|
30 projects found for:
|
|
Topic: Retail Markets
|
|
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.
|
Metering study
Client: New Jersey Division of the Ratepayer Advocate
Synapse assisted the NJ DRA with a technology and metering study focusing on residential and small commercial customers. The study was designed to look at the electricity use behaviors of four different groups of customers with various rates, metering technologies, and educational materials. Synapse helped select the technology vendors and the particular technologies that were evaluated. Synapse also helped determine the data to collect and evaluate in assessing experimental results. Project completed in September 2005.
|
Default Service Procurement for Delaware
Client: Delaware Public Service Commission Staff
Synapse advised Public Service Commission Staff in Delaware on alternatives for procuring power to serve default customers as provided for in the State's restructuring law and assisted the PSC Staff in the conduct of a multi-party workshop process considering those alternatives. Synapse examined issues of acquisition of generation supply and the management of a resource portfolio to provide bundled generation service to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and assisted staff in successful multi-party settlement negotiations. Project completed in September 2005.
|
Report on Impact of Proposed Reliability Pricing Model
Client: Illinois Citizens Utility Board
Synapse developed a report on the impact of PJM's proposed Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) on Exelon nuclear facilities' capacity revenues in northern Illinois. At the request of Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Synapse analyzed the current capacity revenues earned by Exelon's nuclear fleet in Illinois and compared those revenues to the historical six-year average prices for capacity in PJM and to the RPM "target price" as defined by a benchmark proxy peaker unit. The analysis showed that the capacity revenues for Exelon's nuclear units in northern Illinois would increase from $100 million (2005) to over $500 million annually under RPM, on average, and that annual earnings under RPM for a single year could be as high as $1.2 billion under extreme scarcity conditions. Project completed in August 2005. Download Report
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
Participation in New England's Forward Capacity Market
Client: Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance
Synapse provided advice to Mass Energy Consumers Alliance, a local non-profit organization that both advocates and acts in the marketplace on behalf of consumers and the environment, regarding their ability to participate in New England's Forward Capacity Market. The FCM is the first capacity market to allow small on-site generation resources to be compensated for the capacity they provide to the regional grid. Project completed in March 2009.
|
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
|
Companion Scenario Analysis
Clients: Conservation Law Foundation, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
For this project, Synapse reviewed a ISO-NE Scenario Analysis report and developed a Companion Report that evaluated two additional scenarios for greater EE, DR, renewables, and reduced carbon resources. Project completed in 2007. Download Report
|
Review of Standard Offer Service Pricing
Client: Ohio Consumers' Counsel
Synapse analyzed the rate components of Duke Energy Ohio's standard offer service to determine whether they provide reasonably priced service in terms of accounting costs or market pricing principles. Taken together, we found the rates poorly defined and to not have a reasonable basis. Neil Talbot presented testimony in this case before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on March 9, 2007. Download Testimony
|
Cape Light Compact Cooperative Investigation
Client: Cape Light Compact
Synapse provided technical and managerial support to the Cape Light Compact as part of the Compact's investigation of cooperative business models that may assist the Compact in furthering its goals. Project completed in November 2006.
