Budgeting for Managers
Event Summary
“Budgeting for Managers” is a comprehensive course designed to empower managers with essential skills for effective budgetary planning, execution, and control. Participants will delve into the principles of budgeting, financial analysis, and strategic resource allocation. Through practical case studies and interactive sessions, managers will develop the expertise needed to navigate financial challenges, make informed decisions, and contribute to the overall financial health of their organizations.
Course Objectives
- Budgeting Fundamentals
- Financial Analysis Skills
- Strategic Resource Allocation
- Budget Execution and Control
- Communication of Financial Information
Learning Objectives
- Budget Development Proficiency
- Decision-Making Under Financial Constraints
- Financial Planning and Forecasting
- Budget Review and Analysis
- Leadership in Financial Management
Instructor
Celesta Miracle
Director of Finance
Southern Gas Association
Ratemaking Fundamentals: Information Every Utility Professional Should Know
Event Summary
This 3.5-hour course will introduce employees to key ratemaking fundamentals for the natural gas industry. It is important that individuals working in the natural gas industry gain an understanding of the key fundamentals, since almost everyone in the industry has some impact on rates, just as rates affect how we all work.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The course provides information on key ratemaking fundamentals from the pipeline and LDC perspective, such as:
- Which regulatory agency has jurisdiction for specific assets and transactions
- Considerations and components of determining revenue requirements
- Cost-causation, gradualism, and political pragmatism
- Rate and earnings implications of O&M expense vs. capital investment vs. depreciation expense
- Considerations and components of rate design
- Assignment and allocation of common costs
- Future trends in ratemaking
- How to manage more effectively within a regulated utility
The course underscores how participants can work and manage more effectively within a regulated environment.
Attendees will receive 3 Professional Development Hours (PDH) and a Level 1 Natural Gas Utility Ratemaking Professional badge from Credly upon completion. Please email SGATraining@southerngas.org for this request.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Non-rate professionals from any department who would benefit from a broad understanding of key rate fundamentals, including Operations, Government Relations, Marketing, Public Affairs, Investor Relations, Accounting, Engineering, and other departments.
INSTRUCTORS
Mark Caudill, Attorney at Law, Mark D. Caudill, LLC
Mark Caudill is an attorney with more than 30 years of energy utility regulatory, legal, and management experience, including work before numerous state commissions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”). Mark has served: natural gas distribution companies, interstate pipelines, and producers; electric distribution companies, transmission companies, and generators; energy marketers; and financial institutions that fund utility-related transactions. Based in the Atlanta metropolitan area, Mark is currently admitted to the Georgia and Alabama state bars. He works with companies and their local attorneys in matters regarding regulated markets. His clients include some of the leading energy companies in North America.
Mark previously served as a vice president and practice leader at MCR, a national management consulting firm specializing in regulated industries. Mark provided in-depth knowledge and expertise, including traditional ratemaking, alternative forms of regulation, supply and capacity planning, and regulatory case management. Prior to joining MCR, Mark served as Vice President for Energy Competition, and Corporate Secretary and Vice President for Rates and Regulatory at AGL Resources; Vice President of Rates and Regulatory for Atlanta Gas Light; Director of State Regulatory Affairs for Southern Natural Gas Company and Sonat; and as the Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement and the Special Assistant to the Deputy General Counsel at FERC.
In addition to appearing as an attorney in many rate and regulatory proceedings, Mark has appeared as an expert witness before state utility commission, FERC, state legislative committees, and U.S. congressional committees. Additionally, Mark regularly presents at industry and professional conferences, and he conducts seminars, workshops and mock trial training exercises to enhance the effectiveness of rate departments and in-house fact, policy and expert witnesses.
Environmental 101
Learn the basics of the environmental landscape, agencies and regulations impact the industry.
Introduction to Hydrogen
This course provides a high-level, non-technical overview of current US hydrogen consumption, the most widely used hydrogen production processes and existing facilities. It explores several avenues to produce hydrogen and compares the costs of hydrogen produced from different processes. Additionally, the course describes the characteristics of hydrogen and compares hydrogen with natural gas as a fuel in direct combustion applications. Finally, this course considers possible challenges and implications for natural gas midstream and downstream facilities and operations arising from blending or substituting hydrogen for methane in natural gas transport and delivery facilities.
Course objectives:
- Gain a non-technical understanding of current US hydrogen production and consumption processes and volumes.
- Learn about alternative hydrogen production processes and differences between hydrogen and methane in direct combustion applications.
- Recognize potential impacts on US gas midstream entities, utilities and consumers arising from blending or substituting hydrogen for methane in gas streams.
About the instructor:
Dick Moore has more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry including jobs in both regulated and unregulated segments of this industry. He has held senior management positions in oil and gas exploration and production companies, interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines, gas and electric utilities as well as natural gas gathering, processing and marketing companies.
