Natural Gas Infrastructure Improvements Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and Infrastructure Trackers Presented By Chuck Harder Deputy Attorney General

About Our Office MISSION | Protect consumers and the legitimate business community from deceptive trade practices, unfair business practices, and excessive utility rates or charges; mediate disputes between consumers and businesses; and educate the public regarding consumer issues. Consumer Protection Division fights deceptive trade practices, mediates disputes between consumers and businesses, and educates the public regarding consumer issues. Consumer Utilities Rate Advocacy Division is the voice of Arkansas utility ratepayers as it relates to the provision of regulated electric and natural gas service.

Investor Perspective Access to capital is not a problem for utilities. Investors want – Growth in operating income, Predictable cash dividend, and Low risk profile. From a regulatory perspective, investors want to reduce regulatory lag on infrastructure investment.

Current Trends A number of high profile incidents and the desire for economic growth are the primary catalysts for modernizing the nation’s gas utility infrastructure. Growth will be lagging, and the utilities’ current customers will be called upon to pay for substantial infrastructure investment. Regulators are receptive to rate mechanisms that reduce regulatory lag. Energy prices are lower and less volatile.

Consumer Concerns Single issue ratemaking might cause interested parties to lose sight of the big picture. Keeping an eye on affordability. Utility takes advantage of current environment to “gold plate.”

“Gold Plating” Where utilities lack organic growth, the use of rate mechanisms to grow operating income is tempting.

Utility Strategy Build trust with economic and safety regulators. Construct rate mechanisms that best suit financial outlook. Infrastructure cost recovery tracker or surcharge with SFV rate design or decoupling mechanism Formula rate plan Deferral accounts Tie programs closely to utility interpretation of PHMSA requirements.

Consumer Strategy - Discussion Build trust with economic and safety regulators. Tie cost recovery to performance. Adjust return on equity to reflect reduction in risk. Develop expertise in pipeline operations.

Contact Chuck Harder Deputy Attorney General Office of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge 323 Center Street, Suite 200 Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Direct: 501.682.4058 | Cell: 501.213.5874 │ Fax: 501.682.2000 chuck.harder@arkansasag.gov

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge 501.682.2007 oag@ArkansasAG.gov AGLeslieRutledge AGRutledge ArkansasAG Attorney General Leslie Rutledge