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SAIC/R. W. Beck to Present at Resource and Supply Planning Conference

BBell — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:54:00 GMT

DENVER (March 16, 2010) – Experts from SAIC and it’s wholly-owned subsidiary R. W. Beck will present at the sixth annual Resource and Supply Planning Conference: Best Practices in an Era of Renewable and Reduced Emissions. This conference is organized by Electric Utility Consultants, Inc., and will be held March 23 and 24 in Washington, D.C.

R. W. Beck’s National Director of Energy Markets Rob Patrylak and Supervising Director of Strategic Resource Planning Bob Davis will present "Simulating National Energy Policies and Their Cumulative Effect on Resource Planning" with SAIC Senior Engineer Jay Ratafia-Brown. They will discuss how the National Energy Market System can be leveraged to examine how different energy legislative measures, including climate legislation, could impact energy prices and demand and the productivity of various industries and market segments. They will also share their insight on how proposed changes in policies will impact energy markets and utility planning, and attendees will learn best practice approaches in addressing energy policy change in integrated resource planning analyses.

Patrylak will also present "Impact of Greenhouse Gas Concerns on Resource Mix" with Peter Warnken, manager of resource planning at PacifiCorp. They will discuss one approach to address carbon risk in the integrated resource planning process.

Davis and Todd Strauss, senior director of energy policy, planning, and analysis at PG&E, will share their insights in a presentation on the "Impact of Demand Response, Energy Efficiency, and Distributed Energy Resource on Resource Planning." They will examine location-dependent resource aspects, load management, and end-use energy efficiency.

For more information on this workshop or the full conference program, click here.

SAIC’s R. W. Beck to Present at NWPPA Engineering & Operations Conference

BBell — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:59:07 GMT

DENVER (March 15, 2010) – R. W. Beck, an SAIC company, Senior Vice President Mark Gabriel and Senior Consultant Tim Wolf will present at the Northwest Public Power Association’s Engineering and Operations Conference and Tradeshow, which is being held March 29 through April 3 in Tacoma, Wash.

Gabriel will offer the keynote speech, "Smart Grid: What is it? How does it work? What do you do with it?" during the morning general session on Tuesday, March 30. He will help the audience to understand what is real, not real and achievable in a market filled with hope and hype.

During the hot topics sessions on Wednesday, March 31, Wolf will speak on "Smart Grid – Enabler of Conservation." He will review the various conservation and energy efficiency benefits utilities should consider in building business cases for smart grid and advanced metering infrastructure. He will also provide high-level quantification of the benefits, the relevant technologies and data required to enable the applications. Lastly, Wolf will provide insight into utility customer attitudes toward conservation, including barriers to adoption of technologies and programs.

For more information on the R. W. Beck speakers and the entire conference program, click here.

R. W. Beck Experts to Speak at DistribuTECH

BBell — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:36:25 GMT

DENVER (March 10, 2010) – Several energy, water, and utility experts from R. W. Beck, an SAIC company, will present at the 20th Anniversary DistribuTECH Conference and Exhibition, which is being held March 23 to 25 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. With 12 conference tracks and more than 200 of the industry’s top speakers, this event explores the fundamental principles and newest technologies shaping the energy industry today.

R. W. Beck’s experts will share their insights in the following sessions:

Tuesday, March 23

- "What Water Utilities Can Learn from the Electric Industry About Smart Grid" authored by Vice President Don Schlenger, Ph.D., and presented by Senior Consultant Jay Haas

Wednesday, March 24

- "Technologies That Touch the Customer" breakfast roundtables moderated by Founder of Plexus Research, a Division of R. W. Beck, Ralph Abbott and Senior Consultant Tim Wolf

- "Best Practices in AMI Implementation" moderated by Wolf

- "Catching the Rays and Putting Them to Work: Connection of Large Scale Solar Arrays to Utility Distribution" presented by Senior Director Dave Andrus

- "The AMI Challenge for Multi-Service Utilities" presented by Fort Collins Utilities’ Light and Power Manager Steve Catanach and R. W. Beck Consultant Walter Levesque

- "Driving Business Value with Smart AMI" moderated by Abbott

- "NERC Compliance Mock Audits – Getting Ready for the Real Thing" presented by Andrus

Thursday, March 24

- "IP/Ethernet Substation Networks: A Multi-Service Resource and Path to Smart Grid" panel with SAIC’s Global Utilities CTO/Entergy Outsource Chief Technologist Jonathan Sessions

For more information and the full conference schedule, click here. Also, be sure to visit R. W. Beck at Booth 948 during the conference.

SAIC Awarded $21 Million Blanket Purchase Agreement for Biomass Engineering

BBell — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:38:45 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAIC’s Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, R.W. Beck, to Provide Independent Engineering

Services to Support Department of Energy’s Office of the Biomass Program

(McLEAN, Va.) March 9, 2010 — Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI] today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, R.W. Beck, has been awarded a blanket purchase agreement by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Golden Field Office to support The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Biomass Program. The BPA’s period of performance expires Sep. 30, 2015 and has a ceiling value of $21 million.

The Biomass Program works with industry, academia, and national laboratory partners on a balanced portfolio of research in biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies. Through research, development, and demonstration efforts geared toward the commercialization of integrated biorefineries, the Biomass Program is helping transform the nation’s renewable and abundant biomass resources into cost competitive, high performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower.

As part of the program, the DOE recently announced that it will partially fund via grants the design, construction, and operation of 18 integrated ethanol biorefinery pilot and demonstration projects, helping promote the development and commercialization of cellulosic and algae derived biofuel and biochemical production in the United States. Under the BPA, R.W. Beck will serve as DOE’s independent engineer on these projects, providing services including assistance in program management, technical and financial due diligence, construction and operations monitoring, and Recovery Act compliance.

"We have extensive experience providing renewable technologies support services and design-build projects to government and commercial customers, and we understand the complexities associated with ethanol biofuels and biochemicals technologies and their deployment in the market place," said J.T. Grumski, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager.

About SAIC

SAIC is a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The company’s approximately 45,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC had annual revenues of $10.1 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2009. For more information, visit www.saic.com. SAIC: From Science to Solutions®

###

Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in SAIC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 31, 2009, and other such filings that SAIC makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

Contact:
Melissa Koskovich
(703) 676-6762
Melissa.l.koskovich@saic.com

Laura Luke
(703) 676-6533
laura.luke@saic.com

R. W. Beck Serves as Program Manager for Florida Desalination Plant

BBell — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:52:28 GMT

DENVER (March 9, 2010) – R. W. Beck, an SAIC company, is working with the City of Hialeah, Fla., on the design and construction of the city’s new desalination plant. When complete in 2011, the plant will treat 10 million gallons of brackish water per day with the capacity to expand to up to 17.5 million gallons per day.

