Catalyst Consulting LLC provides a broad range of utility consulting services, including the areas listed below.
Cost of Service Studies
Conduct fully allocated, embedded cost of service studies for electric and gas utilities. Prepare cost of service analyses that functionally assign, classify, and allocate costs to the utility rate classes. Facilitate determination of pro forma adjustments to test period results based on known and measurable changes expected in future periods. Determine cost based rates for actual results and for pro forma results. Identify the relative contribution of each rate class to overall utility margins on an actual and adjusted basis.
Rate Design
Develop rates and alternative rate designs to simultaneously achieve target revenue requirements and address utility objectives for each rate class, including consideration of unique rate classes, incentive rates, rate unbundling, rate mechanisms and pass-through rates, gradualism, and other factors pertinent to the particular utility environment.
FERC Formula Rates
Develop transmission formula rate templates and protocols for wholesale electric providers subject to FERC jurisdiction.
Special Rate Mechanisms
Design and implement special rate recovery mechanisms, including but not limited to:
- Fuel Adjustment Clause
- Purchased Power Adjustment Clause
- Gas Supply Clause / Purchased Gas Clause
- Environmental Cost Recovery Mechanism
- Demand-Side Management Cost Recovery Mechanism
Utility Rate Expert
Sponsor written direct and rebuttal testimony, respond to data requests, and stand for cross-examination as a utility rate expert in proceedings before state and federal regulators.
Economic Development
Develop utility economic development strategies that are consistent with corporate objectives, regulatory requirements, and public policy objectives. Review regulatory practices regarding incentive rates and other available offerings that support economic development and/or load retention. Recommend tactics for establishing a visible utility presence in the state or regional economic development arena.
Special Contract Negotiation
Assist utilities with special contract negotiation and conduct independent review of proposed service contracts with emphasis on fulfillment of regulatory requirements.
Litigation Support & Testimony Development
Assist counsel in the development and prosecution of regulatory proceedings. This includes providing strategic guidance on the development of filings & Applications, writing testimony, drafting written responses to data requests, reviewing intervenor testimony, developing data requests, organizing and/or sponsoring rebuttal testimony, assisting in witness preparation, participating in formal hearings, preparing responses to post-hearing data requests, and assisting in the development of post-hearing briefs.
Rate Case Intervention
Provide analysis of issues in revenue requirements, cost allocation, and rate design for utilities intervening in proceedings before state regulatory commissions and FERC.
Presentations & Training
Deliver presentations at conferences, seminars and industry group meetings. Provide training to utility and/or public service commission staffs. Topics include utility regulation, rate case fundamentals, rate design, and other topics described further in the Resources section.
Certificates of Public Convenience & Necessity
Support generation planning, transmission planning, and transmission siting activities by reviewing least cost modeling, sensitivity analyses, analytical methods, assumptions, and documentation.
Energy Policy
Assist utility management and counsel in developing comments for filing in response to FERC Notice of Proposed Rulemakings or other FERC energy policy initiatives. Develop responses to data requests and briefs in administrative cases initiated by state regulators for the purpose of investigating various energy policy initiatives, guidelines, or requirements.
RTO Stakeholder Participation
Participate on behalf of utilities in the stakeholder processes for PJM, MISO, or other RTOs, i.e. represent utilities in meetings/conference calls for RTO committees, task forces, working groups, and ad hoc task teams, to ensure that the utility interests are actively represented in discussions, emerging policies, voting, and operating practices.
Customer Relations
Support rate-related initiatives for departments with customer interaction responsibilities, including customer service centers (residential and commercial), key accounts, wholesale customer service, and cooperative member services or member relations areas.
Communications
Develop or review customer communication materials to explain rate changes, promote new tariff offerings, or describe other significant utility initiatives, consistent with recent history, company branding, public relations climate, and other relevant factors.
Management Audits
Assist utilities with preparations for regulatory Management Audits that address managerial and organizational structure, operation of rate mechanisms, best practices for utility operations, affiliate transactions, compliance with FERC Standards of Conduct and other applicable codes of conduct, or other regulatory issues.