ScottMadden recently joined the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) in a fact-finding mission to the Aloha State—Hawaii—to uncover how the state hopes to achieve its ambitious goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045. In particular, the mission explored the impact of increasing renewable energy penetrations as well as regulatory and customer engagement strategies in Hawaii.
With recent stay at home orders, questions have been raised about the impact on electricity demand. ScottMadden is providing a look at several key markets to date—CAISO, NYISO, and NYC—and we will regularly update this information. Similar results may be expected in other areas of the United States.
We’ve now heard hundreds of times that we’re facing extraordinary times. As utilities face these events, how are they responding? What’s working and what’s not? Here is some of what we are hearing from our clients.
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It appears the rules that implement the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) are destined for their most significant change in nearly 40 years. When passed in 1978, as the United States was in the throes of an energy crisis, PURPA sought to incentivize development of more efficient and renewable generation (e.g., cogeneration and hydropower, among others) as well as increase energy efficiency and conservation. At the time, Congress saw the vertically integrated utility’s “natural monopoly” as a possible barrier to this development, and it sought to reduce the United States’ dependency on oil imports for power generation. PURPA’s legislation opened electricity markets, for the first time, to meaningful competition. What followed has been a steady transition from electricity generation, almost entirely controlled by regulated utilities, to an industry that now boasts competition by a strong contingent of non-regulated generators.
| As finance leverages the benefits of shared services for its business customers and the enterprise at large, the model is undergoing constant change. Continue reading The Evolving Role of Human ResourcesThe Future of HR: A Three-Part Article SeriesDownload the Full Series Access Article 2 Access Article 3 Continue reading Decoupling Impact and Public Utility Conservation InvestmentPublic utilities and regulators are implementing various forms of regulatory mechanisms that decouple revenues from commodity sales to remove a disincentive or create an incentive for utilities to invest in and encourage consumers to conserve electricity, natural gas and water. A major question is whether such regulatory mechanisms affect investor-perceived risk, the cost of common equity and the utility rates of such commodities. This is an important question as regulators in the United States are, and have been, considering the impact of decoupling on investment risk and therefore the cost of common equity in rate proceedings. This matter is also important for regulators globally as they consider decoupling as a policy initiative in setting rates and rate of return. Continue reading Global Trends in Financial Shared Service Center LocationsA Discussion of Key Findings Related to Location ConsiderationsIn January of 2019, ScottMadden’s Brad DeMent and Trey Robinson delivered a webinar to discuss the results of the latest finance shared services benchmarking study. The study was designed by ScottMadden and surveys were administered by APQC over four cycles: spring/summer 2014; spring/summer 2015; summer/fall 2016; and spring/summer 2018. The scope of the study covers the following topics for an in-depth analysis of financial shared service centers (SSCs): Delivery model, scope of services, staffing, location, performance, and technologies leveraged. Continue reading Financial Shared Services: Leaders are Leveraging Technology and AnalyticsA Discussion of Key Findings Related to Technology and AnalyticsIn January of 2019, ScottMadden’s Brad DeMent and Trey Robinson delivered a webinar to discuss the results of the latest finance shared services benchmarking study. The study was designed by ScottMadden and surveys were administered by APQC over four cycles: spring/summer 2014; spring/summer 2015; summer/fall 2016; and spring/summer 2018. The scope of the study covers the following topics for an in-depth analysis of financial shared service centers (SSCs): Delivery model, scope of services, staffing, location, performance, and technologies leveraged. Continue reading Welcome to ScottMadden!Sussex Economic Advisors is now part of ScottMadden. We invite you to learn more about our expanded firm. Please use the Contact Us form to request additional information. |