REGULATORS

We regularly provide assistance to state regulatory commissions and their staff in the form of expert witness and advisory services concerning rates, retail choice, fuel and purchased power and related rulemaking proceedings.

WHO WE SERVE

Arizona Corporation Commission Staff
La Capra has helped the Staff of the ACC in the development of unbundled rates as part of restructuring, the review of rate case applications, cost recovery proceedings, and a utility merger.

La Capra managed the development of unbundled rates for the twelve regulated utilities in Arizona, including both investor-owned and cooperative utilities. We recommended policy positions and conducted extensive discovery throughout the process and assisted in cost allocation and rate design work for six cooperative utilities.

We also advised the staff and presented testimony in the Citizens Electric Utilities case investigating under-collection and management of power costs and Citizens' subsequent request for approval of a merger with Unisource.

Most recently, we testified for the staff on cost allocation and addressed other issues in an Arizona Public Service Company (APS) rate case. This included a review of (1) APS's application to acquire and place into rate base 1,700 MW of generating assets developed by its unregulated subsidiary, Pinnacle West Energy Company; (2) an analysis of APS's request for fuel cost recovery, (3) the design of a fuel cost recovery mechanism, and (4) the assessment of APS's application for resolution of outstanding stranded cost claims.

Arkansas Public Service Commission Staff
We assisted the Arkansas Public Service Commission Staff in its efforts to implement electricity restructuring legislation in the state. We assisted staff in establishing policy positions covering a range of topics, including: guidelines for market power filings; standard service package design; a decision framework and recommendations for additional utility services to be made competitive; and the proper sequencing of regulatory activities that would be required to achieve retail competition.

We submitted a report to the staff that addressed the conditions necessary for the effective implementation of retail competition and an analysis of expected price benefits of competition, leading to the Commission and the General Assembly deciding to delay the start of electric retail access in Arkansas.

Connecticut Energy Advisory Board
La Capra is leading a team that is designing and implementing a Request for Proposal (RFP) process that will be administered by the CEAB. This RFP process will allow the state to actively solicit energy projects that help meet its identified needs in a manner consistent with the state energy plan and certain environmental criteria.

La Capra has been engaged to oversee all aspects of the RFP process, including designing the information requirements, developing selection criteria, and assisting in the selection process. The La Capra team is also performing a need analysis for Connecticut that may form the basis for solicitations of near-term and/or longer-term power supplies.

Georgia Public Service Commission Staff
La Capra testified for Staff in a Savannah Electric Power Company rate case, in which the addition of a new power plant was the major cause of the case. Our testimony addressed the allocation of power costs, the use of a minimum distribution system, and rate design

New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission Staff
We provided technical assistance, expert testimony, and guidance in settlement negotiations for the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission Staff in their review of a proposal by Unitil for the provision of Transition Service power supply. The Unitil proposal included plans for simultaneous divestiture of its power supply contracts and the design and implementation of power supply procurement for default service for non-shopping retail consumers.

La Capra provided testimony regarding the design of Provider of Last Resort (POLR) service, the auction to divest Unitil’s power supply holding, and the competitive procurement to acquire supply for POLR service. We also provided testimony regarding cost recovery and rate design issues.