What Is The Hot Topic Hotline Program

It is an opportunity for FRI Advisory Board Members to discuss 'hot' issues relevant to the Midwest region via a teleconference call. The program is offered bi-monthly and topics are sponsored by an Advisory Board Member.

  Energy Efficiency

Previous Topics and Sponsors

• Recovery Mechanisms for Energy Efficiency Investments: What are the common ways in the Midwest for recovery energy efficiency investments; What are some innovative ways to recover energy efficiency; How does or does ARRA play a role in recovery of energy efficiency investments; What are the opportunities and challenges for recovery from  a utility, state,  PUC, and consumer advocate perspective; What does the crystal ball say for energy efficiency and recovery of the energy efficiency investments by utilities? Sue Nathan, Assistant Vice President, Applied Energy Group,Commissioner Jeff Davis, Missouri Public Service Commission,Commissioner Sherman Elliott, Illinois Commerce Commission, Commissioner Phyllis Reha, Minnesota Public Utilties Commission, John Perkins, Iowa Consumer Advocate. 

• Energy Efficiency.
  
  A discussion on the following points: (a) energy efficiency and its relationship to smart grid (b) Do efficiency programs differ between customer demographics?  For example, do programs differ in areas for customers who pay higher utility prices versus areas where customers pay lower prices. (c) given the current economic climate – which areas should utilities focus: behavioral or physical plant initiatives (or a combination) for energy efficiency programs and why? (d) Will consumers and regulators tolerate costs relating to energy efficiency in the short term given price and economic pressures? (e) Which is the better consumer message – cost or being green.  How should utilities position energy efficiency programs with customers?  Panelists: Vice Chair Phyllis Reha, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Val Jensen, Vice President, Marketing and Environment Programs, ComEd. Diane Munns, Vice President, Regulatory Relations and Energy Efficiency, MidAmerican Energy.

• Smart Grid: What is it? Why do we need it? And How do we pay for it

• The Cost of Capital in Today's Market.
  A discussion on the following points: (a) the availability of capital for financing and its cost (b) how the cumulative challenges facing the utility affect capital requirement (c) and the challenges associated with attracting capital under the current market conditions. Panelists: Gregory Gordon, Managing Director - Citi Investment Research. Michael G. Haggerty, VP & Senior Credit Officer - Moody's. Alan W. James, Senior Managing Director - Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc.  Peter H. Kind, Managing Director - Banc of America Securities LLC

• Is it reasonable to strive to be BBB or can we do better?
  A discussion utility ratings. Sponsor: Dick Rohlfs, Director, Retail Rates, Westar Energy. Presenter: Philip W Smyth, Senior Director, Fitch Ratings
  
  
• Aging, Obsolescent and Inadequate Infrastructure: Is it a crises? What should utilities, consumers and regulators do? Sponsor: Lewis Mills, Missouri Public Counsel

• Public Policy and Real Energy Efficiency - the Experience of Arkansas Western Gas - Discussion covers the following points: (a) ways to measure energy efficiency (b) energy trajectory efficiencies for gas and electricity (c) site energy efficiency vs. real energy efficiency considerations (d) carbon dioxide emission considerations (e) national and state energy policies (f) Arkansas energy policies. Sponsor: Alan Stewart, Arkansas Western Gas
  

• Financial Risks of Declining Usage - Declining usage is an issue that utilities face in various markets that raises a number of financial risks that must be recognized in the rate structure. Reduced demand means less revenue yet maintenance and fixed costs remain the same. Inherent in this is the ability of the utility to attract capital, the cost of the capital and the increased risk to the utility as a result. Innovative rate measures can help which will be the focus of the hot topic hotline. Comments will be based around revenue balance accounts, premium returns for conservation, revenue decoupling, increased ROE to match increased risk and future test years. Sponsor: Jim Jenkins, Vice President Finance, Central Region, American Water Works

• Decoupling - Panel Discussion: Reviewing decoupling and discussing what other alternatives exist (other than annual rate cases) that would allow utilities to implement energy efficiency program without diminishing their ability to recover fixed system delivery costs. Sponsor: Bob Mill, Director Regulatory Department, AmerenUE
  
  
• Decoupling - A review of a recent IURC order which packaged a decoupling approach and a program encouraging energy conservation between the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) and the petitioner, Vectren South.
  Sponsor: Commissioner Larry Landis, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission

• Successful and Practical Methods of Dealing with High Winter Energy Bills.
  Sponsor: Alan Stewart, President, Arkansas Western Gas

• Regulatory Relief in Response to the Proposed FASB's Project for Reporting Pension Liability: Sponsor: Barry Cooper, Chief Financial Officer, Laclede Group

• Rate Surcharges of Adders for Recovery of Specific Costs: What Factors should be Considered in Deciding Whether to Allow Such Mechanisms.
  Sponsor: Commissioner Michael Moffet, Kansas Corporation Commission

• Streamlining the Ratemaking Process: Methods By Which the Rate Case Process Has Been Streamlined In Some Jurisdictions And The Resulting Benefits. Sponsor: Chuck Harder, Executive Director Rates and Regulatory, CenterPoint Energy

• Construction While In Progress.
  Sponsor: Chairman Jeff Davis, Missouri Public Service Commission

• Energy Efficiency: An overview of Programs and Policies in the Midwest.
  Sponsor: Tim Rush - Director of Regulatory Affairs, Kansas City Power and Light

• Update on FASB's Project for Changes to Pension Liability Reporting and Impact on the Current Regulatory Treatment.
  Sponsor: Barry Cooper - Chief Financial Officer, Laclede Group

• Opportunities for utilities to cooperate in the delivery of energy conservation programs (e.g. joint delivery of efficiency programs for building shell measures and appliances) and how could consumers and utilities benefit from this cooperation (coordination)? Sponsor: Lewis Mills - Missouri Public Counsel