Utilis Consulting

End-to-End Case Management & Rate Modelling

Utilis Prime can provide end-to-end case management or tailored services for your upcoming utility rate application; guiding your team from initial strategy and financial planning, all the way through the settlement, argument and post-decision phases of a regulatory proceeding

Strategy & Financial Planning - Facilitated sessions with accompanying financial modelling, with an output of strategy recommendations for senior leadership, alongside a financial forecast

OEB Rate Modelling - For Ontario utilities, Utilis will complete and/or review the standardized rate models required for your rate application, and support your team through interrogatories, settlement, hearings, and argument from a rate-modelling perspective

Evidence Gathering & Drafting - Gather raw data from leadership and business units, assist in drafting written evidence, and review all evidence for consistency, strategy and polish. Utilis's superior regulatory writing skills can help you produce a submission which is clear, compelling and professional

Discovery Support - Utilis will optimize and lead the interrogatory response process and execution, beginning with a 1-day turnaround of prioritized interrogatories informed by metadata analysis, including the mapping of related inquiries

Settlement & Hearing Support - Witness training for technical conferences and oral hearings, as well as negotiation support for settlement conferences, with associated financial modelling

Argument Support - Assistance in writing and building a compelling narrative, as well as rapid analysis of other Arguments to provide time to strategize and support the optimal Reply

Case Management - Overall management of timelines, deliverables and key participating staff, as well as regular meetings with senior leadership to provide updates and receive direction

Bruce Bacon: Utility Rates Consultant

Bruce Bacon has a proven record of success in managing the development of cost of service and cost allocation models, having acted as a consultant in the preparation of the OEB’s Cost Allocation Model, and assisted in the preparation of over 100 distribution cost of service rate applications for over 45 utilities.

Retired in 2020, Bruce has joined the Utilis Team in a part time supporting role to re-engage in the work he enjoys the most as a provider of training, technical review, and strategic advisory services. In bringing Bruce onto the Utilis Team, our objective is to give clients the best of all worlds in the provision of rate modelling services. Clients can expect cost-effective services which leverage the capabilities of the broader Utilis Team, coupled with the confidence that their submissions have been guided and reviewed by one of the sector’s most experienced and respected professionals.

Find out more

Standalone Packages

OEB Rate Modelling

Backed by experienced Utility Rates Consultant Bruce Bacon, the Utilis Team can train staff on rate modelling, guide staff in the completion of rate models, review rate models, or complete rate models entirely on your behalf

Pre-Filed Evidence: Prepare the myriad of rate models required to support your application
Interrogatories: Expert support regarding your rate models during discovery
Settlement: Expert support for Counsel and your team during settlement discussions
Argument: Expert support in the development of compelling Argument submissions grounded in credible and accurate rate models

Strategy & Financial Pre-Op

Facilitated sessions with accompanying financial modelling

Pre-read material informs you of latest observations on the OEB, and ‘watch areas’
Baseline financial data drives initial evaluation of regulatory framework options
Guided sessions with leadership, and across key departments identify business needs

Produce strategy recommendation document and financial forecast

Pre-Filed Evidence Health Check

A deliverable that compares your draft package against current OEB trends, and informs you of potential re-calibration where needed

Identify risk: Evaluation of draft against recent interrogatory trending
Alignment to overall strategy: Consistency check of quantitative information
Increase credibility: Review OEB Excel models and alignment with application package
Ensure quality: Full review of application package for grammar and key messaging

Discovery & Argument Triage

Interrogatories (IRs)

1st day interrogatory analysis document cataloguing trends, linking, and prioritizing IRs
Strategy meeting to confirm priority IRs and determine response approach
Full review of IR response package for consistency, key messages and polish

Reply Argument

1st day intervenor argument analysis document cataloguing trends, organizing arguments and identifying priorities for response
Strategy meeting to determine Reply Argument outline
Draft key sections of Reply Argument
Review of Reply Argument prior to submission

Utility Rate Application Support