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23 projects found for:
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Topic: Alternative Ratemaking
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Clean Energy Action Plan for States
Client: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Synapse contributed four chapters to EPA's guidebook of policies that states can implement to advance clean energy activities. These chapters address
1) integrating energy efficiency and renewables into air quality planning,
2) integrating energy efficiency and renewables into state and regional energy planning,
3) identifying and describing the financial incentive (and disincentive) mechanisms for clean energy and energy efficiency associated with state-level ratemaking structures for electric and gas utilities, and
4) the role of clean energy in integrated resource planning and portfolio management. The guidebook can be found on the EPA's website. Project completed in December 2005.
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White Paper on Alternative Ratemaking Mechanisms Used by Investor Owned Electric Utilities
Client: Arkansas Public Service Commission Staff
For the Arkansas Publice Service Commission, Synapse prepared a whitepaper describing ratemaking mechanisms that U.S. electric utilities have implemented to align their financial incentives with the pursuit of energy efficiency. Project completed May 2010.
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Testimony on the Ratemaking Implications of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company's Proposed Smart Grid Initiative
Client: Maryland Office of the People's Counsel
Synapse conducted an analysis of the projected costs and benefits of BGE's proposed Smart Grid Initiative as well as the proposed allocation of Initiative costs among rate classes and the design of the proposed Smart Grid Charge. Project completed April 2010. Download Testimony
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Testimony on the Ratemaking Implications of the Request by Potomac Electric Power Company and by Delmarva Power and Light Company to Deploy Advanced Meter Infrastructure
Client: Maryland Office of the People's Counsel
For the Maryland Office of People's Counsel, Synapse analyzed the projected costs and benefits of the AMI proposed by PEPCO MD and Delmarva MD respectively, as well as the rate and bill impacts of those proposals. Project completed April 2010. Download Direct Testimony
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Advanced Metering in Maryland
Client: Maryland Office of the People's Counsel
Synapse assisted the Maryland Office of People's Counsel by reviewing filings regarding Baltimore Gas & Electric's pilot AMI program, including the program design and choice, accelerated DSM implementation, technology options, cost-benefit analysis, cost recovery mechanisms and the level of sufficient recovery, and alternatives to the program. Synapse also conducted a similar review of filings by PEPCO and Delmarva to take actions similar to BGE. Project completed March 2010.
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Testimony Regarding A Conservation Enabling Rider Proposed by Centerpoint Energy Resource Corporation
Clients: Izaak Walton League, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
Synapse analyzed a pilot gas rate decoupling mechanism, a Conservation Enabling Rider, proposed by Centerpoint Energy. Project completed March 2010. Download Direct Testimony
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Testimony Regarding the Smart Meter Technology Plans Filed by Allegheny Power and the FirstEnergy Companies
Client: Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate
Synapse analyzed the policy and ratemaking implications of the Company filings, the level of projected benefits of the proposed Smart Meter Plans relative to their projected costs, the uncertainty associated with those benefits, and the allocation and rate design issues underlying the cost recovery proposals. Project completed March 2010. Download Direct Testimony
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Mississippi PSC Consideration of New PURPA Standards
Client: Sierra Club
Synapse provided expert witness services during the Mississippi PSC's consideration of several newly enacted PURPA standards relating to resource planning and DSM. Project completed in 2010.
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Philadelphia Gas Works Demand-Side Management Plan
Client: Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate
Synapse reviewed PGW's 5-Year DSM program and cost recovery proposal. Project completed August 2010
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Customer Perspectives on Delivery of Energy Efficiency
Client: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
For this project, Synapse researched and analyzed concerns that consumer organizations have raised regarding energy efficiency programs in general and ratepayer funded efficiency programs in particular. Project completed in 2009.