Over the next year, the firm will assist with program management, stakeholder meetings, and facilities testing oversight.

Acting as the program manager for the last two years, R. W. Beck provided procurement advisory services for selecting a design-build-operate contractor. By using this alternative project delivery approach, the city and county expect to secure several benefits for their customers, including optimal risk allocation, competitive design selection, cost savings, and ongoing technical innovation.

"R. W. Beck has been involved since the first steps of procurement for this significant desalination project, so we have been able to provide insight to help Hialeah plan for its future water supply," said R. W. Beck Senior Consultant Joe Dysard.

R. W. Beck to Teach Utility University Courses at DistribuTECH

BBell — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:51:39 GMT

DENVER (March 8, 2010) – R. W. Beck, an SAIC company, will have four energy and Smart Grid experts teaching pre-conference courses at DistribuTECH’s Utility University, which is being held March 21 and 22 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. These pre-conference courses focus on relevant and topical issues to enhance learning and networking opportunities for utility professionals.

Senior Consultant Steve Hadden, Senior Project Manager KC Fagen, and Consultant Andrew Owens will present "How to Create a Practical Smart Grid Technical Plan" (course #206) on the morning of March 22. They will discuss how to successfully plan Smart Grid implementations that produce immediate and lasting value and become the foundation for future Smart Grid enhancements. Attendees will gain complete familiarity with effective smart grid planning, from early strategy through business case and corporate approval of the project.

Later that day, Consultant Walter Levesque and Hadden will present "How to Procure and Successfully Implement a Smart Grid Plan" (course #209). They will teach attendees to establish smart grid requirements, create the RFP, evaluate proposals, develop implementation and strategic communication plans, and complete the procurement process. Attendees will benefit from an enhanced understanding of effective procurement and implementation planning, vendor selection, and critical contract negotiation issues.

For more information on the Utility University and the full conference schedule, click here. Also, be sure to visit R. W. Beck at Booth 948 during the conference.

R. W. Beck Employees Raise Thousands for National Food Drive

BBell — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:31:19 GMT

DENVER (March 5, 2010) – Throughout the month of February, R. W. Beck’s employees raised nearly $7,000 and hundreds of pounds of food during the firm’s National Food Drive, which benefits more than 25 food banks from San Diego to New York City and virtually everywhere in between.

R. W. Beck’s U.S. offices were divided into five regions and a friendly, internal competition encouraged each region to increase donations throughout the month. At the end of the four week campaign, the West Coast region won by donating the most food and money per person for four community food banks.

R. W. Beck, an SAIC company, was built on a strong commitment to bring positive and lasting change to the communities where we live, work and do business. In addition to the National Food Drive, in 2010 the firm will participate in more than a dozen local community events benefiting causes ranging from cancer research to homelessness. For more information on the firm’s community involvement, click here.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Water Utility Management Conference

bbell — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:44:07 GMT

DENVER (February 8, 2010) – Water, wastewater, and energy experts from R. W. Beck, an SAIC company, will present at the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation’s Utility Management Conference, which is being help February 21 – 24 in San Francisco, Cali.

Executive Vice President Ed Wetzel will present "Viability of Long-Term Concessions for Municipal Water and Wastewater Utilities" with Citigroup Global Markets' Managing Director of the Public Finance Department Ray Kljajic. They will discuss how municipal government is finding ways to monetize their assets through privatization or other forms of asset sale or transfer. Wetzel and Kljajic will share insights from several case studies of government entities that have recently considered alternative approaches to water and wastewater system monetization.

In "The Energy-Water Nexus, Politics and Your Utility: Insights for the Future," Vice President Lynn Adams, will present the findings of an original research project on the intersection of energy and water. She will characterize the state of the industry and future plans, utility and stakeholder perspectives, related business strategies, and funding concepts. The presentation features research findings, as well as a live benchmark for attendees to compare their own approaches to survey results.

Vice President Dave Yanke will present "Building Consensus During the Development of a Uniform Wholesale Water Contract" with Water Director for the City of Fort Worth Frank Crumb. They will describe the steps taken to develop a new wholesale water contract for 30 wholesale water customers. The presentation will include discussion of the use of rate sensitivity analyses during the course of developing the contract and the importance of ongoing communications with the wholesale customers throughout the process.

As an alternate presenter, Senior Consultant Joe Dysard may present "Energy Efficiency Programs for Water and Wastewater Utilities." He will address the basics of an effective and efficient energy savings program, ranging from organizational accountability and employee involvement to performance tracking and resource allocation.

For more information on R. W. Beck’s presentations and the entire Utility Management Conference program, visit http://wef.org/UtilityManagement/.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Clean Water Agencies Conference

bbell — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:16:01 GMT

DENVER (January 19, 2010) – R. W. Beck Executive Vice President Ed Wetzel will present at the National Association of Clean Water Agencies’ 2010 Winter Conference, which is being held February 2 to 5 in Austin, Texas.

Wetzel and City of Indianapolis Public Works Director David Sherman will present "Monetizing Utility Assets to Fund Infrastructure Needs—the Indianapolis Story." They will describe the deteriorating infrastructure of the city, financial conditions and challenges, effect of the EPA Consent Decree, and possible alternatives to best monetize utility assets. Finally, they will discuss the three alternatives the City is currently evaluating.

"R. W. Beck has worked with the City of Indianapolis to assist them through the process of evaluating their alternatives in addressing their critical infrastructure needs," said Wetzel. "In our presentation at NACWA’s Winter Conference, David and I will discuss Mayor Greg Ballard’s approach to alternative solutions and share our insights on the process, lessons learned, and potential paths to move forward."

SAIC/R. W. Beck to Share Insight at EUEC Energy & Environment Conference

bbell — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:57:47 GMT

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) January 12, 2010 – Experts from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE:SAI] and its wholly-owned subsidiary R.W. Beck will share their insight during presentations at EUEC 2010, the 13th Annual Energy and Environment Conference held Feb. 1 – 3 at the Phoenix Convention Center.

The conference is one of the country’s largest energy and environment events, bringing together more than 2,000 environmental business leaders, energy executives, and government policymakers. At this year’s event, experts from SAIC and R.W. Beck will speak on the following influential energy industry topics:

"NEPA Process, Public Involvement, and Minimizing the Pain." William Mundt will discuss lessons learned from the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed coal-fired power plant and provide an introduction to the EIS process.
"Issues with Equator Principle Categorization and Compliance." William Stark will highlight problems that may arise during project categorization and share suggestions for minimizing inconsistencies between Equator Principles Financial Institutions categorization criteria.
"Evolution and Optimization of Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Measures." Tony Georgis will prioritize and estimate the general system and energy efficiency potential of smart grid and energy efficiency program measures.
"Climate Change Adaptation Planning." Sandra Miranda will detail how climate change adaptation planning is progressing in California, including discussion of a regional study in San Diego and planning efforts being considered in the Bay Area.
"SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership – Implementation Status." Jette Findsen will describe EPA’s Emission Reduction Partnership and provide information on what participating utilities are doing to track their SF6 emissions.
"Managing Cyber Risk in a Smart Grid Inter-Connected World." Michael Echols will define the high level elements of smart grid as identified in the U.S. Department of Energy’s "Modern Grid Strategy," breakdown one of the program elements, and discuss how the technology is being implemented.

