Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Vermont Department of Public Service (“Department”), which represents the public interest inutility cases before the Vermont Public Utility Commission (“Commission”), is soliciting proposals, through this Request for Proposals (“RFP”), from qualified experts in utility finance to review and make recommendations on the appropriate cost of capital and capital structure of Vermont Gas Systems, Inc. (“Vermont Gas”), for use in a tariff and rate adjustment filing made by Vermont Gas with the Commission on February 15, 2023. The work primarily involves the provision of expert witness services to provide an independent assessment of the appropriate cost of Vermont Gas’s debt and equity and a determination of Vermont Gas’s appropriate capital structure ; The selected Respondent is expected to provide assistance to the Department and participate in a contested administrative proceeding before the Commission, which has ultimate authority over whether to approve Vermont Gas’s proposed rates. The selected respondent’s preparation for and participation in the contested proceeding is expected to include preparing discovery questions and responses, drafting prefiled testimony to be submitted to the Commission, and offering live testimony to the Commission.
