Services
Utility Regulatory Services
Exeter has extensive experience in the utility ratemaking process and is frequently called upon to support utility rate case intervention by public service commission staffs, on behalf of offices of consumer advocate, offices of state attorneys general, and on the part of federal executive agencies. Exeter assists its clients in supporting the development of rates that are:
- Economically efficient
- Equitable and transparent
- Fair in their balance of payments to the utility
Exeter has extensive and proven capabilities in the analysis of revenue requirements, class cost-of-service studies, rate of return analysis, and rate design.
Exeter senior staff have provided expert witness testimony on over 700 occasions in numerous state jurisdictions including: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, and others. Additionally, Exeter senior staff have extensive experience presenting testimony before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Recent Projects
U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, Environmental Law Division (USALSA-ELD)
In the recently completed Evergy 2023 General Rate Case (GRC), Exeter provided technical support services to the U.S. Army Commercial Utility Program and USALSA-ELD. Initially, Evergy sought a rate increase of approximately 22.16% for major DOD/FEA sites within its service territory. Intervenors, including DOD/FEA, collaborated to develop a Settlement Agreement addressing all litigated issues, which was approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). This intervention resulted in a substantial cost reduction from Evergy’s initial rate proposal.
USALSA-ELD’s advocacy, supported by Exeter, was crucial in the settlement negotiations, effectively representing DOD/FEA’s interests. The successful negotiation secured significant concessions, reducing the effective base rate increase to 3.89% for Ft. Riley and 6.69% for overall DOD/FEA accounts, down from the initially proposed 11.99%. Ft. Riley, among approximately 736,000 EKC customers, is expected to see the smallest rate increase.
Without USALSA-ELD’s involvement and Exeter’s technical support, Ft. Riley and other major DOD/FEA accounts would have faced the higher 11.99% rate increase. The intervention in the Evergy 2023 GRC is anticipated to result in annual cost savings exceeding $2.15 million for DOD/FEA.
Maine Office of the Public Advocate (MOPA)
Exeter reviewed the base rate filing of a regulated utility operating in Maine. Our testimony addressed rate base, revenue, expense, and class cost allocation issues. A settlement was reached which resulted in a significant reduction in the utility’s requested increase.
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC)
Exeter has presented testimony addressing natural gas procurement activity, reported costs, and natural gas performance-based incentive mechanisms over 40 times in the past five years.
Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (RIPUC)
Exeter provided testimony on cost allocation and rate design issues in a water utility’s base rate filing. A settlement of the case was achieved.