Gas and Electric Utility Rate Fundamentals & Theory

1. Plain English explanations of numerous gas & electric regulatory terms and concepts, and how the federal and state rate-making process works.
2. How gas & electric rate-making practices vary between investor owned utilities, municipal utilities, coops, and how these rate practices impact unregulated energy marketers.
3. The jargon used in the regulatory process, so that you can understand each step of a rate case.
4. Why utilities file rate cases and the types of analyses they conduct to support their proposals.
5. The difference between cost of service and market-based pricing, and how these rates are applied.
6. How various federal and state rate case procedures work, and how they differ.
7. What the different cost components of the base rate case are, and how they are determined.
8. The financial drivers for regulated utilities and how they differ from unregulated businesses
9. How to improve utility profitability through the rate-making process.
10. How different types of pricing structures are designed within rate proceedings
11. The differences between various rate case procedures
12. The financial drivers for regulated utilities and how they differ from those of unregulated businesses

• Discuss the major regulatory changes that created the energy marketplace of today.
• Review the fundamental concepts of gas & electric rates and rate-making in detail.
• Explain how rate base and rate of return are determined.
• Discuss how items are categorized as operating expenses or capital expenses.
• Explain the federal and state rate case processes involved for both base rate increases and fuel adjustments.
• Discuss the various rationales used to request changes in gas & electric rates.
• Review the current problems encountered when implementing today's open-access markets and customer choice programs.
• Examine the important issues that create friction between utilities and energy marketers from both perspectives.

Get the best of both worlds with this blended learning approach.

1. Learn at your own pace and on your own schedule as you first enjoy the internet-streamed, on-demand seminar. Speed up, slow down, or repeat sections of the presentation.
2. Upon completion, join us for one of our regularly scheduled live online Q&A sessions. A calendar of live Q&A dates and times is provided in the program access instructions you will receive. You can also email your questions directly to the instructor.

You will receive immediate online access to the on-demand training presentation. The audio for the online seminar is only available through your computer or other Internet connected device. You will also receive links in your access instructions to PDFs for all the presentation materials in case you want to print or keep a copy.

The on-demand training presentations are available for a total of 30 days from the time any one of the training presentations is first accessed. After 30 days, your access to the on-demand presentations will expire. However the PDF formatted training program slides and other documents you receive are yours to keep.

Jim Crist is President of Lumen Group, Inc. headquartered in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. He has over 27 years experience in the energy industry covering coal, gas, oil, propane, and electricity. Jim has conducted many strategic studies of the industry and prepared market and business assessments for several large energy companies. Before founding Lumen Group in 1996, Jim spent 20 years working for major energy companies in engineering, technology development, rate and regulatory policy development and marketing. He served as marketing vice president in both regulated and deregulated entities.  His consulting practice provides strategic planning, marketing and business development, and rate and regulatory consulting, along with serving as an expert witness in regulatory proceedings in several jurisdictions.

$295 for a single attendee, $195 per attendee thereafter.

Special pricing is available for groups — learn more. Questions? Email customercare@pgsenergy.com or call (843) 212-4038.

Payment is required prior to training program access, by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or corporate check. Your card is charged at the time of registration unless other arrangements are made.

Cancellations for online programs can be made before the access instructions are sent and will result in a credit. For more on PGS policies regarding administrative matters and complaint resolution, contact our offices at (843) 212-4038.