A Daunting Challange

The federal regulatory process is complex and resource constraints and legally binding deadlines can complicate an agency’s regulatory task. All FERC regulated companies are constantly being given newly mandated FERC Compliance Monitoring requirements. Some of the reporting requirements are relatively simple. New compliance requirements can be more complicated. Additionally ever since the California power crisis and the ensuing oversight that occurred, companies need to have their compliance monitoring certified or outsourced. Management of all companies and board members, need the assurance that all facets of their business operations are in compliance with FERC regulations. IT systems that are shared between affiliated companies need to be security tested and certified by outside vendors that can state that the marketing affiliate of a regulated utility cannot obtain access to regulated data. Emails, Instant Messages and voice recordings need to have a system that automatically analyses them to search for wording that may be indicative of non-compliance. A constantly updated database would be used as market terminology evolves. There is a need to search through transactional data versus reported data to ensure that reporting is in compliance. The ability to see anomalies in trades versus market conditions should exist so that a company’s market based rate authority is not jeopardized. Transmission providers will need to ensure that their systems, tariffs, etc are all in compliance with Order 890. Fortech helps clients accomplish their regulatory responsibilities by providing cost effective regulatory support Consulting services and software tools. We provide FERC Compliance consulting services for Independent Functioning, Nondiscriminatory Information Access & Open Access Transmission Tariff Implementation. Our Energy experts have an exceptional grasp of the regulatory process and can support all phases of the rulemaking process. Fortech provides Compliance monitoring services from a simple audit and certification business process, to a full system solution FERC 890 compliance as well as the audit / certification of internal processes.

Fortech’s FERC Compliance support services are provided by an integrated staff of

• Energy Domain Experts
• Business Analysts
• Software Engineers

Our Approach

We understand the compliance / rulemaking process, including the latest FERC requirements and applicable executive orders and statutes. We take time to listen to our clients and learn the nuances of each project. Fortech is alert to the challenges faced by rule makers, multiple layers of internal agency review, delays in achieving consensus, high volumes & complexity of comments, delays in external review & co-ordination and other un-anticipated events. Our managers maintain close and frequent contact with the client to ensure that we remain substantively on target and on schedule. Our capabilities and experience in providing rulemaking support range across the following activities. Selecting a regulatory approach. We help clients identify and describe problems, characterize affected stakeholders, develop options and conduct tradeoff analyses. Performing regulatory analyses. We estimate costs, benefits and cost effectiveness of regulations, prepare small business analyses, paperwork burdens and prepare support documentation (e.g., Regulatory Flexibility Analyses (RFAs), Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIAs) and Information Collection Requests (ICRs)). Managing stakeholder involvement. We facilitate stakeholder participation, summarize and help develop responses to public comments. Implementing regulatory decisions. We help develop implementation strategies, provide outreach and training support and evaluate the progress of implementation.

Software Solutions for Compliance

Fortech specializes in developing comprehensive software solutions to enforce regulations and comply with all reporting requirements. We work with our clients to develop systems or software solutions to help ensure compliance as well as develop compliance systems testing standards.

Why Fortech?

• Fortech offers the advantage of its industry expertise and established infrastructure of people, processes and systems that make it a leader in Real-Time Energy Services provided by its NERC and WECC Certified Operators
• Fortech has experience in delivering Software Solutions ranging from Electronic Tagging to large Energy Scheduling System and OASIS to Load Forecasting
• Expertise in delivering complex Custom Solutions