|
Regulatory Tools for Electricity Portfolio Management
Client: National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
Synapse was hired by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) to conduct an analysis and write a report on electricity portfolio management. Specifically, the paper critiques available models used for portfolio management and resource acquisition and provides advice for regulators on how to choose and utilize such models in making regulatory decisions. Measures for evaluating risks and hedging strategies are discussed, with an emphasis on the perspective of customers and regulators. Project completed in September 2006. Download Report
|
Energy-Economic Situation Analysis of the Northern Forest
Client: Northern Forest Center
Synapse prepared a high level "thought" piece for the client, presenting the important issues and trends in the energy sector in the Northern Forest Region, a 34 county area stretching from Oswego, NY, across northern Vermont and New Hampshire, to eastern coastal Maine. The data collection, research and final report preparation were carried out on a compressed schedule of approximately one month to meet the needs of the client. Primary data, tables and detailed explanations were provided in separate appendices. The paper was written to be thought provoking, to raise critical issues and opportunities that will frame stakeholder dialogue, further analytical study and decision-making for the next phases in the development of the economic adjustment strategy, and to identify and choose among sustainable development options and recommendations in the Northern Forest region. It introduced the important issues, trends, priorities and realities of the energy sector in the 34-county region and set them in context with energy issues and trends from relevant regions elsewhere in the nation. The paper was future oriented, synthesizing key issues and concepts drawn from data and the conclusions of previous analytical work, including detailed economic modeling studies previously conducted by Synapse to measure employment and air pollution impacts of regional strategies for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Project completed in May 2006. Download Report
|
Evaluation of New Jersey's 2006 Basic Generation Service Auction
Client: New Jersey Division of the Ratepayer Advocate
Synapse was hired to examine the price results of the 2006 auction for Basic Generation Service to customers in New Jersey. Project completed in March 2006.
|
Mohave Generating Station Alternatives/Complements Study
Client: Southern California Edison
Synapse teamed with Sargent & Lundy to evaluate a set of supply- and demand-side technologies to replace or complement power flowing to Southern California Edison (SCE) from the coal-fired Mohave Generating Station in southern Nevada. The consultant team reported to a group of stakeholders including SCE, consumer and environmental advocates, the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe. Technologies evaluated included IGCC with and without carbon capture and sequestration, wind, various solar technologies, and a unique option comprised of DSM procurement in nearby states coupled with a power purchase of "freed up" supply imported into California. Synapse was responsible for development and characterization of the DSM procurement option, as well as estimates of projected fuel prices, output profiles, emission costs, economics of carbon sequestration, various tribal issues, and employment impacts on and off the affected reservations. Project completed in February 2006. Download Report
|
Broadwater Energy LNG Terminal Alternatives Analysis
Client: Connecticut Fund for the Environment
Synapse was asked to evaluate alternatives to the Broadwater LNG import facility, proposed as a floating storage and regasification facility to be located in Long Island Sound. Synapse concluded that the region does not have a pressing need for a new baseload resource to provide natural gas, and the region's energy needs for the next decade can readily be met through energy efficiency, implementation of existing renewable energy goals, expanded use of combined heat and power, and repowering of existing power plants. Finally, we found that there are other options for increasing gas supply to the region which would be far preferable to the Broadwater proposal. The most promising of these includes two LNG import facilities already under construction in Eastern Canada, together with the planned expansion of the Maritimes and Northeast pipeline from Eastern Canada into the northeastern United States. Project completed in February 2006. Download Report
|
Review of Procurement Practices for Electric Power in North America
Client: Confidential Client
Synapse surveyed electricity procurement in states and Canadian provinces with a focus on how to address affiliate participation in a solicitation by a regulated utility to purchase power. Codes of conduct and affiliate transaction rules were examined. We attempted to distill "best practices" from the set of current industry approaches. Project completed in December 2005.
|
Review of Standard Offer Procurement Rules and Portfolio Proposal
Client: Maine Office of the Public Advocate
Prior to the 2005 solicitation of supply bids to serve Maine standard offer customers, the Maine Office of Public Advocate requested that Synapse evaluate the 2004 standard offer procurement rules developed and implemented by the Maine Public Utilities Commission pursuant to ME PUC Docket No. 2004-147. Synapse filed comments in the proceeding that recommended the adoption of a portfolio management approach. Key elements included a multi-year procurement horizon and the specific acquisition of renewable resources as a hedge against fossil fuel price uncertainty. Project completed in September 2005. Download Report
|
Structuring and Pricing Default Service in Ohio
Client: Ohio Consumers' Counsel
Synapse analyzed the procurement approaches used by Ohio utilities for providing default service to retail electricity customers. Project completed June 2005.