"We are proud to have an active role in this important event for the energy industry, and we look forward to sharing our in-depth knowledge and expertise, ranging from energy efficiency and management to climate policy," said J. T. Grumski, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager.

For more information on these presentations and the entire EUEC 2010 program, visit www.euec.com.

About SAIC

R. W. Beck Gives Back to the Communities We Serve

bbell — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:10:37 GMT

DENVER (December 17, 2009) – Following R. W. Beck’s tradition of community support, employees made generous donations this holiday season to two national non-profit organizations, Feeding America and Engineers without Borders. The donations to Feeding America will provide 54,000 pounds of food for men, women, and children facing hunger across the country, while the donations to Engineers without Borders will help with sustainable engineering projects and responsible leadership training in developing communities worldwide.

R. W. Beck has always had a strong commitment to bringing positive and lasting change to the communities where we live and work, through the work we do for our clients and the personal efforts of our employees. Each year our employees volunteer, run, climb, build, ride, play, and cheer in support of numerous causes. The firm has already planned more than a dozen community events for 2010 ranging from marathons for cancer research to building homes for the homeless.

More information on R. W. Beck’s commitment to the community can be found in the Community Involvement section of rwbeck.com.

R. W. Beck Assists Colorado GEO with Renewable Energy Development Infrastructure Project

bbell — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:47:41 GMT

DENVER (December 16, 2009) – R. W. Beck worked with the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) on its Renewable Energy Development Infrastructure (REDI) report, which was released earlier this month. The report maps out how Colorado’s electricity sector can reduce carbon dioxide emissions 20 percent by 2020 through significantly expanding investment in new high-voltage transmission and utility-scale renewable energy as well as increasing emphasis on energy and efficiency and developing a greater role for natural gas.

R. W. Beck prepared the regulatory and economic analysis technical report as part of the REDI project. The firm provided detailed information regarding the regulatory, financial, and economic aspects of generation and transmission within the context of Colorado’s New Energy Economy.

"By pairing our business acumen with technical expertise, we were able to provide GEO with insight on transmission regulations, cost recovery and allocation, policy options and related regional implications," said Bahman Daryanian, senior consultant with R. W. Beck.

The GEO REDI Project includes the REDI report, five REDI Project consultants’ technical reports, including the one from R. W. Beck, and two REDI videos. For more information, including the full report, visit www.colorado.gov/energy.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Summit

bbell — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:19 GMT

DENVER (December 1, 2009) – R. W. Beck Senior Vice President Mark Gabriel will speak at the 2009 American Public Power Association’s Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Summit, which is being held Dec. 9 to 11 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Gabriel will present "Keeping the Lights On and More – Solutions to Sustainable Energy Challenges." He will examine the future of utilities, including how America can achieve sustainable energy solutions in a practical and economically feasible way. He will provide insight into five megatrends that are impacting the energy industry and the resulting new business view for utilities.

"Today’s energy industry is faced with several growing challenges, including those regarding carbon/capacity, intelligent infrastructure, and the evolution of a new business model," Gabriel said. "These trends have the potential to universally affect the industry and society."

For more information on the Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Summit, click here.

R. W. Beck Collaborates with Platts on Global Energy Outlook Forum

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:01:24 GMT

DENVER (November 30, 2009) – Economists, business executives, and energy experts will convene at Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum held at the McGraw-Hill Companies Headquarters in New York City on Dec. 2 to discuss sustainable solutions for the future of the energy industry. As principal sponsor, R. W. Beck, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), teamed with Platts, a leading energy and metals information provider, to host the event for the third consecutive year.

At the event, leading economists and energy experts will debate the economics of proposed sustainable solutions for future electric power and oil supply. As part of the event, Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy Steven Koonin will give the keynote address, and two roundtable discussions will be held featuring industry decision makers, providing insight on the future of energy and sustainability.

“This event brings together key industry leaders to debate challenges and help develop viable solutions. This aligns well with our strategy because we work to help clients gain a clear picture of the energy market and navigate through the many opportunities and risks on a daily basis,” said R. W. Beck President Russ Stepp, who will also speak at the event.

R. W. Beck, a group of technically based business consultants serving public and private infrastructure organizations and financiers in the energy, water, wastewater, and solid waste industries, was acquired by SAIC earlier this year. The firms have since combined not only their technical expertise and business acumen, but also their extensive experience solving energy management problems and guiding energy clients through the many decisions needed to create a sustainable business for the future.

SAIC will also co-sponsor the Platts Global Energy Awards ceremony Dec. 3, honoring companies and individuals who consistently set high standards of excellence within the energy industry.

For more information on Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum, including registration details, click here.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Florida Water Works Conference

bbell — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:51:53 GMT

DENVER (November 20, 2009) – Vice President Neil Callahan and Senior Project Manager Brian Houston will be presenting sessions at the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association’s fall conference, Managing the Changing Utility in the 21st Century, which will be held Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, 2009, in Orlando, Fla.

Callahan and Houston will present "31 Flavors of Risk: Emerging Trends in Design-Build." They will share insight on the pros and cons of emerging alternative project delivery methods from the perspectives of cost, control, and risk.

Houston will also present "Conservation Applications of Automatic Metering Infrastructure." He will discuss why water utilities must be concerned with conservation and the best practices and implementation strategies of using automatic metering infrastructure as a water management tool.

Both presentations have been designed to give utility managers tools to better assess opportunities and options which will advance the business of their infrastructure organizations.

For more information on R. W. Beck’s presentations and the FSAWWA conference, click here.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Biofuels International Asia Conference

bbell — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:12 GMT

DENVER (November 18, 2009) – Lance Hardesty, vice president at R. W. Beck International, will present "Mitigating risk at a biofuels plant" at the Biofuels International Asia Expo and Conference, which is being held November 19 and 20 at the Suntec Centre in Singapore.

"Today's biofuels lenders and developers face several risks, including market timing, market position, hedging and technology," said Hardesty. "For Asia biofuels development, though, there are also steps that can be taken to reduce these risks."

Hardesty will share insight on risk mitigation strategies, how to increase profit margins, and considerations in a volatile market. He will also discuss lessons learned from an independent engineer’s perspective.

