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Helping a natural gas utility in the Southeast achieve its rate adjustment goals and prepare its staff for work on future proceedings

Background

A natural gas utility in the Southeast provides natural gas distribution services to more than one million residential and business customers in a three-state territory. Facing a revenue shortfall in one of its utilities, the company was considering a state regulatory proceeding to adjust its rates and other terms of service. The utility’s regulatory staff, while very capable, had various levels of experience in rate and regulatory proceedings. With the objectives of achieving a desired regulatory outcome and building on the existing skills and experience of its internal regulatory staff, the utility asked MCR for assistance.

Solution

MCR worked with the client’s regulatory team and legal counsel to develop an overarching framework for the case, prioritize and address key issues, develop structure and strategy of supporting studies, and draft and refine testimony and exhibits. We also assisted in performing rate case support functions by managing the flow of interrogatories, discovery requests and responses, and the filing of schedules and work papers. In working closely with the client’s internal regulatory staff, we served as process coach and advisor, and provided “hands on” training in all aspects of the proceeding.

Results

As a result of our work, our client reached a settlement on the rate case and achieved its desired regulatory outcome. Our work with the client’s internal staff helped transfer our knowledge and expertise in regulatory strategy and the regulatory process. With that knowledge, the client’s staff is now much better prepared to work on subsequent rate cases across all of its jurisdictions.