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May 1998 Conference

May 15, 1998

Implementing Electric Retail Choice in Illinois

"The Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law" was signed by Governor Edgar on December 16, 1997. The bill brings choice of supplier to all electricity customers in Illinois by the year 2002. This workshop addresses pertinent issues surrounding the implementation of electricity industry restructuring in Illinois.

Topics Include:

  • determination of market value and the "neutral fact finder" process,
  • role of the ISO in facilitating competitive retail choice,
  • design of successful consumer education programs,
  • load-profiling and billing, scheduling and settlement issues.

Agenda

7:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 Welcome

8:05 Keynote Address: John W. Rowe, Chairman and CEO, Unicom/CE

8:45 Determination of Market Value

  • the neutral fact-finder process
  • price indices used in electricity trading
  • issues in developing an "index of price indices"
  • developing market value forecasts
  • weighting energy prices and capacity prices
  • determining market value for specific customer classes
  • pricing the "firmness" of power
  • risk and market value forecasts

Moderator: Jim Monk, Illinois Energy Association

Panelists:

  • Thomas W. Parkinson, NorthBridge Group
  • David Hadley, Cinergy Corp.
  • Eric Meier, Chicago Board of Trade

10:15 Break

10:30 Independent System Operators

  • update on Midwest ISO
  • role of the ISO in facilitating competitive retail access in Illinois
  • reliability management in an environment of retail choice
  • aligning a regional approach with state legislative mandates
  • learning from experience in other jurisdictions
  • how will it all work in actual practice?

Moderator: Hon. Dan Miller, Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission

Panelists:

  • Charles Falcone, NY Power Pool
  • Alan Kelley, Ameren Services
  • Paul McCoy, Commonwealth Edison

12:00 Luncheon Address: Hon.Karl McDermott, Illinois Commerce Commission

1:30 Consumer Education and Protection

  • consumer education programs-what has been successful in other states and industries?
  • branding issues
  • affiliate code of conduct
  • lessons learned in the telecommunications industry
  • update on implementation of low income assistance plans
  • disconnection rules
  • collection costs and responsibilities
  • certification requirements for ARES

Moderator: Hon. Ruth Kretschmer, Illinois Commerce Commission

Panelists:

  • Martin Cohen, Citizens Utility Board
  • Wayne E. Curtis, Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Community Affairs
  • William Schulte, Consumer Services Division, California PUC

3:00 Break

3:15 Metering and Load-Profiling Issues

  • potential impact of load-profiling vs. actual metering on electricity industry reliability
  • dealing with imbalances for load-profiled customers
  • load profiling, strategic entry, and potential retail competition
  • reconciliation methods and processes
  • informational needs of suppliers and consumers

Moderator: David Loomis, Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies

Panelists:

  • Roberta Laccetti, NEES Companies
  • Miriam Goldberg, Xenergy Consulting Inc.
  • Howard Spinner, Central Vermont Public Service Corp.

4:45 Close