|
Analysis of Connecticut Alternative Transitional Standard Offers
Client: Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel
The Connecticut DPUC has opened a proceeding to consider possible Alternative Transitional Standard Offers (TSOs) authorized by the legislature. On behalf of the Office of Consumer Counsel, Synapse prepared recommendations for how to structure and procure Alternative TSOs for both renewable energy and energy efficiency products made available to residential and small commercial customers who do not shop for competitive offers. Project completed in November 2004. Download Report
|
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.
|
Retail Choice Proceeding Testimony
Client: Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel
Synapse provided testimony in an on-going retail choice proceeding involving an Entergy subsidiary in East Texas (Entergy Gulf States). Synapse assisted the Texas Office of People's Counsel (OPC) in evaluating Entergy's proposal for an "independent" subsidiary to oversee the transition to a retail open access structure authorized by the Texas legislature. Synapse compared the proposed "independent" Entergy subsidiary to the standards and criteria that FERC applies to applications for Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and provided testimony before the Texas PUC. Project completed in May 2004. Download Peterson Testimony
|
Structuring and Pricing Default Service in Ohio
Client: Ohio Consumers' Counsel
Synapse analyzed the Cincinnati Gas and Electric Company's proposed "Market Based Standard Service Offer" and "Competitive Bid Process." Synapse concluded that the MBSSO was not reasonable and subsequently proposed an alternative approach for pricing electricity for default customers. The analysis and recommendations were presented in the testimony of Neil Talbot before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Project completed in May 2004. Download Testimony
|
Energy Efficiency Programs For the Municipal Aggregator on Cape Cod
Client: Cape Light Compact
The Massachusetts restructuring law enables municipal aggregators to implement energy efficiency programs with funds raised from all customers through a system benefits charge. Synapse designed the energy efficiency programs that are being provided by the Cape Light Compact, the municipal aggregator on Cape Cod. Synapse also assisted the Compact in obtaining approval of its Energy Efficiency Plan from the Massachusetts DTE. Synapse further assisted the Compact with designing Phase II of the efficiency initiative, which included improvements to existing programs as well as innovative, new programs. Project completed in December 2003. Download Report
|
Cost Impacts of a Vermont Renewable Portfolio Standard
Client: Vermont Public Service Board
Synapse prepared an estimate of the likely impact of a proposed renewable portfolio standard on electricity rates in Vermont. The analysis was based on a detailed "supply curve" of potential new renewable resources in the New England region, as well as potential imports from Canada and New York. The analysis considered two different renewable standards, one where renewables were broadly defined (including small hydro projects and all biomass), and one where renewables were limited to those eligible in the Massachusetts and Connecticut renewable portfolio standards. The report was presented to the Board and used to inform the Vermont RPS Collaborative discussions. Project completed in October 2003. Download Report
|
Portfolio Management
Clients: Regulatory Assistance Project, Energy Foundation
On behalf of the Regulatory Assistance Project and the Energy Foundation, Synapse prepared a manual on Portfolio Management that reflects state-of-the-art thinking on integrated resource planning, energy efficiency program planning, and risk management for electric utilities. Project completed in October 2003. Download Report
|
Audit of Utility Power Purchasing Practices
Client: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Staff
Synapse evaluated whether Rockland Electric Company's power purchases during the period from August 1999 through July 2003 were prudent. Synapse prepared an audit report concluding that the Company was imprudent for failing to enter into a multi-year power purchase agreement when it divested all of its generating facilities in 1999. Project completed in July 2003. Download Report
|
Review of Power Procurement and Risk Management
Client: Nevada Public Utilities Commission Staff
Synapse reviewed the power procurement and risk management practices of Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company in the Western markets for a test year that included the summer of 2002. The results of this review were presented in the testimony of Bruce Biewald (PUCN Dockets 02-11021 and 03-1014). Project completed in May 2003.
|
Review of a Green Power Proposal
Client: Delaware Public Service Commission Staff
Synapse assisted the Staff in reviewing proposals from Green Mountain Power and Conectiv Energy to offer an innovative green power program to residential electricity customers. Project completed in October 2002.
|
