More silly utility "educational" seminars. This one came in the mail yesterday. The Financial Accounting Institute has invited me to attend its Utility Finance & Accounting seminars in Las Vegas.
Well, woo hoo, party in Vegas! Except this party costs $1995, plus travel and expenses. Sad face. I guess I'll just have to learn utility finance & accounting on my own.
FAI will be teaching its students all sorts of utility accounting concepts, such as how to tell the difference between capital and expense, and "motivations of managers and top management with respect to the issue." Wait... let me guess, it's because capital expenses earn a bit, fat, juicy return? Therefore everything should be capital?
But here's the best part of the whole seminar... one of those really great "role playing exercises." Who doesn't love a good role playing exercise to introduce just the right amount of realism into your learning experience?
Well, woo hoo, party in Vegas! Except this party costs $1995, plus travel and expenses. Sad face. I guess I'll just have to learn utility finance & accounting on my own.
FAI will be teaching its students all sorts of utility accounting concepts, such as how to tell the difference between capital and expense, and "motivations of managers and top management with respect to the issue." Wait... let me guess, it's because capital expenses earn a bit, fat, juicy return? Therefore everything should be capital?
But here's the best part of the whole seminar... one of those really great "role playing exercises." Who doesn't love a good role playing exercise to introduce just the right amount of realism into your learning experience?
The utility can never be sure their position will prevail? Well, then the utility isn't doing something right! See section about "ethics considerations" where you can learn about unethical behavior at some utility companies. I wonder who's going to play that role?
Why should certain costs not be included in rates? Because they're below-the-line costs. Will FAI be providing some sort of effective strategy for the "utility CEO" to use to argue that below-the-line costs should be included in a rate? And since when does a utility CEO or CFO actually show up to argue anything during a rate case? For that matter, when does a consumer advocate or large industrial ratepayer show up to argue that below-the-line costs should not be included in rates? FAI can probably dispense with those roles entirely and replace them with a couple of honey badgers.
Why should certain costs not be included in rates? Because they're below-the-line costs. Will FAI be providing some sort of effective strategy for the "utility CEO" to use to argue that below-the-line costs should be included in a rate? And since when does a utility CEO or CFO actually show up to argue anything during a rate case? For that matter, when does a consumer advocate or large industrial ratepayer show up to argue that below-the-line costs should not be included in rates? FAI can probably dispense with those roles entirely and replace them with a couple of honey badgers.
Now that's realism!
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