Accounting and Ratemaking Course

Live Online Learning

The IPU Accounting and Ratemaking Course is offered in a live (synchronous) remote-learning format. We remain committed to providing a positive, interactive, and content-rich learning experience. We have also lowered the registration fees.

The program runs 10 am Tuesday and ends at 1 pm Thursday EST for a total of 13 hours of instruction (Tuesday and Wednesday we run 10am – 5pm). Attendees will receive a certificate of program completion and 30 credits toward IPU’s certificate of continuing regulatory education (CCRE). We will send links to some materials in advance of the program, as well as the instructions for joining the course.

Let us know if you have any questions or if we can assist you in any way. Your continued support is much appreciated and we look forward to helping you meet your professional education needs.

About the program

IPU is pleased to offer this unique educational opportunity to economic regulators and the regulatory policy community. IPU Accounting and Ratemaking Course is a concise and comprehensive introduction to public utility accounting, financing, and pricing to ensure sustainability and protect ratepayers. The program focuses on the enterprise model of utilities and the utility basis for ratemaking, as used by regulated and other utility companies. Interactive exercises will make use of actual financial reports and other publicly available data pertaining to a vertically integrated, regional private water company, and cover real issues in a contemporary regulatory case following the utility basis for ratemaking.

The course is organized around generally accepted principles and methods of regulatory and rate-case accounting, analysis, and auditing, consistent with the NARUC Uniform System of Accounts and Rate Case and Audit Manual and other key resources. The methods of instruction will make key concepts and terminology accessible. This course is recommended for anyone relatively new to ratemaking, whether for publicly owned, or not-for-profit utilities in the water, electricity, or natural gas subsectors, as well as experienced professionals looking to refresh their knowledge it today’s context.

IPU’s Accounting and Ratemaking Course provides an intensive and enjoyable learning experience. IPU welcomes lifelong learners, including former attendees, to all of our programs. Participants will become comfortable with the essential vocabulary of ratemaking and the elements of the process. Even those who have attended a rate school in the past will benefit from this course and its thorough, objective, and policy-centric approach. We teach not just the how-to of ratemaking but the why, and cover more material than others try to cover in a week.

IPU’s Accounting and Ratemaking Course offers a great value in term of program content and total cost of participation, with the benefit of independent university sponsorship, highly qualified and experienced instructors, and professionally developed presentation and supplemental materials. The program is eligible for continuing education credits as well as IPU’s Certificate of Continuing Regulatory Education (www.ipu.msu.edu/ccre)

IPU’s Accounting and Ratemaking Course is designed to complement our Annual Regulatory Studies Program, which provides a deeper interdisciplinary exploration of regulatory theory, jurisdiction, and market structures.

For questions about IPU educational programs and role in the regulatory policy community, please contact IPU Director, Dr. Janice Beecher (beecher@msu.edu).

For a list of IPU FAQ’s Click Here.

Topics covered

Foundations of public utility regulation and ratemaking
Balance sheet, capital expenditures, and rate base (CAPEX)
Income statement, revenues, and expenses (OPEX)
Cash flow, debt and equity financing, and revenue requirements
Tariffs, cost allocation, rate design, and consumer policies

Course learning objectives

To understand the core principles, concepts, and methods of ratemaking
To understand the policies, procedures, and processes that guide ratemaking
To understand the elements of utility revenue requirements and tariffs
To understand ratemaking goals and issues from different perspectives
To understand ratemaking and rate oversight through interactive exercises

Course value and advantages

A carefully designed and efficient 2.5-day format at a campus location.
Consistency with generally accepted regulatory policies and practices.
A knowledgeable, experienced, and objective program faculty team.
Professionally prepared materials including a holistic and realistic case study.
Facilitated discussion and exercises based on a contemporary rate case.
Comparative financial data for privately and publicly owned water systems.
Relevant to all utilities whether water or energy, public or private, and large or small.
University sponsorship and opportunity to earn continuing education credits.
High program value with reasonable registration and accommodation costs.

Who should attend

State and local public utility regulators and policymakers.
Regulatory accountants, auditors, and financial analysts.
Employees of private, public, and not-for-profit utilities.
Members of water or energy boards and other local public officials.
Public, consumer, and environmental advocates.
Attorneys, economists, engineers, and consultants

Faculty

Mr. Danny Kermode, CPA, retired Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
Dr. Janice Beecher, Institute of Public Utilities, Michigan State University