This in-person, instructor-led program will be presented in one full-day session being held Thursday, May 29th from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm at the NEPPA Training Center (200 New Estate Road, Littleton MA 01460).

NEPPA has partnered with Mark Beauchamp (CPA, CMA, MBA), President of Utility Financial Solutions to provide top-notch financial literacy training in the area of utility rate setting. Mark Beauchamp has over 33 years of experience developing rate studies for utilities across the United States. The electric utility industry—both nationwide and in the Northeast—is undergoing rapid transformation, rendering traditional pricing models increasingly ineffective. This course provides a comprehensive exploration of modern rate design strategies that ensure cost recovery while balancing economic, social, and environmental objectives.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for utility professionals, regulators, and policymakers seeking a deeper understanding of rate design and its role in an evolving energy market.

• Utility Financial Professionals
• Management/Decision Makers
• Engineering

Course Overview

Participants will explore rate structures that better align customer pricing with utility costs while providing customers with more control over their electric charges. Whether restructuring rates for emerging technologies like solar and electric vehicles (EVs) or balancing fixed and variable cost recovery, this course prepares attendees to proactively address the complexities of an evolving utility environment.
Through interactive discussions and real-world case study analyses, participants will develop actionable insights into strategic rate planning.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Develop long-term rate strategies that align with utility goals and ensure cost recovery.
• Understand valuation and billing methodologies for distributed energy resources (DERs), including rooftop solar and battery storage.
• Examine market-driven rate structures for emerging technologies such as EV charging stations.
• Apply practical and strategic approaches to key rate components, including customer and demand charges, time-of-use (TOU) rates, real-time pricing, and coincident peak demand rates.
• Explore specialized rate designs for economic development, large industrial customers, and standby services for combined heat and power (CHP) generators.
• Gain insight into power cost adjustment (PCA) mechanisms and their role in rate structures.
• Effectively communicate long-term rate strategies to stakeholders, including staff, management, and governing bodies.
• Review national trends and case studies to learn from successful utility rate strategies.

Agenda

Agenda details are subject to change.                                                                

Thursday, May 29, 2025

8:30 am           Registration (Coffee/Tea and Light Continental Breakfast will be provided)

9:00 am           Welcome & Introductions

9:30 am            Instruction – Topics to include:

                                           – Approaches to key rate components                                                  

                                           – Valuation and billing methodologies for distributed energy resources (DERs)     

                                           – Market-driven rate structures for emerging technologies

10:30 am         Break

10:45 am          Instruction – Topics to include:

                                            – Power cost adjustment (PCA)

                                            – Specialized rate designs

12:00 pm         Lunch

12:30 pm         Instruction – Developing long-term rate strategies that align with utility goals and ensure cost recovery

2:30 pm           Break

2:00 pm            Instruction – Topics to include:

– Review national trends and case studies
                                                – Effectively communicating long-term rate strategies

4:30 pm           Adjourn

About the Instructor 

Registration

To register, please click the button below. Upon completion of the Program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from NEPPA. Registration fees include breakfast and lunch. If you have any dietary restrictions or considerations, please make note on your registration.

2025 Registration fees are as follows:

NEPPA Members: $389
Non-Members: $489

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations are accepted until two weeks prior to the start of the class. Substitutions may be made at any time prior to the start of the class.

Questions?

Please contact training@neppa.org or call the office at (978) 540-2200.