| |
The competitive evolution of the utility industry has driven an increasing demand for information and education by those utilities that seek to position themselves for continued success. EES Consulting can assist the client's organization in meeting this demand. Our professional staff has presented numerous educational seminars to electric, natural gas, water and wastewater, and industry groups for over two decades. We bring our extensive experience and expertise to the client's staff on subjects including strategic planning, utility system planning, financial planning and rates, resource development, new technology assessment, purchase and scheduling, engineering, and system operations.
Competition
As an example of our educational skills and services, EES Consulting has been one of the major participants in helping to shape and structure the emerging competitive energy market. We have done so in a number of ways, including:
- Development of strategic plans for supply and customer service in a competitive market
- Development of unbundled services and rates for utility clients
- Development and issuance of requests for proposals for competitive bids for wholesale and retail supply
- Analysis and development of wholesale and retail wheeling rates in conformance with generally accepted regulatory guidelines
- Assessment of corporate structure and staffing to meet the competitive market utility environment
- Implementation of public involvement processes dealing with competitiveness challenges
Workshops
As nationally recognized experts, we teach a number of courses and workshops. Our senior staff has taught numerous courses for the American Public Power Association (APPA), the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA). EES Consulting has also been active in developing publications and manuals in this area of expertise. For example, APPA and AWWA cost-of-service manuals were written with the assistance of EES Consulting personnel. These publications discuss the techniques and methods that should be used by utility systems.
Risk Management
EES Consulting has also presented seminars on introduction to risk management tools, including futures, options and swaps. We explain how to utilize these financial products to manage and control price risk via "hedging." The seminar also covers trading mechanisms such as locational basis swaps, delivery mechanism, and why to make or take physical delivery of futures contracts. After covering the basic tools used in hedging price risks, several hedging examples geared to the client can be presented. The hedging seminar can also include how to develop the hedging program, from getting board approval to developing hedging strategy objectives and goals. The hedging seminar could be the first step. in establishing a risk management department.
Educational Topics
Some of our typical seminar topics include the following:
- Competitive Retail Ratemaking in a Changing Electric Utility Environment (1-day seminar)
- How to Deal Successfully with Wholesale Access (1-day seminar)
- Fundamental Rates, Finance and Economic Principles (1-day seminar)
- Basic Load/Flow Forecasting (2-day seminar)
- Future Resource Options in a Competitive Utility Industry (1-day seminar)
- Integrated Resource Planning and Resource Acquisition Techniques (2-day seminar)
- Engineering for Non-Engineers (1-day class)
- Accounting/Finance for Non-Finance Personnel (1-day class)
- Transmission Rates (1-day seminar)
- Fundamentals of Credit and Risk Management (1-day seminar)
EES Consulting is available to present seminars at your offices on these and other topics that may be customized to suit your needs.
|
|
