Event Summary
Ratemaking is a foundational component of the natural gas industry, yet many professionals lack a clear understanding of how rates are developed and how their work impacts financial outcomes. This creates a disconnect between operational decisions and their effect on revenue, costs, and regulatory outcomes.
Without this understanding, organizations may experience misaligned decisions, inefficient cost management, and challenges navigating regulatory expectations. Teams may unintentionally impact earnings or revenue recovery—leading to reduced financial performance and increased regulatory risk.
This course provides a clear, practical introduction to ratemaking fundamentals from both pipeline and LDC perspectives. It clarifies complex concepts—such as revenue requirements, cost allocation, and rate design—and connects them directly to real-world decisions across the organization.
Participants will be able to better understand how their roles influence rates and financial performance, make more informed operational and strategic decisions, and work more effectively within a regulated environment. They will gain the context needed to align their work with regulatory and financial objectives.
Who Should Attend
- Non-rate professionals across utility organizations
- Ratemaking professionals who want a broader perspective of ratemaking
- Operations, engineering, and technical personnel
- Government relations, customer service, public affairs, and investor relations professionals
- Accounting, tax, legal, and finance team members
Attendees will receive 3.5 Professional Development Hours (PDH) and a Level 1 Natural Gas Utility Ratemaking Professional badge from Credly upon completion.
Credly Digital Badge
Level 1 Natural Gas Utility Ratemaking Professional
SGA has partnered with Credly, the leader in digital credentials, to certify the recipients have a fundamental working knowledge of pipeline and local distribution company’s ratemaking processes. Individuals have demonstrated the ability to identify regulatory agency jurisdiction, determine revenue requirements, cost-causation, gradualism, and political pragmatism. They understand rate and earnings implications of O&M expense versus capital investments versus depreciation, and future trends in ratemaking.
Criteria
Meet the Instructor
Mark Caudill
Attorney at Law, Mark D. Caudill, LLC
Mark Caudill is an attorney with more than 30 years of energy utility regulatory, legal, and management experience, including work before numerous state commissions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”). Mark has served: natural gas distribution companies, interstate pipelines, and producers; electric distribution companies, transmission companies, and generators; energy marketers; and financial institutions that fund utility-related transactions. Based in the Atlanta metropolitan area, Mark is currently admitted to the Georgia and Alabama state bars. He works with companies and their local attorneys in matters regarding regulated markets. His clients include some of the leading energy companies in North America.
Mark previously served as a vice president and practice leader at MCR, a national management consulting firm specializing in regulated industries. Mark provided in-depth knowledge and expertise, including traditional ratemaking, alternative forms of regulation, supply and capacity planning, and regulatory case management. Prior to joining MCR, Mark served as Vice President for Energy Competition, and Corporate Secretary and Vice President for Rates and Regulatory at AGL Resources; Vice President of Rates and Regulatory for Atlanta Gas Light; Director of State Regulatory Affairs for Southern Natural Gas Company and Sonat; and as the Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement and the Special Assistant to the Deputy General Counsel at FERC.
In addition to appearing as an attorney in many rate and regulatory proceedings, Mark has appeared as an expert witness before state utility commission, FERC, state legislative committees, and U.S. congressional committees. Additionally, Mark regularly presents at industry and professional conferences, and he conducts seminars, workshops and mock trial training exercises to enhance the effectiveness of rate departments and in-house fact, policy and expert witnesses.
