The recent pace of regulatory change and uncertainty is unrivaled in the utility industry and requires equally unparalleled flexibility in ratemaking and regulatory strategies. GDS has been at the forefront of industry restructuring policy, offering broad expertise in regulatory accounting, economics, finance, and engineering.
We assist our clients in the following areas:
- Industry Restructuring
- Revenue Requirements
- Jurisdictional Cost Separation
- Customer Class Cost Allocation
- Unbundled Functional Cost Analysis
- Marginal Cost Analysis
- Wholesale and Retail Rate Design
- OATT Tariffs/Rates
- Dispersed Generation
- Competitive Pricing Strategies
- RTO and ISO Formation and Governance
- Demand-Side Management
- Open Access Transmission Issues
- Retail Choice Strategies
- Cost of Capital Analyses
Open Access/Wholesale and Retail Restructuring
The formation and evolution of workable Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and/or Independent System Operators (ISOs) is critical to truly fluid and competitive energy markets. Clients turn to GDS for guidance through the rapidly changing ground rules being shaped by federal and state regulators.
Wholesale and Retail Rate and Regulatory Consulting
Federal and state regulatory changes and increased competition require flexible and aggressive ratemaking and regulatory strategies. GDS offers broad expertise in ratemaking theories and has helped clients attain favorable rulings by providing expert testimony addressing major regulatory issues, including:
- Industry Restructuring
- Cost of Service and Rate Design
- Integrated Resource Planning
- Power Plant and Transmission Line Certification
- System Dispatch and Fuel Procurement Analysis
- Cost of Capital Analyses
Financial Services
GDS offers specialized expertise in utility financial consulting. We have helped clients develop engineering and economic documentation to support loan applications for the financing of generation, transmission, and distribution projects.
Distribution System Services
Competition in retail power markets is causing electric distribution systems to seek innovative and aggressive means of controlling costs, while maintaining efficiency and service reliability. GDS offers considerable expertise in the areas of:
- Retail Rate Design
- Cost of Service Analysis
- Load Forecasting
- Financial Planning
- Organizational Planning
- Policy Development
- Marketing
- Demand-Side Planning
- Economic and Industrial Development Strategies
- Merger, Acquisition, and Valuation Studies