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 every other month and topics are sponsored by an Advisory Board Member.

  May Hot Topic
  20 May 2008, 12:15pm (central time)

Previous Topics and Sponsors

• 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

• 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