DFC Energy Strategies LLC

Comprehensive Energy Management Solutions

Maximizing energy’s contribution to a facility’s competitive advantage through coordinated implementation of strategies leveraging data management, supply management, demand management, engineering, and policy tools that take full advantage of the markets, the regional infrastructure, and the energy policy environment in which the facility operates, while meeting production requirements.

Energy Policy Risk Management
Completes The Circle

Active monitoring, assessing, and reporting of policy, regulatory, and legislative developments that could impact energy costs, ensure changes are identified early enough for the client to smoothly incorporate them into the business plan or enable mobilization of the resources required
to mitigate the change or shape it into an opportunity.

Energy Policy Risk Management Service:

An Essential Element of Comprehensive Energy Management

Why Energy Policy Risk Management?

  • Energy is unique.
  • No other commodity or service is as thoroughly regulated by every layer of government across the supply chain.
  • Policies, laws, and regulations determine its price and availability.
  • Standard sourcing tools can not create a cost advantage.
  • Price Makers identify and use the levers of energy policy, while those who do not are Price Takers
  • Failure to engage in energy policy surrenders value to other players.
Energy management cycle with five key processes.

Energy Strategy Development

Scheduled set of supply, demand, data, and policy management initiatives to move a production facility (or business unit) from a current condition to a defined target state based upon analysis of business forecasts and resulting energy requirements within the applicable market, policy, and physical infrastructure constraints.

How to Influence Outcomes Where and How We Focus – Electricity

Electricity distribution process from power plant.
Oil and gas production process flowchart.

How to Influence Outcomes Where and How We Focus – Natural Gas

People toasting at an outdoor dinner party.

There is No Substitute for Engagement

"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu"

Saying is a cliché, but it is only too true.

  • Only industrials represent industrials' interests
  • Producers, marketers, LDC's, and other parties have preferences, but they don't pay the costs. Their costs are passed down the line – to us!
  • Industrials are the only party at the end of the pipeline/wire, paying the bills.

Utility Negotiations and Rate Case Intervention Support:

Minimize cost increases (& maximize cost reductions) resulting from changes in facility operation or utility/pipeline tariff rates.

  • Model cost impacts of tariff alternatives (rates and operating rules) on forecasted energy requirements.
  • Identify Preferred Outcome.
  • Determine the extent of the impact on other, peer industrial companies.
  • Resolve individual disputes.
  • Organize and/or lead an intervention group of peer industrials, including counsel and expert witnesses, as needed.
  • Determine negotiation strategy.
  • Execute strategy while coordinating with other parties, as required.

Supply and Transportation Contract Dispute Resolution:

  • Define the dispute through detailed analysis of contract terms, supplier and client performance, market conditions, and other relevant factors to verify the claim (or charge).
  • Develop a negotiation litigation strategy in coordination with the client and client counsel (e.g., the polar vortex, winter storms Uri or Elliot, the Iowa derecho, changes in tax or other laws and regulations, and other unusual or unanticipated market or weather events).
Worker inspecting high-voltage power lines in the field.
Industrial refinery complex illuminated at dusk with city lights in the background.

Special Projects:

Support client objective through individual efforts or leadership of a team to achieve various supply and or demand initiatives, including:

  • Growth projects, including use of existing or creation of new economic development incentives
  • Business retention discount contracts
  • By-pass deferral discount contracts
  • Transformer / voltage upgrade discount contracts
  • Comparative assessments of comprehensive energy outlook for various locations within a business unit
  • Legislative advocacy support
  • Expert testimony (e.g., legislative hearings, regulatory proceedings, technical conferences, or litigation)

Supply and Transportation Contracting Support:

  • Solicit, negotiate, (re-negotiate), and conclude major contracts for supply and transportation of natural gas and electricity, energy supply procurement and contracting support.
  • Assessments of client energy supply program, including client energy supply contract template(s).
Two workers in safety gear discussing near a container truck at a shipping yard.