ENERGY PLANNING, PROCUREMENT AND SITING

• Georgia Public Service Commission.   Accion Group serves as Independent Evaluator for the solicitation of energy and capacity for Georgia Power Company and Savannah Electric and Power Company for RFPs with deliveries beginning in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016.  We are responsible for evaluating the appropriateness of the power supply acquisition decisions made by the soliciting companies, including system transmission and infrastructure impacts, and for advising the Georgia PSC on matters relating to product selection, costs, system reliability and competitiveness.  Accion designed and operates the web site through which all RFP information is made available to bidders (GPSCIE.com).

• Gulf Power Company.   Accion Group served as the Independent Monitor for Gulf Power Company for the Company’s solicitation of energy and capacity to meet system needs beginning in 2009 and for the Company’s 2012 RFP.  Accion Group oversaw the development of Gulf’s RFP process and designed and operates a web-based information system for all RFP-related information and was actively involved in the development of all RFP documents.  We reviewed all system impact determinations, system reliability impact, and participated in negotiations between individual bidders and Gulf Power. 

• Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.  Accion is advising Hawaiian Electric as the Independent Observer for the solicitation for service on Maui starting in 2012 and 2014.  Establishment of standards for performance and system impact are significant considerations.  Accion Group is assisting in review of HECO’s participation in the Big Wind Project initiated by the State of Hawaii to design and install transmission service among the islands.  

·        PacifiCorp.  Accion Group serves as Independent Evaluator for the Public Utility Commission of Oregon regarding PacifiCorp’s power supply RFPs.  We advise the Commission on the PacifiCorp’s decisions relating to base load resources expansion, strategic planning for power supply and delivery, evaluation of the appropriateness of power supply options and cost considerations, cost assessment, supply/customer contracts, and the appropriateness of the energy and capacity choices made by the utility.

·         Portland General Electric (PGE).  We served as Independent Evaluator for PGE’s renewable portfolio RFP.  We maintain the RFP web site for the delivery of information and the receipts of bids.  We evaluated all bids and assessed the transmission availability and impact of each bid before producing a ranking of best options available to PGE. 

·         Arizona Corporation Commission.   We served as consultants in the design and implementation of a competitive solicitation design for the procurement of wholesale energy by Arizona’s two largest utilities.  This was the first RFP conducted under new ACC rules, and Accion Group designed the protocols currently used in Arizona. Our responsibilities included facilitating agreement among a wide range of interest groups of utilities, independent marketers, consumer representatives, and various special interest groups.

·         Tucson Electric Power Company.  Accion Group assisted Tucson Electric in designing protocols for meeting Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES).  We serve as Independent Monitor for solicitations long-term generating supplies and RES supplies. We advised the company on solicitation process and design, bidder definition and qualifications, and evaluation standards and protocols.  Accion Group assisted in the development of all RFP documents, confirmed compliance with all solicitation and evaluation protocols.  We assisted in designing the evaluation model, and monitor the review of responsive proposals for system and reliability impact.

·         Western Mass Electric. Served as Independent Evaluator  of the contract selection process employed by this regional electric utility. In that role we reviewed the bid RFP, the evaluative criteria used, the negotiations and amendments allowed and the selection rational employed. We also prepared a  report for the Mass. DPU in support of the results of the selection process.

STRATEGIC ENERGY PLANNING

·         Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.  We advised the Commission Staff on strategic options available to Nevada Electric Utilities in the areas of power supply planning, cost mitigation and financial management.  We also assisted the Staff in developing regulatory approaches to managing price volatility in Western merchant markets.

·         BG&E.   We assisted BG&E in the evaluation and negotiation of multi-year power supply contracts entered to facilitate the restructuring required by the Maryland PSC. This analysis covered offers by non-affiliated and affiliated suppliers and focused on reliability of supply, flexibility and financial security.

·         Green Mountain Power Corp.  We have advised this integrated electric utility on strategies for managing its power supply portfolio including strategies for identifying market opportunities to divest non-economic assts and for developing market intelligence.