For more information on this presentation or the Biofuels International Asia conference, visit www.biofuelsinternationalexpo.com/asia.

R. W. Beck to Present at Water Resources Conference

bbell — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:47:34 GMT

DENVER (November 6, 2009) – Senior Consultants Ralph Nelson and Ann Hajnosz and Associate Joseph Farah will be presenting at the 2009 American Water Resources Association’s Annual Water Resources Conference, which will be held in Seattle, Wash., from November 9 to 12.

Nelson will present "Retrofitting the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Meet Stormwater Effluent Limits." He will discuss the Port of Seattle’s implementation a multi-million dollar stormwater improvement project, which included the design of flow control and water quality treatment facilities and coordination with resource agencies to ensure compliance. Initial improvements were completed in 2006. Effluent limits for the stormwater outfalls have since been established, and the Port has continued to monitor to verify compliance. Nelson will share insight on the compliance to-date and review additional measures that may be required to meet effluent limits that are becoming increasingly more restrictive.

In Hajnosz’s presentation, "How to Obtain Funding for Your Utility Program," she will explain how to involve key decision makers and stakeholders from the initial planning stages so that planning processes can be used as a tool to get buy-in and support for funding. She will share a three step process, which includes education, understanding, and involvement, that informs stakeholders on the benefits and costs of different solutions, gets feedbacks, modifies the alternatives, and ultimately results in consensus on the overall program and funding. Attendees will learn how to present the story of what a program accomplishes to the community in a way they can understand, support, and gain funding.

During "Triple Bottom Line and Life-Cycle Cost Assessment of Sustainable Resources Management in Boston, MA," Farah will share insight on a new paradigm for urban planning and development that was developed as part of his Masters Thesis. This paradigm consists of widespread green roofs, decentralized water management, water and energy conservation, and integrated resource management. It aims at addressing issues that plague current urban planning practices such as frequent flooding, depleted water resources and high levels of Greenhouse Gas emissions. Farah will evaluate different scenarios their feasibility, best applicability, as well as economical, social and ecological benefits.

For more information on this year’s Annual Water Resources Conference, click here.

Utility Business Consulting Expert Joins R. W. Beck

bbell — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:24:16 GMT

DENVER (October 28, 2009) - R. W. Beck welcomes Diana Leach to the firm’s Irvine, Cali. office. Leach is a senior consultant with management experience in virtually all key organizational areas and has introduced and implemented measureable improvements in financial practices, organizational efficiency, and regulatory compliance at various California water districts and public utilities.

Leach is a senior-level management professional with more than 25 years experience in general management, financial services, strategic planning, organizational development, contract negotiations and administration, and project management. She offers expertise in those specific areas as well as human resources, labor relations, safety and training, engineering and operations management, public information and communications, customer services, and risk management.

"Diana’s more than 25 years of experience in all areas of management and strategic planning in California’s utility industry has given her an in-depth understanding of the water and energy markets," said Lynn Adams, vice president at R. W. Beck. "Clients will benefit from her extensive experience and unique insight."

Leach served as the general manager at Mesa Consolidated Water District, where she managed the entire organization including its five year capital improvement program for the special district serving the needs of more than 110,000 customers. She also held management level positions at H.T.E., Inc., Chino Basin Municipal Water District, and City of Anaheim Public Utilities.

For the past few years, Leach has provided independent consultant services to public and private sector clients. She has implemented fiscal improvements that resulted in sound financial practices and multi-year state and national awards and negotiated labor and consultant contracts. She also has implemented organizational efficiency improvements, regulatory compliance programs, and comprehensive safety programs.

She earned her M.B.A. from the University of California, Irvine and her B.S. in business and organization behavior from the University of San Francisco. She also graduated from Harvard University’s Senior Executive Leadership Program.

R. W. Beck and SAIC at WEEC

bbell — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:45:12 GMT

DENVER (October 26, 2009) – R. W. Beck’s parent company Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) will host this year’s World Energy Engineering Congress, which is being held November 4 to 6 in Washington, DC.

The WEEC is recognized as the nation's premier energy management and renewable energy event. The 2009 opening session, New Directions in Energy, will feature a welcome briefing from SAIC Group President Joe Craver and an opening keynote from speaker Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Leaders from R. W. Beck’s energy practice will also be present at the event. Executive Vice President Tim Corrigan and Senior Vice President Mark Gabriel will be at SAIC’s booth no. 327 in the exhibit hall to provide insight on R. W. Beck and SAIC’s shared energy expertise.

"When R. W. Beck joined SAIC earlier this year, we combined not only our technical expertise and business acumen, but also our extensive experience navigating the energy industry," said Corrigan. "We have paired our strengths to offer clients enhanced services related to the Smart Grid, energy efficiency, and emerging energy technologies."

For more information on the 2009 WEEC, read SAIC's news release or visit www.energycongress.com

R. W. Beck to Speak at National Construction Management Conference

bbell — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:00:27 GMT

DENVER (October 22, 2009) - R. W. Beck Vice President Christopher Dull will be presenting with Mike Kenny of the San Diego County Water Authority at the Construction Management Association of America’s National Conference, which will be held in Orlando, Fla., from October 25 to 27.

Dull and Kenny will present "Benefits of an As-Needed CM Services Contract." They will share insight on how to manage a task order construction management contract, develop tools for monitoring contract performance, and identify suitable projects for an as-needed scope.

"San Diego County Water Authority implemented an as-needed task order contract to increase the execution rate on their $4.3 billion capital improvement plan," said Dull. "Through this presentation, we will examine the lessons learned and share benefits obtained by this contract."

For more information on the conference, click here.

R. W. Beck Helps BPUB Obtain $46M in Stimulus Funding

BBell — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:51:01 GMT

DENVER (October 20, 2009) - Brownsville Public Utilities Board engaged R. W. Beck to prepare its Texas Water Development State Revolving Fund application earlier this year. Last week, BPUB announced the receipt of a $46 million grant to fund wastewater system improvements. The monies are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program administered by the Texas Water Development Board.

As BPUB's consulting engineer, R. W. Beck collaborated with BPUB and its design engineers for drinking water and for wastewater infrastructure to determine which projects from the Board’s Capital Improvement Plan would be appropriate for State Revolving Fund applications. A total of eight applications were submitted for both drinking water and clean water project funding. R. W. Beck, with the other consultants, included energy efficient elements to all the projects and alternative energy features on select projects.

The total amount of the grant is $46,140,492 and the proposed project consists of 15 separate construction contracts throughout the older sections of the City of Brownsville. Thirty-one miles of sanitary sewer pipeline and 38 lift stations will be improved. Construction on the projects will start February 2010 and is expected to be completed in three years.

