CRA was retained by suppliers to analyze “old energy” electricity auctions conducted by Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME). We evaluated the auction design and rules used as well as the results of the auctions, and we provided recommendations for improvements for future auctions.

As the Auction Manager, CRA designed and implemented the optimal auction process given the power purchase arrangements (PPAs) to be sold for most of Alberta’s power plants. Our tasks included communications with the media, stakeholders, and other interested parties; marketing the auction process to prospective bidders and investors; preparing the legal and other auction-related documents; developing the auction design and rules; holding information sessions; customizing our auction software; administering the auction itself; hosting the auction at CRA’s Internet auction site; and executing post-auction activities. Throughout the project, we coordinated an extended project team that included the client, the Power Pool of Alberta, the Transmission Administrator of Alberta, and the Alberta Department of Economic Development. We also provided assistance on various market design issues related to restructuring Alberta’s electric power industry. The PPA auction resulted in new entry of market participants and raised C$1.15 billion.

AES Ohio retained CRA to design and implement competitive bidding processes (CBPs) for the provision of retail electric generation service to AES Ohio Standard Service Offer (SSO) customers. In addition to developing and managing the auction processes and hosting the series of auctions, CRA assists AES Ohio in its regulatory filings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). We have been AES Ohio’s Auction Manager since 2011. Additional information regarding the CBP and AES Ohio Electric Security Plans (ESPs) is available on the Information Website where you can also register to receive updates.

Duke Energy Ohio, Inc. (DEO) retained CRA to design and implement competitive bidding processes (CBPs) for the provision of retail electric generation service to DP&L’s Standard Service Offer (SSO) customers. In addition to developing and managing the auction processes and hosting the series of auctions, CRA assists DEO in its regulatory filings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). We have been DEO’s Auction Manager since 2010. Additional information regarding the CBP and DEO’s Electric Security Plans (ESPs) is available on the Information Website where you can also register to receive updates.

Duquesne Light Company (DLC) retained CRA to design and implement competitive procurement auction processes for the provision of full requirements Default Supply electric generation service to DLCs Default Service customers. CRA is developing and managing the auction processes and hosting the series of auctions. Additional information regarding the Default Service auctions and DLC’s Default Service Programs (DSPs) is available on the Information Website where you can also register to receive updates.

CRA was retained to design and implement a reverse (procurement) auction to purchase electricity at the lowest possible cost for a wood products manufacturer in Europe. CRA provided advice on product and contract design, developed the auction design and rules, drafted documents, customized our auction software, conducted test and mock auctions, provided documentation, and managed the implementation and operation of the auction process.

CRA was retained to design and conduct a reverse (procurement) auction process to purchase electricity supplies at the lowest possible cost for an electric utility’s Standard Offer Service (SOS) customers in Massachusetts. As Auction Manager, CRA provided the auction design and rules, customized its auction software, and implemented and hosted the auction.

PUCO retained CRA to be PUCO’s Auction Monitor for the first two competitive bidding processes (CBPs) of FirstEnergy Ohio Utilities (FEOU) designed to procure generation services for FEOU’s Standard Service Offer (SSO) customers in Ohio. (CRA subsequently was hired by FEOU as FEOU’s Auction Manager for future CBPs.)

CRA assisted the Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) and FirstEnergy Corporation by appearing before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in a technical conference in the FERC-FirstEnergy proceeding involving FirstEnergy’s related affiliate FirstEnergy Solutions (FES) filing for Federal Energy Regulatory (FERC) approval of power sale agreements between FES (supplier) and (buyer) FEOU (buyer).

FirstEnergy Ohio Utilities (FEOU) retained CRA to design and implement competitive bidding processes (CBPs) for the provision of retail electric generation service to FEOU’s Standard Service Offer (SSO) customers. In addition to developing and managing the auction processes and hosting the series of auctions, CRA assists FEOU in its regulatory filings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). We have been FEOU’s Auction Manager since 2008. Additional information regarding the CBP and FEOU’s Electric Security Plans (ESPs) is available on the Information Website where you can also register to receive updates.

On short notice, FirstEnergy Ohio Utilities (FEOU) needed to procure retail electric generation service for FEOU’s Standard Service Offer (SSO) customers. FEOU retained CRA in November to design and implement the bidding process. CRA developed and managed the request for proposal (RFP) process to successfully procure the supply products covering the delivery period January through March.

FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania Utilities (FE PA) retained CRA to design and implement competitive procurement auction processes for the provision of full requirements Default Supply electric generation service to FE PA’s Default Service customers. In addition to developing and managing the auction processes and hosting the series of auctions, CRA assists FE PA in its regulatory filings before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. We have been FE PA’s Auction Manager / Independent Evaluator since 2011. Additional information regarding the Default Service auctions and FE PA’s Default Service Programs (DSPs) is available on the Information Website where you can also register to receive updates.

Monongahela Power Company (Mon Power) is one of FirstEnergy Corp.’s electric utilities in West Virginia.  We are engaged to design and manage two RFP bidding processes:

CRA was retained by FirstEnergy Solutions as the Auction Manager to design and conduct auctions to sell SO2 and NOx emission allowances. The allowances resulted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). Six products were offered for sale: SO2 Group-1 allowances for 2012 and for 2013, annual NOx allowances for 2012 and 2013, and seasonal NOx allowances for 2012 and 2013. CRA designed and managed the overall process and the clock auctions. Additional information regarding the auctions is available on the Information Website.

GE Energy Financial Services wanted to have an open season bidding process that would be subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in order to use market rates and to raise sufficient funding to install new variable frequency transformer (VFT) technology, which would increase electricity transmission capacity from New Jersey to New York City. As the Auction Manager, CRA developed and implemented the open season process. This included product design, document preparation, auction design and rules, a bidder information session, bidder qualification, a public information Website, marketing and promotion, customized bidding software, and hosting the mock and real auctions. The auction sold the entire capacity available at a price that satisfied revenue requirements. FERC approved the open season.

CRA was retained to oversee and monitor Dominion East Ohio’s wholesale natural gas procurement auction. As the Auction Monitor, we advised on all aspects of the procurement process including reviewing the product definition; reviewing draft documents (RFPs, term sheets, contracts, etc.); monitoring the marketing, promotion, and communications activities; reviewing bidder qualification criteria and bid evaluation criteria; verifying the quantitative elements of bid evaluation; onsite monitoring and advice; and providing a post-auction report.

CRA acted as Auction Monitor for annual Basic Generation Service (BGS) electricity procurements by the state’s electric distribution companies (EDCs). As the Auction Monitor, CRA provided advice on BGS proposals and bidding processes and provided recommendations on auction design and rules; monitored the marketing and information efforts; advised the BPU on the significance of the indicative bids, the auction starting prices, and the tranche sizes; monitored data and information exchanges; monitored the administration of the auctions, including auction administrator parameters; monitored the bidding for possible anticompetitive behavior; advised the NJ BPU on whether the final auction results reflect the approved auction processes, and assessed the auction results and provided recommendations to improve future auctions.

In its agreement with the Dutch Competition Authority (NMa), Nuon needed to sell electricity through a virtual power plant (VPP) auction. Nuon retained CRA to assist it before the NMa and to design and implement the auction process. As the Auction Manager, CRA provided advice on product and contract design; developed the auction process; customized its electronic trading platform for the auction; and, hosted and managed the successful auction.

CRA designed and implemented a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process to procure supplies for standard offer service load. CRA assisted the client on: its needs assessment and defining the products to be procured, drafting the RFP, customizing the EEI Master Power Purchase & Sale Agreement, developing the bidder list, structuring the schedule, preparing documentation, developing the competitive bidding Website, developing bidder qualification criteria, structuring bidder information sessions, responding to bidders’ questions and providing input for posted Q&As, developing bid evaluation criteria and processes, and evaluation of the bids.

Trans-Elect and Wyoming-Colorado Intertie (WCI) wanted to have an open season bidding process subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in order to use market rates and to raise sufficient funding to develop new electricity transmission capacity from Wyoming to Colorado. As the Auction Manager, CRA developed and implemented the open season process. This included product design, document preparation, auction design and rules, a bidder information session, bidder qualification, a public information Website, marketing and promotion, customized bidding software, and hosting the mock and real auctions. The auction sold the capacity at a price that satisfied revenue requirements. FERC approved the open season.