Series Description
This three-part series offers utility finance professionals guidance in enhancing their utility’s day-to-day operations through advanced strategies. Explore the implications of the latest Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, review options for accounting recording mechanisms for rate recovery, and learn about the potential of internal audit projects and reviews on organizational efficiency. Receive practical applications for daily situations and best practices in the utility industry.
This three-part series, recorded in 2020, includes the following webinars:
- Keeping Up with Governmental Accounting Standards
- Rate Design and Purchased Power: Cost Recovery Strategies
- Finding Operational Efficiencies with Internal Audits
Recommended for:
Utility finance professionals with intermediate to advanced experience.
Speakers
Jodi Dobson, CPA
Jodi joined Baker Tilly in 1998 and is a partner in the Energy and Utilities Group. Jodi specializes in serving municipal utilities (electric, water, wastewater, stormwater and transit) and joint action agencies. Her experience includes performing financial audits, single audits, agreed-upon procedure reviews and fraud investigations as well as preparing rate studies, cost of service studies, rate designs and financial forecasts. She is head of quality assurance in implementation and presentation of governmental accounting standards.
Russ Hissom, CPA, CIA, CISA, CRMA
Russ is a Partner Emeritus with Baker Tilly. His experience with the firm since 1983 includes leadership within the energy practice with a focus on assurance and advisory for power and utility organizations. He is a national speaker, author and trainer on internal audit, risk assessment, utility rates and financial topics.
Kyle O’Rourke
Kyle is a consulting manager with the Baker Tilly Energy and Utilities Group, joining the firm in 2015 after gaining experience at another national accounting and consulting practice. He provides a variety of services to public sector clients, including internal audit and risk consulting, business process reviews, organizational and operational assessments, benchmarking studies and technology needs assessments. Kyle contributes to the internal audit industry and is the Senior Vice President of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Chicago Chapter.
Bethany Ryers, CPA
Bethany is a Director in the Baker Tilly Energy and Utilities Group. She joined Baker Tilly in 2006 and specializes in providing auditing, accounting and consulting services to utilities. She also assists with financial and capital forecasts, rate studies and impact fees. She is a regular instructor for APPA’s Utility Education series and a presenter at APPA webinars on implementation of governmental accounting standards. Bethany serves as Director in charge of services to some of the largest public power utilities in the United States.
Purchase the series: $275 for members; $550 for nonmembers
Contact Us
Have questions? Contact 202/467-2997 or [email protected].
Return to webinar recordings
Webinar #1: Keeping Up with Governmental Accounting Standards
Recording length: 1 hour
As new major accounting standards continue to be issued at a rapid pace, it can be difficult to ensure that your review of accounting structures and financial statements is being implemented properly. Review which standards are new for this year’s financial reporting, including Accounting for Leases, and learn what you can do now to prepare for those on the horizon.
Topics:
- Practical application of recent governmental accounting standards
- Impact of the GASB lease standard on public power utilities
- Strategies for reporting new accounting standards
- Preparing to implement future GASB standards
Webinar #2: Rate Design and Purchased Power: Cost Recovery Strategies
Recording length: 1 hour
Utilities use mechanisms such as the purchased power and fuel adjustment clause to ensure rates encompass the “pass-through” costs associated with procuring base power supply. This charge is often a simple volumetric (cents per kilowatt-hour) rate for all customer classes, regardless of their average loads, and often includes costs associated with capacity and transmission. However, these latter costs may be better recovered through on-peak demand charges (i.e., $/kW for the month). Join this webinar to review how a utility might better reflect the utility’s cost of service in its rate design, including ways to employ demand charges associated with purchased power.
Topics:
- Accounting for fluctuating power, capacity, and transmission costs
- Determining expenses to be recovered in base rates vs. recovery of expenses through adjustment clauses
- Differences in recovering power procurement costs in bilateral versus organized ISO/RTO markets
- Matching demand charges with certain components of purchased power costs
Webinar #3: Finding Operational Efficiencies with Internal Audits
Recording length: 1 hour
Learn how organizations large and small can conduct effective internal audits to enhance the internal control environment, improve governance, and increase efficiency. Review the key steps to getting an internal audit started, finding an appropriate independent and objective voice to carry out the audit, tips for ensuring the audit is efficient and effective, and strategies for organizations of all sizes. Discuss how you can evaluate internal audit service delivery options that will best meet your organization’s needs.
Topics:
- How internal auditing can help organizations be more efficient and effective
- Options for small organizations and the functions of a small internal audit
- Where an internal audit fits within risk management
Purchase the series: $275 for members; $550 for nonmembers
Contact Us
Have questions? Contact [email protected].
