Utilities
Knowledge and insights in a complex industry
Serving water, wastewater/sewer, solid waste, and electric throughout the West, we understand the challenges utility providers face in providing essential services to the public while maintaining rates at an affordable level.
Utility industry knowledge and services
- Corporate and cooperative tax filings
- Assistance with regulatory filings and compliance
- Revenue requirement studies
- Accounting services
- Financial statement audits
- Capital credit strategies
Rate of return studies
Avoided cost analysis
Special contract rate development
Fuel surcharge mechanism development
New tariff development
Tariff preparation and filing
- Industry standards and options for policy decisions and rate structure
Improving performance and operational effectiveness
Our consultants understand utilities and the challenges they face. At Aldrich, we help our clients succeed by using our broad industry knowledge and best practices to achieve their goals. Some of the consulting projects we have completed in the utilities industry include:
Utility rate studies
Utility rate studies determine how much revenue a utility may receive. Our studies determine whether, at existing rates, a utility is operating at a revenue surplus or at a deficit. From these results we can determine the percentage rate increase or decrease needed to existing rates so the utility can achieve the revenue level necessary to meet its service requirements to ratepayers.
Cost-of-service studies
Cost-of-service studies determine the contribution margin associated with a utility’s services by service category. These studies provide information to policymakers to determine if rates should be adjusted to reflect their direct costs.
Rate case filings
Rate design studies are developed when the utility proposes to change its existing rate structure. Aldrich helps clients design rate structures to meet their objectives, whether they involve changing the rate structure to match cost causer with cost payer goals; conserving the utility’s resources by modifying rates from a flat rate to metered rate application; or conducting other public policy objectives that can be achieved through changing the utility’s rate structure.
Cost allocation studies
Cost allocation studies determine how costs are shared between affiliated entities, both regulated and non-regulated. In the case of a municipally owned utility, these studies determine how general government departments and the utilities share indirect centralized services costs. These studies ensure that cross-subsidization does not occur between a utilities mix of regulated and non-regulated utilities and operations or between service areas. In the case of municipally owned utilities, these studies ensure that the utility does not incur more than its fair share of the municipalities’ indirect centralized services cost.
Regulatory compliance at the state and national level
- Annual filings for state public utility commissions
- Development of cost allocation manuals
- Revenue requirement studies
- Tariff filings
Connect With an Advisor
Partner
Scott Daniels, CPA
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
Scott Daniels oversees the assurance services to our clients and consults with them on a variety of regulatory matters. He also acts as a business advisor to these organizations providing guidance on strategic planning, financial analysis, and system assessments. Scott graduated with his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Oregon State University.
Scott's Specialization
- Telecommunications
- Utilities
- Accounting and assurance services
- Certified Public Accountant
- Strategic planning, financial analysis and systems assessments
Partner
Amy Fenerty, CPA
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors
Amy joined Aldrich in 2000 and is dedicated to serving utility organizations. She has experience with clients of all sizes and performs all aspects of the audit for her communications and utilities clients. Amy provides financial and accounting services, cash flow and internal control reviews, as well as regulatory assistance and consulting. She graduated from… Read more Amy Fenerty, CPA
Amy's Specialization
- Communications
- Utilities
- Internal control reviews
- Certified Public Accountant
- Regulatory assistance and consulting
Senior Manager
Kristin Gulick, CPA
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
Kristin Gulick joined Aldrich in 2011 to focus on the telecommunications and utilities industries. As a manager with over six years of experience, Kristin focuses on audit services and corporate taxation for telephone and utilities companies as well as audits of employee benefit plans. She is a CPA and member of the Oregon Society of… Read more Kristin Gulick, CPA
Kristin's Specialization
- Certified Public Accountant
- Employee benefit plan audits
- Audit and corporate tax
- Telecommunications
- Utilities
Partner, Communications and Utilities
Ryan Johnson, CPA
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
Ryan Johnson is an expert on the taxation of communications and power companies. He specializes in business and individual taxation and has significant experience consulting on the structure of entities and transactions, including mergers and acquisitions. Ryan is passionate about keeping his telecommunications and utility clients informed about taxation matters relevant to their industries to… Read more Ryan Johnson, CPA
Ryan's Specialization
- Telecommunications
- Utilities
- Business sales and purchases
- Certified Public Accountant
- Cooperatives
Utility Consultant
James Keen
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
James Keen has over 15 years experience as an engineering analyst and in complex regulatory proceedings, which includes electric, natural gas, oil and gas pipeline, water and wastewater, and refuse utilities. He focuses on revenue requirement, cost of service and depreciation studies as well as tariff filings, certificate issues and other financial analyses and regulatory… Read more James Keen
James's Specialization
- Public utility, regulatory matters and tariff administration
- Modeling and rate design studies
- Communications and utilities
Senior Manager
Josh Bailey, CPA
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
Josh Bailey joined the firm in 2008 and is dedicated to serving utility, nonprofit and governmental organizations, with extensive training in related accounting issues. He has experience with clients of all sizes and performs all aspects of the audit. He graduated from George Fox University, holding a degree in accounting and business administration with an… Read more Josh Bailey, CPA
Josh's Specialization
- Audit and assurance
- Telecommunications
- Utilities
Manager
Chris Provencher, CPA
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
Chris Provencher joined the firm in 2013 and provides audit and assurance services for clients in the telecommunications and utilities industries, in addition to performing employee benefit plan audits. Chris is responsible for leading all phases of the audit including planning and risk assessment, substantive testing and reporting. He has a degree in business administration… Read more Chris Provencher, CPA
Chris's Specialization
- Audit and assurance
- Telecommunications
- Utilities
- Employee benefits
- Certified Public Accountant
Manager
Lindsay Godfrey
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
Lindsay Godfrey joined the firm in 2006 and has more than 12 years of experience providing both financial and accounting services and advising clients on best practices. Lindsay is dedicated to serving clients in the communications and utility sectors, as well as those in governmental and nonprofit entities. She handles all phases of a client’s… Read more Lindsay Godfrey
Lindsay's Specialization
- Utilities
- Communications
- Audit and assurance
- Regulatory assistance and consulting
Senior Manager
Amber Miller, CPA
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
Amber Miller has more than eight years experience as an accountant and a consultant in public utility rate and regulatory matters. Her experience includes analysis of financial information, preparation of revenue requirements, preparation of regulatory reports, preparation of financial statements, audits of utility companies and nonprofit organizations, preparation of tax forms and general consulting for… Read more Amber Miller, CPA
Amber's Specialization
- Certified Public Accountant
- Public Utility Rates & Regulations
- Financial Statement Preparation
- Tax Preparation
- Utility Audits
- Public Utility Consulting
Utility Consultant
Monica Grassi
Monica joined the firm in 2021 as a Utility Consultant. With an extensive background in working with Alaskan electric organizations, Monica has a breadth of experience. She’s familiar with the state and federal regulatory bodies and understands how to help businesses maintain compliance. Monica is also familiar with cooperative policies, billing procedures, and applicable Alaska… Read more Monica Grassi
Monica's Specialization
- Public utility regulatory matters
- Tariff operations
- Financial analysis
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