·         Unitil Services Corp.  Assisted in the preparation of multiple RFP’s for power supplies for affiliated electric distribution companies.  Developed product specifications and provided simulation analyses to assist in bid evaluation and contract negotiations.

·         Hydro Quebec.   Advised this major supplier of energy to the New England region on matters relating to disputes with and financial problems regarding the Vermont Joint Owners of the contract to supply energy to Vermont. In that role we assisted HQ in restructuring the required payment schedules and delivery options available.

·         State of New Hampshire re PSNH- 5 Wood Burning Power Plants.  Accion served as technical advisor to the State mediation team in the negotiations to reduce the cost of power being provided to PSNH pursuant to contracts entered into as a result of the adoption of PURPA. Those contracts were reviewed and as a direct result of the State’s participation an agreed to plan was adopted which produced a net present value benefit for New Hampshire consumers of more than $300 million.

NUCLEAR PLANNING AND DECOMMISSIONING

N.H. Nuclear Decommissioning Financing Committee.  We designed the comprehensive plan for nuclear decommissioning funding, including funding assurances from owners, protections in the event of premature cessation of operation, and funding by non-utility owners. 

• Seabrook Nuclear Power Station.  Prior to representing the NDFC, our consultants designed the nuclear decommissioning plan for Seabrook Station and directed licensing and decommissioning compliance with state and federal requirements.  We directed transition of decommissioning funding responsibility among multiple joint owners and during transition to majority merchant ownership.

• Palo Verde Nuclear Power Station.  Accion consultants advised Arizona regulators on decommissioning costs for the Palo Verde Units, including the allocation among multi-state owners, sufficiency of ISFSI planning, funding assurances in the event of premature cessation of operation, and preparation for license extension.

• Exelon nuclear acquisitions.  Our consultants advised New Jersey regulators regarding the acquisition of three nuclear units by Exelon.  Our review included decommissioning funding obligations, existing decommissioning trust sufficiency, projected decommissioning cost and planning, exposure to risk due to Exelon’s extensive nuclear portfolio.

• Vogtle Nuclear Station Units 3 and 4.  We advised Georgia regulators regarding the proposed construction of two additional nuclear units at the Vogtle Nuclear Station. Our review was conducted as part of our evaluation of a solicitation for proposals in completion with the self-build proposal of Georgia power Company.  We evaluated the construction planning, terms for contractual services, and the cost projection structuring.  Our evaluation included decommissioning planning, cost projections, sufficiency of existing decommissioning trust balances, and review of ISFSI planning.
• Vogtle Nuclear Station Units 1 and 2.  An Accion consultant was responsible for development of the Operating Technical Specifications for the initial operation license application to the NRC.
• Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Station.  Our consultants are advising management on the decommissioning of Connecticut Yankee, with its modified entombment plan.
• Wolf Creek Nuclear Station.  An Accion consultant served as the senior officer of a lead owner during construction.  Subsequently, he served on the Station’s operating Committee for over ten years.
• Yucca Mountain Repository.  Accion Consultant recently completed the final review of the NRC license application for Yucca Mountain.

·         South Texas Project.  Directed the prudence review of the construction of the South Texas Nuclear Project which included review and analysis of project management, organization, staffing, planning and implementation.

• Comanche Peak Nuclear Generating Station.   Directed a review of the management of the construction of this nuclear generating station on behalf of the minority owners.  Responsible for analyses of management processes, staffing, planning, and control provided by the Project Manager during the course of construction of this generating station.
• Palo Verde Nuclear Power Station.  Project lead on the Prudence Review conducted by the Arizona Corporation Commission regarding the construction and financing of this two unit plant.  Review focused on project management, cost and schedule variances, and owner response to regulatory changes.

• Exelon Corp.  Directed the due diligence study of the synergies created by the merger of PECO and Commonwealth Edison nuclear units.  Study reviewed management practices at seven plants and focused on both O&M and Capital requirements.