R. W. Beck Supports Water AMR Project in Connecticut

BBell — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:43:00 GMT

DENVER (October 19, 2009) – The Metropolitan District Council engaged R. W. Beck, as a subcontractor to Tighe & Bond, for Project Management assistance with the MDC’s automatic meter reading project. MDC is a non-profit municipal corporation that provides quality water supply, water pollution control, mapping and household hazardous waste collection to eight member municipalities in Connecticut.

Over the last year, R. W. Beck provided insight and guidance regarding the development of a solicitation for technology suppliers and vendors to install AMR equipment on 35,000 water meters within certain areas of the MDC’s service territory. Pairing its business acumen and technical expertise, R. W. Beck managed the successful solicitation process and is now providing support during the implementation process. On August 11, the project began pilot installations. The pilot was a success, and full scale deployment has begun.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Minnesota Recycling Conference

BBell — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:57:55 GMT

DENVER (October 16, 2009) – R. W. Beck Senior Associate Randall Sippel and Associate Cami Van Abel will speak at the 14th annual Recycling Association of Minnesota and Solid Waste Association of North America conference, which will be held October 21 and 22 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Sippel will present "Leachate Management and Sustainable Landfills." He will discuss how the Crow Wing County Landfill manages leachate generated through on-site treatment land application. He will summarize the landfill’s current leachate collection and treatment system and present the results of two pilot studies.

Van Abel will share insight on the findings of a landfill gas-to-energy feasibility study performed for the Lyon County Sanitary Landfill in "Landfill Gas: What’s that smell? The future!" She will discuss the effects of leachate recirculation on landfill gas production, site specific end-user options, and general criteria for evaluating landfill gas-to-energy project feasibility.

For more information on these presentations and the conference, visit www.recycleminnesota.org.

R. W. Beck to Present Smart Grid Webinar

bbell — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:03 GMT

DENVER (October 15, 2009) – Ralph Abbott, founder of Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, will co-present Chartwell’s The Customer-Focused Smart Grid webinar on Thursday, October 22 at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

"Billions of dollars are being invested in the technological and implementation aspects of a smarter grid, but many utilities have not yet focused on a critical factor—the impact on customers and their long-term role in achieving a utility’s demand-response objectives," said Abbott.

Abbott and Craig Boice of Boice Dunham Group will discuss effective planning, customer buy-in, and communications strategies for successfully deploying the Smart Grid. For more details on the webinar or to register, click here.

R. W. Beck Helps Clients Find Success with ARRA

bbell — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:17:00 GMT

DENVER (September 21, 2009) – One hundred percent of the clients R. W. Beck helped apply for Smart Grid-related project funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act passed the first hurdle and were determined compliant. Next, these clients move to the technical review and merit stage.

When ARRA was signed into law in February, industry decision makers and clients looked to R. W. Beck for guidance. Since then, R. W. Beck has worked with clients across the country including utilities in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington and has helped clients prepare ARRA grant proposals for projects totaling more than $700 million.

Now that the firm has assisted with several successful grant applications, R. W. Beck is prepared to guide clients through the next steps in ARRA Smart Grid funding and created an ARRA Readiness Assessment Tool, which offers 35 key questions to evaluate readiness.

R. W. Beck Surveys Solid Waste Directors on Effects of Economy

bbell — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:14:19 GMT

DENVER (September 11, 2009) – Nearly all of Florida’s solid waste management programs have seen some kind of impact from the economic downturn, according to a recent R. W. Beck statewide survey of solid waste directors throughout Florida.

Directors from 37 of Florida’s 67 counties responded to the survey conducted by R. W. Beck Florida Solid Waste Practice Leader David Gregory. All but one of the respondents indicated a decline in tonnage, and most said they started to notice the decline last year.

Although waste, and therefore the revenues generated from tonnage amounts and tipping fees, was down across the state, the steepest declines occurred in southern Florida. The decrease in the value of recyclables also caused revenue losses with some counties reporting as much as $3 million in lost revenue per year.

"The national economic pressures have significantly affected Florida’s solid waste programs, and the amount of waste being generated and disposed is down throughout the state," said Gregory. "In response to the decline, most solid waste directors have developed ways to save money, such as hiring freezes, layoffs, and budget cuts, while maintaining the same level of service. Fortunately, there are some indications the decline may be bottoming out."

R. W. Beck Releases ARRA Readiness Assessment Tool

bbell — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:41:47 GMT

DENVER (September 10, 2009) – To help clients assess their readiness to receive American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Smart Grid funding and execute the related projects, R. W. Beck developed an ARRA Readiness Assessment Tool.

When ARRA was signed into law in February, industry decision makers and clients looked to R. W. Beck for guidance. Since then, R. W. Beck has worked with more than a dozen clients across the country including utilities in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington and has helped clients prepare ARRA grant proposals for projects totaling more than $700 million. Now that many applications are in, R. W. Beck is prepared to guide clients through the next steps in ARRA funding and has created the assessment tool, which offers 35 key questions to evaluate readiness.

"Though preparation of the Smart Grid grant applications was a significant effort, the real challenge will fall on the utilities whose projects are selected for funding," said Mark Gabriel,

senior vice president at R. W. Beck. "This tool helps gauge the readiness and the ability of organizations to ‘execute as advertised’ in their ARRA grant applications."

Click here for more information and to access the ARRA Readiness Assessment Tool. Utilities attending Autovation in Denver can see the tool first hand at booth 708.

R. W. Beck to Speak at WASTECON 2009

bbell — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:13:29 GMT

DENVER (September 9, 2009) – Five R. W. Beck consultants will be presenting at WASTECON 2009, the annual conference of the Solid Waste Association of North America, which will be held September 22nd to 24th in Long Beach, Cali.

Senior Director Scott Pasternak will present "Improving Managed Competition – Redistricting Solid Waste Service Areas in Phoenix." Together with City of Phoenix Deputy Public Works Director Mike Lopker, they will discuss the City’s successful and long-established managed competition program, under which the City and private solid waste collection companies bid for the right to provide services to specific areas.

Senior Consultant Ed Boisson will speak on "How Will the Nation’s New Climate Change Focus Benefit Recycling?" Boisson will present a primer on ways that recycling may benefit from new climate related initiatives, defining terms and suggesting actions needed to ensure that recycling is an active component of the new climate change agenda in the years ahead.

Vice President Robert Craggs will present "Landfill Gas Recovery and Reuse Projects: What are the Options and How to Decide?" He will provide insight on a series of business cases on landfill gas recovery and reuse systems and the impact LFG decisions have on utilities budgets and the environment.

In Senior Engineer Fred Doran’s presentation, "Enhancing Gas Utilization through Liquids Addition at Dallas’ McCommas Bluff Landfill," he will discuss how enhanced leachate recirculation has benefited landfill gas reuse at one of the largest municipal solid waste landfills in the country.

