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PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP - Monday, January 27
Energy Industry Update: Strategic Themes and Insights for the Power and Gas Industry
Presented in collaboration with 
This interactive workshop will include discussion of such pivotal issues such as:
- What are the Top Five Strategic Themes in the Industry today?
- Getting past the hype – How will utility business models really evolve in response to distributed resources?
- What are the real economic impacts of renewable, planned and unexpected?
- How will these things stress the regulatory compact? What changes are emerging?
Bonus: Attendees will receive the latest copy of the Energy Industry Update from ScottMadden.
1:00 pm
Welcome and US Energy Utility Industry: Top Five Strategic Themes
1:20 pm
Evolution of the Utility Business Model
- What are the drivers of change and where will they be most evident?
- How will business models evolve? How should they?
- How should utilities respond to these forces – i.e., what do we do Monday morning?
2:45 pm
Renewables: Impact on Industry Economics
- What does the increasing presence of renewables mean for returns on and of capital? For renewables? For other assets?
- How do the various mechanisms mesh: RPS, energy markets, capacity markets, etc.
4:00 pm
Evolution of the Regulatory Model
- How will the stress points created by evolving business models and new technologies impact the regulatory compact?
- To what degree is this compounded by flat sales and significant ongoing investments?
- What new regulatory model innovations are emerging?
5:00 pm
Workshop Concludes
7:30 am
DAY ONE - Tuesday, January 28
Registration opens
7:30 am
Continental Breakfast
Sponsored by
9:00 am
Views from the Top
- What are the biggest challenges facing electric and gas utilities today?
- How are regulatory, economic and technological changes affecting the utility business model?
- Where will growth come from?
- How can a company best prepare for a merger or acquisition? What is your view of what has worked and what has not?
- Are the drivers for mergers today similar or dissimilar to those of the past?
- Is there greater risk in transacting today vs. prior years?
- In what direction should U.S. energy policy be moving?
10:30 am
Networking Break
Sponsored by
11:00 am
Investment Banking Overview
- What are the key drivers of consolidation in the energy industry today? What other factors are driving M&A?
- How can M&A be incorporated into a growth strategy?
- What segments of the industry are likely to see the most M&A activity?
- What is the effect of cash-rich balance sheets and the current financing environment on M&A activity?
- How would an increase in interest rates affect levels of activity and valuations?
- What are the key political and regulatory barriers to M&A activity in this sector?
- Are the investment “deadlines” of private equity likely to stimulate activity?
- Are “auctions” the new normal?
12:45 pm
Luncheon Address - Public Policy Forecast for Energy in the Current Political Climate
Rudolph W. Giuliani
Partner Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
1:30 pm
Capturing the Value from the Deal
- How do companies establish the right expectations for post-close operations?
- What is necessary to design an operating model that advances the business?
- How do companies enable the full capture of deal synergies?
- Successful vs. unsuccessful integration
- How do you overcome differences in culture?
- How do companies position the transaction from a regulatory perspective?
2:30 pm
Capitalizing on Alternative Energy Strategies
- Is the solar production capacity overhang here to stay, or just temporary?
- Has the game changed regarding utility-scale solar?
- What is the outlook for wind generation and the ability to secure PPAs?
- What is the future of the PTC and other government subsidies and what are the resulting implications?
- Utility-owned generation vs. PPA
- What are the principal challenges moving renewable power to load centers?
3:30 pm
Networking Break
Sponsored by
3:45 pm
Developments in Electric Transmission
- Given the level of interest in investing in electric transmission, why haven't we seen more transactional activity in this sector?
- Why have joint ventures become popular in transmission?
- How have FERC Order 1000 and the recent FERC ROE cases impacted investment in transmission?
- What is the outlook for acquisition and divestiture transactions in the transmission sector? Have joint ventures reduced the drivers for transactions?
- Are the challenges facing utilities and non-traditional players different?
5:00 pm
Shareholder Activism in the Energy Sector
- Shareholder activism has increased significantly in the energy sector over the past few years
- What companies have activists targeted and what have they advocated?
- Affects on corporate strategy
- What should companies be doing now in response to increased activism?
5:30 pm
Evening Cocktail Reception
7:30 am
DAY TWO - Wednesday, January 29
Continental breakfast open
8:45 am
Generation Capacity for Utilities, IPPs and Merchant Plants
- How has the sustained low price of natural gas impacted valuations and transaction activity, as well as renewable generation development?
- What is the secondary market for coal plants? What are the market implications of substantial coal retirements? What opportunities are available for coal to gas conversions?
- How is the uncertainty around environmental regulation impacting transactions? What effect is this having on renewable generation?
- To what extent are synergies between retail energy marketing and merchant generation driving M&A transactions? Have expected synergies been achieved?
- Will consolidation of nuclear plant operations continue?
10:00 am
Networking Break
10:15 am
The Midstream Sector
- How does the future midstream sector look compared to today's model?
- Is there logic for utilities considering midstream participation?
- How can utilities justify making the jump to a new sector?
- What trends in asset transactions are bleeding over into traditional utilities?
- How is the MLP structure positioned to survive?
- Will the MLP structure have any application in the traditional utility businesses?
- What are the opportunities for diversification into the sector?
11:30 am
Alternative Strategies to Traditional M&A Deals
- What is a "virtual" merger and when is it possible?
- Are there tangible benefits from "virtual" mergers?
- What are the reasons compelling companies to pursue alternative strategic transactions?
- How do "virtual" and "full" combinations differ?
- Are "spins" the next dimension of deal making?
- Is creative restructuring emerging as the "next big wave"?
12:30 pm
Program Concludes with a Buffet Lunch
Your registration includes all conference materials, continental breakfast and lunch both days, and the evening cocktail reception at the end of Day One. Registration for just the pre-conference workshop covers that day's activities only. The symposium will start at 7:30 AM and will finish at 5:00 PM on the first day and from 7:30 AM to 1:30 pm on the second day. Breakfast and lunches are provided. Dress is formal business attire.
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.
The price for this comprehensive
two-day seminar
is
$1,795 (USD).
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.
This live group seminar is eligible for 11.5 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.
