent Trends in FERC Rate Cases

  • With Order 1000, is FERC becoming more of a stakeholder in local utilities' operations?
  • Geographic expansion across state lines also creates an opportunity for FERC jurisdictional oversight. As more utilities merge and expand into multiple states is this more of an issue?
  • How should local utilities approach interactions with FERC? 
  • Trends in FERC rate cases
2:45 pm

Networking Break

3:15 pm

Capital Structure of Regulated Utilities

  • Trends in utility credit ratings and their impacts on state commission rate decisions
  • With the expected rise in interest rates, is the traditional capital mix of utilities (high debt-to-equity) going to be harder to maintain?
  • Given the competition from MLPs and REITs, will utilities be able to remain the pre-eminent yield investment?
  • How will the increase in interest rates affect valuations?
5:00 pm

Cocktail Reception

Day One concludes

8:30 am

DAY TWO - Tuesday, December 10

Continental breakfast opens
8:30 am

Opening Remarks

8:45 am

Is Reliability Getting More Expensive?

  • Utilities are dealing with aging infrastructures and mandates to update them
  • What weather trends may persist?
  • Are storms getting stronger in a way that will materially affect utilities' costs?
  • How are utilities taking advantage of technology to improve the efficiency of existing infrastructure versus replacing it?
9:30 am

Recovery Mechanisms Outside of Rate Cases

  • How do decoupling mechanisms, rate riders and rate adders all work?
  • Survey discussion of who has existing traditional recovery mechanisms and interesting new applications
  • Discussion of their effectiveness
  • Are they increasing or decreasing in prevalence?
  • How are they doing with handling things like distributed generation?
  • Historically created value for shareholders
10:30 am

Networking Break

10:45 am

Regulatory Strategies for Success

  • How are companies handling the Resource Planning Process?
    • A discussion of current themes, ideas, and best practices
    • How can you partner with intervenors and other stakeholders for more successful outcomes?
    • How are companies handling the big demand questions - growth, efficiency, distributed generation? 
  • How are companies and states addressing regulatory lag?

  • How are other allowable costs being viewed?
    • Are pension costs getting a bad rap?
    • Attitudes on storm cost recovery, incentive compensation, and demand side management
  • What are some lobbying strategies for improving outcomes in state legislatures?
12:00 pm

Program Concludes

Hotel and Seminar Information
This two-day seminar will be held at the hotel listed below. The seminar will start promptly at 8:00 AM and will finish at 4:00 PM on the first day. On the second day, the seminar will resume at 8:30 AM and will finish at 12:00 PM. Dress is business casual.
COVID 19 Information: Please click here for the PGS Covid-19 policy. You can confirm each hotel's specific COVID 19 policy using the link(s) provided below.
Registration Fee and Discounts
The price for this comprehensive two-day seminar is $1,595 (USD).
Register online or Call (843) 212-4038.
  • Additional attendees and government employees receive a 10% discount.
  • Register 4 or more attendees and receive 20% Off. Special pricing is available for groups of 5 or more.
    If you want attendees to pay with separate credit cards or have other questions, please call (843) 212-4038 for assistance.
Payments and Cancellations
Payment is due prior to the start of the seminar by Visa, Master Card, American Express, or corporate check. Seminar fees will be charged to your credit card at the time of registration unless other arrangements have been made. Please make checks payable to "PGS Energy Training" 26 Teal Lane • Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. Cancellations will result in a credit that is good for 2 years which can be transferred to a colleague. Substitutions may be made at any time. For more information on PGS policies regarding administrative matters and complaint resolution, please contact our offices at (843) 212-4038.
CPE Credits in Specialized Knowledge

This live group seminar is eligible for 10.5 CPE credits. Be aware that state boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. As of January 1, 2002, sponsored learning activities are measured by program length, with one 50-minute period equal to one CPE credit. One-half CPE credit increments (equal to 25 minutes) are permitted after the first credit has been earned in a given learning activity. You may want to verify that the state board from which your participants will be receiving credit accept one-half credits.

PGS Energy Training is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. CPAs interested in attending any seminars should contact our offices for details on CPE credits granted and any prerequisite requirements.
PGS Energy Training is registered with GARP as an Approved Provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits. If you are a Certified FRM or ERP, please record this activity in your Credit Tracker at http://www.garp.org/cpd. Please inform PGS Energy Training that you are a GARP CPE participant upon seminar registration.

The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to preparing professionals and organizations for making better-informed risk decisions. GARP's membership represents more than 150,000 risk management practitioners and researchers at academic institutions, banks, corporations, government agencies, and investment management firms in 195 countries and territories. GARP administers the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and Energy Risk Professional (ERP) Exams – certifications recognized by risk professionals worldwide. Visit www.garp.org/cpd.
Who Should Attend

Utility professionals in regulatory affairs, strategic development, corporate finance, and investor relations. State and federal regulatory commissioners and staff. Financial analysts at investment firms. Regulatory attorneys and consultants

Prerequisites and Advance Preparation

This fundamental level group live seminar has no prerequisites. No advance preparation is required before the seminar.

Why Choose PGS?

PGS in Partnership with SNL Energy seminars are known for their clear explanations and in-depth content. Register today, and join the energy professionals who have already attended one of these proven programs.

Program Level & Delivery Method
Intermediate level. CPE delivery method is "Group-Live."