Synapse participated in the Mississippi Public Service Commission’s Generic Docket to Consider Competition in the Provision of Retail Electric Service. First, Synapse reviewed and critiqued the filings of Entergy and the Southern Company with regard to standard offer pricing and performance-based ratemaking for transmission and distribution services. Synapse then prepared an assessment of the market power issues likely to arise in a restructured electricity industry in Mississippi, including a critique of the market power studies of Entergy and Southern Company. Additionally, Synapse and Resource Insight prepared an assessment of the stranded cost filings of Entergy and Southern Company. The results, including a discussion of divestiture of generation assets and the responsibility for stranded costs and gains, were presented in the testimony of Bruce Biewald before the Mississippi Public Service Commission in Docket No. 96-UA-389. Project completed in 1999.

This Synapse report assessed the cost and performance of selective catalytic reduction technologies for controlling NO_X emissions.  The report described the experience of SCR use in the US, Canada and internationally.  Report dated February 2000.

Synapse advised NESCAUM in the development of model regulations to implement uniform environmental performance standards for electricity suppliers in New England.  The project addressed technical issues related to the tracking of information in the New England Power Pool, as well as the appropriate definition of environmental performance standards.  Project completed in 1999.

This Synapse report assessed the ways SO₂ allowances, NO_X allowances, and New Source Review offset requirements can provide incumbent electric companies with unfair advantages in a competitive electricity market.  The report further evaluated how these requirements affected the electricity market at the time of the power plant divestiture, mergers of electric companies, or the construction of new power plants.  Project completed in 1999.

Synapse conducted an economic analysis of the cost of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions at coal-fired power plants in Ontario.  Project completed in June 1999.

The Massachusetts restructuring law enabled municipal aggregators to implement energy efficiency programs with funds raised through a system benefits charge.  Synapse assisted the town of Bedford in reviewing various energy efficiency options that could be provided through municipal aggregation.  Project completed in 1999.  

Synapse, as part of a team of consultants, prepared independent estimates of the stranded costs of the four electric utilities in Maryland: Delmarva Power and Light, Potomac Electric Company, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, and Potomac Edison Company.  Synapse ran the ELFIN electric generation dispatch model to forecast market prices for electricity in the PJM and ECAR regions.  The results were presented in the testimony of Bruce Biewald before the Maryland Public Service Commission.  Project completed in 1999.

Synapse studied the implications of electric industry deregulation, including 1) the prospects for early nuclear power plant closure, 2) the potential unfunded liability for decommissioning, and 3) the potential unfunded liability for spent nuclear fuel transportation and storage. Project completed in 1999.

Synapse reviewed the projections of New England electricity market prices used for the utilities' stranded cost estimates.  This review included the models and the input assumptions underlying the utilities' claims.  The results were presented in the testimony of Bruce Biewald, dealing with market power and market prices.  Project completed in 1999.  

Synapse prepared a critique of the PBR mechanisms proposed by two main Kentucky utilities.  Synapse participated in technical workshops covering the PBR proposals, advised the AG on the consumer impacts of the proposals, and developed alternative proposals in order to best meet the interests of electricity customers.  Project completed in March 1999.

Synapse, with Resource Insight, Peter Bradford, and Neil Talbot, reviewed the proposed merger of PacifiCorp with Scottish Power.  The project included the examination of the appropriate standard for approval of the merger as well as assessment of the financial impacts, affiliate transactions, performance benchmarks, and customer service.  Project completed in 1999.  

Synapse and Resource Insight assessed the stranded costs of American Electric Power and Allegheny Power.  The results, including a discussion of divestiture of generation assets and the responsibility for stranded costs and gains, were presented in the testimony of Bruce Biewald before the West Virginia Public Service Commission in Case No. 98-0452-E-GI.  Project completed in 1999.

Synapse prepared an analysis of nuclear power plant issues in the context of electricity industry restructuring.  The analysis included three integrated parts: (a) the prospects of premature nuclear power plant closure, (b) the potential unfunded liability for nuclear plant decommissioning, and (c) the potential unfunded liability for spent nuclear fuel transportation and storage.  Project completed in 1999.

Tim Woolf presented “The Cape Light Compact Energy Efficiency Plan: Overview and Current Status” to the Massachusetts Electric Restructuring Roundtable on June 30, 1999. Synapse designed the first draft of the energy efficiency programs that were provided by the Cape Light Compact, the municipal aggregator on Cape Cod.