Senior Associate Matt Evans will present "The City of Sioux Falls 11-Mile Landfill Gas Pipeline." He will share insight gained from the project’s early planning stage through the engineering and construction phases and finally the start-up of the City’s landfill gas collection system and pipeline providing LFG for fuel to produce ethanol as a renewable fuel.

More details on this year’s WASTECON can be found here.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Autovation

bbell — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:25:24 GMT

DENVER (August 31, 2009) – R. W. Beck will present five educational sessions at Autovation, the Utilimetrics Smart Metering Conference and Exposition, which is being held in Denver, Colo. from September 13th to 15th.

Consultant Dave Scott will present both “AMI Deployment at Danville Utilities” and “Quality Control Changes with AMI.” In the first presentation, Scott will discuss the reasons for Advanced Meter Infrastructure, business case, RFP process, and system features of one of the largest electric/gas/water AMI systems in the country. In the second presentation, he will examine the important metering process changes with AMI in relation to organization and quality control.

Ralph Abbott, founder of Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, will present “Does AMI Need Demand Response?” Abbott will provide insight on the results in cost savings, demand reduction and energy use shifting that can occur in automated homes using the actual rates, weather and a typical home and appliances in six major electric utilities.

Consultant Andrew Owens will moderate the panel “NIST Smart Grid Interoperability.” He will lead the discussion on the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Smart Grid Interoperability program, which is developing a framework that will promote rapid progress toward an intelligent electric power infrastructure that is highly interoperable.

Senior Project Manager KC Fagen will present “Distribution Efficiency Enhancements with Automation.” He will share his insight on how advanced metering can be used to apply voltage optimization using details from Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Distribution Efficiency Study.

For more details on these presentations and Autovation, click here.

R. W. Beck to Speak at WateReuse Symposium

bbell — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:43:44 GMT

DENVER (August 28, 2009) – Howard Steiman, senior consultant at R. W. Beck, will speak at the 24th Annual WateReuse Symposium in Seattle, Wash. from September 13th to 16th. Steiman will present "Enhanced Concentrate Recovery Pilot Testing for the San Antonio Water System Brackish Water Project."

"San Antonio Water System’s goal is to provide a long-term solution to the growing demand for drinking water. Working with R. W. Beck, it was able to identify and evaluate innovative technology options to increase the efficiency and lower the cost of converting brackish groundwater sources to drinking water," said Steiman.

SAWS is developing a brackish water desalination facility with an ultimate build-out capacity of 20 million gallons of drinking water per day. In order to meet this goal, SAWS hired R. W. Beck to conduct a feasibility study for the project and to perform an enhanced concentrate recovery study. In his presentation, Steiman will share insight on the lessons learned from the pilot testing program. He will also discuss the methodology and test data used to determine the performance of the enhanced recovery technology option selected for piloting.

For more information on the WateReuse Symposium, click here.

R. W. Beck to Present Pre-Autovation AMI Courses

bbell — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:52:15 GMT

DENVER (August 28, 2009) – R. W. Beck Vice President Don Schlenger and Consultants Stephen Hadden, Walter Levesque and Andrew Owens will present pre-Autovation courses on Sunday, September 13th in Denver, Colo. These pre-conference educational sessions offer enhanced learning and networking opportunities for utility professionals in all stages of deployment.

Schlenger, who founded and served as first president of Utilimetrics, will present two half-day courses. In the first, “Practical Guide for AMR/AMI Project Managers – From Feasibility Study and Procurement Through Installation and Integration,” he will provide insight, principles and real-world examples of successful project management.

Schlenger will also present “Water Utility AMR/AMI – Justifying, Selecting, & Implementing the Right Solution,” in which he will provide a detailed roadmap for water utility managers to build a business case for Automatic Meter Reading/Advanced Meter Infrastructure, discuss emerging applications such as distribution leak detection and conservation, and identify appropriate technologies and strategies.

Hadden, Levesque and Owens will present the full-day course “The Complete AMI Curriculum – The Voice of Experience, The View of the Future.” They will discuss AMI planning, so utility professionals will gain complete familiarly with the process, from early strategy through business case and corporate approval of the project. Utility professionals will also gain insight on the post-approval process, from preparation of the RFP, through vendor selection, contract negotiation and project implementation.

In the last two years, R. W. Beck has added the metering and customer automation expertise of the former Plexus Research and Cognyst Consulting to its own formidable resources in electric and water utility engineering. The firm has become a prominent leader in smart grid applications, and these courses by its lead technical specialists will give attendees the insight of decades of hands-on experience.

Autovation, the Utilimetrics Smart Metering Conference and Exposition, will be at the Denver Convention Center from September 13th to 15th. For more details, including registration, click here.

R. W. Beck’s ARRA Expertise Helps Clients Across the Country

bbell — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:07:20 GMT

DENVER (August 26, 2009) – When the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act was signed into law on February 17, 2009, industry decision makers and clients looked to R. W. Beck for guidance. Pairing business acumen and well-grounded technical expertise, R. W. Beck consultants have worked with utility and infrastructure clients over the past six months to develop ARRA strategies related to energy efficiency and conservation, sustainability, renewable energy, weatherization, water/wastewater infrastructure and Advanced Metering Infrastructure/Smart Grid.

"ARRA creates significant opportunities for energy, water and waste utilities. In fact, it can be seen as a funding mechanism for some of the sustainability-related efforts that many in the utility industry were already pursuing," said Lynn Adams, vice president of the Firm’s utility business consulting initiative. "To help our industry better understand the opportunities presented, we have provided insight and guidance to many utilities on projects related to broad strategy development and program analysis. These activities have ranged from block grant applications to smart grid demonstration and investment grant development to drinking and clean water revolving fund program management."

R. W. Beck has worked with more than a dozen clients across the country including utilities in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington and has helped clients prepare ARRA grant proposals for projects totaling more than $700 million.

R. W. Beck Now an SAIC Company

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:59:00 GMT

DENVER (August 3, 2009) - R. W. Beck Group, Inc., is now a Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) company. For more information about SAIC's acquisition of R. W. Beck, read the news release here.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Alaska Power Association Annual Meeting

bbell — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (July 31, 2009) – Steve Rupp, vice president of energy services at R. W. Beck, will speak at the 58th Annual Conference of the Alaska Power Association in Kenai-Soldotna, Ala., from August 5th to 7th.

"Alaska’s energy industry faces complex challenges regarding affordable energy costs, development of renewable resources for remote villages, and managing the carbon/capacity conflict. Alaska fuels the nation, yet a lack of infrastructure prevents Alaskan utilities from providing affordable energy to its ratepayers," said Rupp.