Mr. Moore previously served on the Board of Directors of the Gas Processors Association and has held a position as adjunct faculty in the economics department at Richland College in Dallas. He serves as faculty for the Energy Executive Course at the University of Idaho and the Legislative Energy Horizons Institute of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region as well as the Professional Development Institute at the University of North Texas and has been a speaker on energy topics for the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Attendees will receive 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDH) upon completion.Part 192: Gas Pressure Regulation and Overpressure Protection
This course is part of the Regulatory Compliance track and is intended for anyone needing or wanting a more thorough understanding of regulatory compliance within the natural gas industry. Topics covered will include design requirements, inspection, testing and maintenance of regulation and overpressure protection devices. As a result of taking this course, the student should learn the following.
- Design requirements for gas pressure regulators and overpressure protection devices.
- Requirements for inspection, testing and maintenance of gas pressure regulators and overpressure protection devices
Part 192: Distribution Integrity Management
This course is part of the Regulatory Compliance track and is intended for anyone needing or wanting a more thorough understanding of Subpart “P”. As a result of taking this course, the student should learn the following.
- What is required in Subpart “P”
- What each of the sections includes.
Leader’s Guide to Managing Conflict
Situations of conflict are an everyday occurrence in most companies. How leaders respond to these situations will determine whether and how they get resolved. Creating positive outcomes from points of conflict is the mark of a true leader. This program will explore when and how to mediate, the leader’s responsibility, crucial conversations and managing emotions during conflict and how to monitor positive outcomes.
Presenter: Coy, Frank
The Leader’s Role in Driving Culture
Leaders have potential to make a significant impact on their organization’s work culture. It’s important for leaders to understand the qualities that they would like to see in their organizational culture in order to begin utilizing strategies to drive that ideal culture. Featuring questions such as “Are you representing the culture you want to have?” this brief webinar covers how leaders can drive culture that aligns with the organization’s core messaging.
Recruiting - The Rules Have Changed
There are new considerations for how companies recruit in the marketplace today. Our industry is facing a mass exodus of Boomers over the next five years; how do we begin now to prepare for it? The things that brought employees in ten years ago may not entice new employees to join the natural gas industry. How does a company market to Gen X’ers and Millennials? Are there creative ways to re-use the Boomers to keep them contributing their knowledge and experience?
Presenter: Rothberg, Steven
Career Development Resources for Employees & Supervisors
Don’t we all want an opportunity to work with our supervisor to understand how we can best contribute to our organization and the industry? Are you looking for something to help you and your supervisor walk through that? Already have a process – but want to look at other resources and strengthen your existing program? The resources made available here will help you with all of these questions!
Gas Control
This course is part of the Introduction to Natural Gas Transmission track and is intended for anyone needing or wanting a more thorough understanding of assuring continuity of service in a safe and reliable manner, achieving lowest operating costs, developing an operating plan and implementing an operating plan.
Part 192: General Construction Requirements
This course is part of the Regulatory Compliance track and is intended for anyone needing or wanting a more thorough understanding of repairing and protecting pipe. As a result of taking this course, the student should learn the following.
- The 192 requirements for repairing and protecting pipe for transmission lines and mains.
Compressor Station
This course is part of the Introduction to Natural Gas Transmission track and is intended for anyone needing or wanting a more thorough understanding of compressor stations, yard piping, main units, engines, compressors, support systems, auxiliary buildings, emissions control, control systems and telecommunications systems.
Determining Revenue Requirements, Allocating Costs, and Designing Rates – LDC Perspective
This course is part of the ratemaking track and is intended for anyone needing or wanting a more thorough understanding of the ratemaking process natural gas companies follow to set rates charged to customers. Topics covered include typical rate case timetables, determining revenue requirements, rate base operating costs and cost of capital as well as cost allocation and rate design. As a result of taking this course, the student should learn the following.
- Key considerations when deciding whether or not to file for new rates
- The basics for determining revenue requirements, revenue deficiencies and designing rates for full revenue recovery
- Cost of Capital issues as they apply to rate design
- The various components that make up Operating Expenses
- How adjustments to historic costs are applied for the recovery period
- How costs are allocated to various customer and/or service types
- Basic procedures in filing a rate case
Determining Revenue Requirements, Allocating Costs, and Designing Rates – Pipeline Perspective
This course is part of the ratemaking track and is intended for anyone needing or wanting a more thorough understanding of the ratemaking process natural gas companies follow to set rates charged to customers. Topics covered include why pipeline and LDC perspectives differ, pipeline regulation background, rate design goals, typical rate case timetables and the ratemaking process: cost of service, fictionalization, classification, allocation, and rate design. As a result of taking this course, the student should learn the following.
- Similarities and differences of interstate pipelines and local distribution companies that impact the ratemaking process
- The interstate pipeline regulatory framework, commission and ratemaking process
- Various ratemaking methodologies