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Evaluation of Duke Energy's Save-A-Watt Proposal in Indiana
Client: Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana
On behalf of Citizens Action Coalition in Indiana, Synapse reviewed the Duke Energy Save-A-Watt Energy Efficiency Plan Proposal. The review focused on Duke Energy's proposed programs and the proposed cost recovery mechanism. Project completed May 2009. Download Testimony and Exhibits
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Demand Side Management Rulemaking
Clients: Sierra Club, Oklahoma Sustainability Network
The Sierra Club and the Oklahoma Sustainability Network retained Synapse to provide support in a state Commission rulemaking on demand side management (DSM) by electric utilities. Synapse provided assistance in drafting comments, attended workshops and negotiation meetings, and advised on strategy and economic impacts. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission adopted a new DSM rule as a result of this proceeding. Project completed in 2009.
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Central Vermont Public Service Alternative Regulation
Client: Conservation Law Foundation
Synapse provided litigation support to CLF in evaluating CVPS's proposed alternative regulation plan. Project completed July 2009.
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Review of Proposed Demand-Side Management and Greenhouse Gas Rules
Client: Ohio Consumers' Counsel
The Ohio Consumer Counsel retained Synapse to critique proposed rules on energy efficiency portfolio standards and greenhouse gas reporting. Synapse also assisted in preparation of comments filed by OCC. Project completed October 2008.
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The Electricity Industry at a Glance
Client: National Regulatory Research Institute
The National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI) retained Synapse to prepare a primer on the U.S. electric industry for public utility commissioners and public utility commission staff. The primer provides basic information on the U.S. electric industry. It assumes only a basic understanding of the nature and purpose of utility regulation. While it addresses issues related to ratemaking, it is not an introduction to rate setting. Section I reviews the overall nature of the industry and of power production and use. Section II breaks down the industry into segments and discusses their recent and current status and organization. Section III (written by Scott Hempling of NRRI) covers regulatory jurisdiction, while Section IV identifies some of the critical issues facing the industry and its regulators. Project completed in November 2008. Download Report
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Mississippi Integrated Resource Plan Testimony
Client: Sierra Club
The Sierra Club retained Synapse to provide testimony on the proper goals, approach, and methods for IRP preparation by Mississippi's electric utilities. Synapse provided prefiled and oral testimony on IRP, supply planning, T&D issues, energy efficiency and load control, and related topics in the Mississippi Commission's generic proceeding on resource planning. Project completed in 2008. Download Steinhurst Testimony
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Decoupling Analysis
Client: The Energy Consortium
For this project, Synapse analyzed issues associated with proposals to decouple annual revenues of electric distribution utilities from their annual kWh deliveries. Download Report
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Demand Side Management and Advanced Metering in Pennsylvania
Client: Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate
Synapse represented the staff of the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate in the demand-side management (DSM) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) workgroup. We reviewed various aspects of DSM and AMI initiatives, prepared documents on good practices in these areas, recommended specific programs from other states, and participated in the workgroup. Project completed in June 2007.
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Avista Utilities Rate Case
Client: Washington Office of the Attorney General
For this project, Synapse reviewed Avista Utilities proposals for funding of low income programs, a power cost only rate case (PCORC) mechanism, changes in its accounting treatment of DSM Program costs, recovery of fixed costs lost to DSM and investments in advanced meters. Project completed in 2007. Download Testimony
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Green Mountain Power Rate Design and Efficiency
Client: Conservation Law Foundation
Synapse provided testimony on performance based ratemaking and other rate design issues, especially issues affecting incentives for customers to use electricity efficiently. Project completed in November 2006. Download Testimony
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Green Mountain Power Rate Design
Client: AARP
Synapse provided testimony on performance based ratemaking and on rate design issues affecting residential customers. Project completed in October 2006. Download Testimony
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Performance Based Regulation
Client: Conservation Law Foundation
Synapse, working with the Conservation Law Foundation, examined the potential for performance-based regulation to encourage greater reliance on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources by Green Mountain Power. Project completed in August 2004.
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Electric Utility Rate Case
Client: Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana
Synapse evaluated the rate filing of Public Service of Indiana. The results of this evaluation were presented in testimony before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Project completed in July 2004. Download Testimony
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