The conference theme is "Launching a New Era of Energy for Alaska," and Rupp will provide insights on the utility megatrends that are affecting the future of the Alaskan energy landscape. For more information on the annual meeting, click here.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Texas Public Power Meeting

bbell — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (July 24, 2009) – Tobin Harvey, vice president of R. W. Beck Federal, will speak on a panel at the Texas Public Power Association’s Annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, from July 26th to 29th.

"The actions required by federal agencies to move the amount of money associated with the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act is extensive," said Harvey. "Many issues continue to be unanswered, and this will continue to be a developing and unfolding process."

Harvey will share his perspectives from Washington, D.C., in the discussion "Government Stimulus Money & Public Power." He will provide insights the timing of the amount of funding authorized by Congress relative to the procurement process that exists and must be complied with.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Florida SWANA Conference

bbell — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (July 17, 2009) – R. W. Beck Solid Waste Practice Leader David Gregory will present "Weathering the Storm – How Current Economic Pressures Are Affecting Florida Solid Waste Management Programs" at the Solid Waste Association of North America’s Florida Chapter 2009 Summer Conference. The event will be held in Naples, Fla., from July 19th to 22nd.

"Nearly all of Florida’s solid waste management programs have seen some kind of impact from the economic downturn," said Gregory.

Gregory's presentation will use original research and surveys from more than 35 counties to provide insight into how Florida communities and their solid waste programs are being impacted by the economy. He will also discuss perspectives from different counties and look at regional differences in tonnage and revenue decline across the state.

R. W. Beck Ranked Among Fastest-Growing Firms

bbell — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (July 17, 2009) – R. W. Beck ranked 52nd on the 2009 The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List, which ranks the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms in the U.S. and Canada. R. W. Beck was included on the list in 2006 and 2008, but this is the first year the Firm was ranked in the top 100.

The Zweig Letter 2009 Hot Firm List is based solely on gross revenue for both fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2008. This year’s winners will be honored at a special awards reception and banquet at The Zweig Letter Hot Firm Conference, to be held October 28-30, at Green Valley Resort in Las Vegas.

Sioux Falls Wins 2009 SWANA Excellence Award

bbell — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (July 14, 2009) – The Solid Waste Association of North America awarded the City of Sioux Falls, S.D., the Silver Excellence Award in Solid Waste Management for landfill gas utilization. The award will be publicly presented at WASTECON, SWANA’s annual solid waste exposition, on September 24th in Long Beach, Cali.

The City of Sioux Falls won SWANA’s Excellence Award for the success of their landfill gas program. With the guidance and insight of R. W. Beck, the city invested in an 11-mile pipeline that delivers landfill gas to an ethanol plant owned by POET LLC. R. W. Beck managed the engineering and business components of the project, which involves prudent environmental leadership and the innovative use of a renewable fuel, LFG, in the production of another renewable fuel, ethanol.

"With our long-standing partnership with R.W. Beck, the City was able to not only meet its goal of successfully managing its potential waste byproduct and turning it into an ongoing revenue stream but also receive recognition for its outstanding achievement," said Dave McElroy, landfill superintendent at Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill. "We are honored to receive this award from SWANA."

SWANA’s Excellence Awards Program recognizes outstanding solid waste programs and facilities that promote socially, environmentally and economically sound management of solid waste. Award winners demonstrate their commitment to environmental regulation compliance, program efficiency, safety and progress.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Water Professionals Conference

bbell — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (July 9, 2009) – R. W. Beck’s Executive Vice President Ed Wetzel and Senior Consultant Michael Lane will speak at the 2009 Water Professionals Conference, presented by the Kentucky and Tennessee Sections of the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Association from July 12th to 15th.

Wetzel will present "Financial Comparison of Public and Private Alternatives for Central Kentucky – Future Water Supply Needs." The project performed a life-cycle cost comparison between a new treatment plant and pipeline proposed by the Kentucky American Water Company to a pipeline from Louisville to Lexington that was proposed by the Louisville Water Company. The financial model included capital, operations and maintenance and financing costs, plus relevant wholesale user fees. Comparisons were made both on a present worth and unit cost basis, and sensitivity analyses were conducted on most of the critical model variables and assumptions, including pipeline ownership, average flow rates and future wholesale rate increases. The final results were presented during testimony before the Kentucky Public Service Commission early last year.

Lane will present "Using the Equity Buy-in Method to Estimate System Development." He will discuss the different methodologies for establishing system development charges and the potential impact on utilities of implementing those charges.

For more details on these presentations and the conference, click here.

R. W. Beck to Present at Florida Public Power Conference

bbell — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (July 8, 2009) – Mark Gabriel, senior vice president and principal at R. W. Beck, will speak at the Annual Conference of the Florida Municipal Electric Association and Florida Municipal Power Agency being held in Palm Beach Gardens from July 14th to 17th.

"The energy industry will face several challenges regarding emerging, national trends," Gabriel said. "Issues ranging from the carbon/capacity conflict to intelligent infrastructure may potentially affect the entire industry."

In Gabriel’s presentation, "Megatrends and the Energy Horizon", he will provide insight into five megatrends that are impacting the energy industry and the resulting new business view for utilities. He will also discuss ideas regarding the future of energy and infrastructure.

For more details on the FMEA-FMPA Annual Conference, click here.

R. W. Beck Signs Agreement to Join SAIC

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (July 6, 2009) – R. W. Beck Group, Inc., signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI), pending shareholder approval. SAIC is a FORTUNE 500® company serving customers in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure and health markets.

"With the development and rehabilitation of many aspects of our nation’s infrastructure becoming increasingly critical, and the ongoing threat of natural and man-made disasters, both SAIC and R. W. Beck leadership believe that combining the capabilities of the two companies will produce results of significant benefit to our clients and overall business,” said Russ Stepp, president and chief executive officer of R.W. Beck. “The leading-edge technologies, services and expertise we bring will enable the development of more robust solutions for current and future clients.”

R. W. Beck will join SAIC’s Infrastructure, Logistics and Product Solutions Group led by Group President Joe Craver. The Group, one of four at SAIC, provides technical and engineering solutions for a variety of clients and mission areas, including all hazards preparedness and logistics; energy management services; and environmental support. R. W. Beck’s core consulting and engineering organization will join the Group’s Energy, Environment, and Infrastructure business unit led by J.T. Grumski to combine synergies in environmental services, including water, wastewater, and solid waste management; energy management and grid technology; infrastructure planning and design-build; and capital program management. Beck Disaster Recovery, Inc., of which R. W. Beck Group Inc. is the majority owner, will join the Group’s Homeland Protection and Preparedness business unit led by John Ferriter to create a comprehensive offering of preparedness, emergency response, training, and disaster recovery for federal and municipal clients.

