Intervenor Review of Electricity Distributor

Rate Applications

July 9, 2012Jay Shepherd

for School Energy Coalition

School Energy Coalition

• Who We Are• Coalition of seven school board/management

organizations• 5000 schools with 2 million students• Spend $550 million per year on energy

• Intervention Principles• Always look for the win-win solution• “Walk softly but carry a big stick”• Think long term

Role of Intervenors

• Voice of the customers• Assist the Board• Attitude of the client

organizations

But Who Are They?

• Organizations:– Five active ratepayer groups in LDC

applications– Other ratepayer, environmental and

industry groups in other matters

• People:– Experienced consultants specializing

in energy

Steps in the Review• Revenue Requirement

– OM&A issues (pattern, FTEs, affiliates)– Rate Base issues (opening, capex, dep’n)– Cost of Capital issues (debt rate, taxes)

• Revenue Forecast (load, customers)

• Deficiency/Sufficiency• Who Pays

– Cost Allocation (RTC, anomalies)– Rate design (fixed charges)

Sources of Information

• Financial Statements• Rating agency reports• Website, Newspaper stories, etc.• Yearbook data• Asset Condition Assessment and AMP• Strategic/Business Plan• Tax returns or tax calculations• Previous applications, results, rates

Comparative Data• Valuable diagnostic tools

– Identify potential problem areas– Test against evidence for consistency

• Comparative Rates the most important– Captures all aspects of costs, but rough

• Rate Base and Capital Spending– PP&E per customer (level and trend)– Capex/depreciation ratio each year– Average depreciation rate

Comparative Data• OM&A Metrics

– OM&A per customer– FTE per customer– Spending ratios (e.g. maint. vs. G&A)– Individual line item trends

• Other Metrics– Components of revenue (e.g. by class)– Debt/equity ratio (leveraging)– Actual returns

Examples

(see handouts)

Interrogatories• What are we looking for?

– Documents referred to (or omitted)– Explanations

• Missing data, steps, or confusion• Comparative data

• Clear answers simplify the TC (call)• Challenges facing this LDC

– Show investigation and analysis– Thoughtful plan to deal with them

Technical Conference

• Usually first contact with intervenors• Not cross-examination, but tougher

than IRs • Model TC is a dialogue• Point is to save the Board panel from

wasting their time

ADR –The Process

• What is actually going on?– Negotiation between utility and ratepayers– Most COS applications can be settled– Opportunity vs. challenge

• Steps– Exchange of information/dialogue– Intervenor caucus– Offers back and forth– Reaching agreement– Documenting the agreement

ADR – Negotiations

• Offers– Issue by issue – revenue requirement usually first– Deficiency based packages (looking for savings)

• Settlement of other issues– Cost allocation and rate design– Deferral and variance accounts– Severability

• Intervenor point of view– Result by agreement vs. result by decision– ADR positions vs. Hearing/Argument positions– Comparative data increasingly influential

Oral Hearings• General comments

– Short time frame– Board members busy but very experienced– Creates an impression but also a record

• Cross-examination– Bias in favour of the cross-examiner– Utility counsel has limited freedom to protect you– Good questioners are well prepared– Don’t “play the game” - use your natural advantage– Credibility not easily lost, but also not easily regained– Pay close attention to questions from Board members

Intervenor Review of Electricity Distributor

Rate Applications

July 9, 2012Jay Shepherd

for School Energy Coalition