Regulatory policy

Regulatory policy is one of the cornerstones of La Capra’s service offerings. We have been involved with every step of the energy industry’s evolution in the last two decades, especially with respect to restructuring and deregulation in states around the country.

Part of the outcome of restructuring is the emergence of retail choice, on which La Capra has played a role in many states. In addition, we are helping state entities develop and implement policies related to reliability and resource adequacy in a deregulated environment. We also tackle complex issues that regulators and state entities must deal with such as mergers of large utilities and potential market power issues; utilities’ proposals for providing default service; and implementation of renewable portfolio standards. We have provided expert testimony before numerous state regulatory commissions and legislatures. Furthermore, we have taken our experience in the U.S. and applied it to development of utility policies in various countries for the World Bank.


REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS & CLIENTS

Resource Adequacy for Connecticut Energy Advisory Board
The La Capra team is performing a need analysis for reliability purposes for Connecticut that may form the basis for solicitations of near-term and/or longer-term power supplies for the state. We are also leading a team of consulting firms 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.

Electricity Restructuring Planning for Arkansas Public Service Commission Staff
We assisted the Arkansas Public Service Commission Staff in its efforts to implement electricity restructuring legislation. We helped establish 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. Ultimately, the Commission and the General Assembly decided to delay the start of electric retail access in Arkansas, in part, due to our recommendations.

Utility Policies for World Bank
La Capra Associates has assisted the World Bank in numerous international utility and energy policy issues. The work includes assisting in restructuring and privatizing certain functions of the power sector in India, which was extended to work on similar issues in Pakistan. We prepared an energy strategy for Montenegro and reviewed and participated in the development of a new energy law. We also drafted a power sector reform law in Zimbabwe (along with local counsel) and prepared detailed comments on the evolving law in Vietnam and China. More recently, we prepared a financial plan for the Government of Ukraine to restore creditworthiness to the country’s energy sector.