Services

Professional Education for the Utility Industry

Huron offers three courses focusing on the traditional utility ratemaking process and the resulting accounting, tax, and financial reporting implications. Ratemaking and traditional rate base/rate of return regulation are the primary focus of the training, although deregulation and competitive challenges to traditional regulation are discussed as well. Attendance at any of these courses should be beneficial to anyone interested in learning more about this unique process. Our courses provide the background on the traditional ratemaking process needed to help better understand this process and the information to establish revenue requirements.

Courses
Utility Industry Essentials
March 8-9, 2010
Introduces participants to the general concepts of traditional rate base/rate of return ratemaking, the objective of which is to develop a revenue requirement. Concepts of test year, rate base, rate of return, and allowable operating expenses are discussed as well as the operations of electric and gas utilities and the different issues associated with generation, transmission, and distribution activities.

Income Taxes for Utilities: Ratemaking and Accounting Issues
March 22-23, 2010
Designed for those interested in the theory and mechanics supporting income tax accounting for regulated enterprises, and addresses income tax accounting under FAS 109 and FIN 48, with an emphasis on unique accounting and regulatory issues. Also included is a discussion of typical utility Schedule M items, investment tax credits, normalization requirements in the IRC, the ratemaking provision for income taxes, various financial reporting issues, and other government stimulus incentives. Several important private letter rulings addressing normalization issues will be discussed.

The Rate Case Seminar
May 17-21, 2010
Designed for individuals requiring some familiarity with the general utility regulatory environment–particularly those individuals at entities that will be filing or have recently filed a rate case. The course aims to provide an understanding of the unique requirements and mechanics of a traditional utility rate case, as well as the components of the ratemaking process and several of the concepts underlying that process. The course revolves around a mock rate case, with participants divided into competing teams representing the utility company, the commission staff, and the intervenors.

For full course descriptions, please view the course catalog.

For course availability, please contact Alan Felsenthal.