The acquisition is expected to close at the beginning of August 2009, subject to R. W. Beck shareholder approval and customary closing conditions, including expiration or early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

About R. W. Beck Group, Inc.

Founded in 1942, R. W. Beck (rwbeck.com) serves public and private infrastructure organizations and financiers in the energy, water, wastewater and solid waste industries. The company’s 550 technically based business consultants—including engineers, economists, analysts and other professionals—develop sustainable solutions specific to clients’ engineering, economic, financial, planning, operational and organizational challenges. R. W. Beck’s clients include utility organizations, government entities, financial institutions and commercial clients. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, BDR (beckdr.com) is the nation's leading provider of program management services for hazard mitigation, emergency preparedness/planning, response and recovery.

About SAIC

SAIC (saic.com) is a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The company’s approximately 45,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. SAIC had annual revenues of $10.1 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2009.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Storage Week

bbell — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (July 2, 2009) – R. W. Beck Senior Director Ruben Moreno will present "The Comparative Value of Grid-scale Energy Storage Assets" at Infocast’s Storage Week 2009 from July 13th to 16th in La Jolla, Cali.

"In today’s current market, there are a lot of questions regarding which grid-scale technology currently has the best marginal return and what are the main drivers of the comparative value," Moreno said.

Moreno’s presentation will compare four popular grid-scale energy storage assets based on the incremental contribution (measured in $/MW equivalent) in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland market. He will provide insight into flywheel, hydro, battery and compressed air energy storage.

For more information on Storage Week, click here.

R. W. Beck Supports SMUD in Business Process Re-Design

bbell — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

SACRAMENTO (June 26, 2009) - The Sacramento Municipal Utility District selected R. W. Beck to assist with the re-design of its business processes resulting from the implementation of its smart meter deployment. R. W. Beck will guide SMUD business process re-design teams and support the change process required for successful implementation of 620,000 smart electric meters, its meter data management system and communications infrastructure.

"R. W. Beck will provide insight on a full range of business process improvements related to SMUD’s smart meter installation and development of smart grid functionality," said Walter Levesque, consultant and project manager. "Our focus will be to align business processes to achieve the benefits that SMUD's smart meter vision offers."

Earlier this year, SMUD selected R. W. Beck to support the implementation of its smart meter project.

Smart Grid Technology to Address Maryland’s Energy Challenges

bbell — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (June 25, 2009) - R. W. Beck partnered with Maryland Energy Administration on a report released earlier this month that evaluated potential Smart Grid technologies, policies, regulatory issues, costs and benefits. R. W. Beck has been collaborating with MEA to integrate Smart Grid technologies and programs associated with energy efficiency. The report suggests that implementing Smart Grid technologies and strategies could reduce consumer's electricity bills, improve system reliability, lower utilities' operational costs and create new jobs.

"R. W. Beck provided valuable insight by examining the elements of a Smart Grid from a system's perspective and examining the synergy among energy resources," said Mark Gabriel,

senior vice president at R. W. Beck. "Our technical expertise in Smart Grid-supporting technologies and programs will aid in recommending an implementation order for Maryland, which could be replicated in other mid-Atlantic states or regions."

R. W. Beck worked with MEA to review the costs and benefits of Smart Grid deployment and will be providing recommendations to create a strategy of implementing the most cost-effective mix of energy resources. The Firm focused on achieving EmPOWER Maryland’s goal of 15% reductions in electricity usage by 2015.

The Smart Grid report was funded through a nationally competitive Department of Energy grant, awarded in September 2008, and reflects research and analysis conducted by government and research agencies, utilities, national laboratories, technology companies and non-government organizations. In addition to working with R. W. Beck, MEA's grant partners included Energetics Incorporated and the American Council for Energy Efficient Economy. For a downloadable version of the report and for more information on Smart Grid advancements in Maryland visit www.Energy.Maryland.Gov or www.smartgridmd.org.

R. W. Beck Ranks as Leader in Program Management

BBell — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (June 23, 2009) – R. W. Beck ranked 11th on Engineering News-Record’s 2009 list of the Top 50 Program Management Firms. This is a significant increase from last year’s ranking of 33rd. Rankings are based on overall revenue generated from program management services, and R. W. Beck reported earnings of $116.6 million in 2008.

R. W. Beck also ranked 20th on the Top 100 Construction Management-for-Fee Firms list in the same publication. This list ranks the largest U.S. firms based on agency construction management fees for project-related construction management projects.

Earlier this year, R. W. Beck ranked 113th on ENR’s annual list of top design firms. For more information or to view the full lists, visit www.enr.construction.com.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Technical Advisory Council Meeting

bbell — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (June 19, 2009) – Steve Hadden, vice president of Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, Inc., will present "Stimulus Summary and Update" at the Edison Electric Institute and American Gas Association’s Technical Advisory Council meeting on June 24th. This meeting is in conjunction with EEI’s Annual Convention and Expo, which will be held in San Francisco from June 23rd to 25th.

"Authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the federal government is offering billions of dollars to utilities to advance the technology of energy distribution and use," Hadden said. "This ‘stimulus’ money is being offered through a series of procedural steps through the Department of Energy (DOE)."

In his presentation to the Technical Advisory Council, Hadden will provide insight into ARRA’s impact on utilities’ technology. He will review the DOE steps and how utilities can participate.

The Technology Advisory Council provides a forum for senior-level information technology executives from the AGA and EEI member companies to keep abreast of emerging strategic information technology and business issues that impact the energy industry. For more details on the EEI Annual Conference, click here.

R. W. Beck to Keynote Energy Summit

BBell — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (June 18, 2009) - Mark Gabriel, senior vice president and principal at R. W. Beck, will be a keynote speaker at the Silicon Valley Energy Summit at Stanford University on June 29th. He will present "The Mega Trends in Energy: What They Mean for a Sustainable Energy Future."

"The energy industry is faced with several growing trends, including challenges regarding carbon/capacity, customer engagement, and intelligent infrastructure," Gabriel said. "These trends have the potential to universally affect the industry and society."

Gabriel recently authored Visions for a Sustainable Energy Future. He will provide insight into five megatrends that are impacting the energy industry and the resulting new business view for utilities. He will also discuss ideas regarding the future of energy and infrastructure.

Other keynote speakers for the Energy Summit include former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and David Crane of California Energy Policy & Economic Climate.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Public Power Conference

BBell — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (June 10, 2009) – R. W. Beck Senior Director and Fuel Practice Leader Catherine Elder will present "Carbon and Fuels" at American Public Power Association’s 2009 National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, from June 13th to 17th.

"How much gas burned for electricity generation will be the critical driver for gas prices in the future," Elder said. "The possibility of a comprehensive climate change bill and other carbon regulation paired with the turbulent global economy creates several key uncertainties the energy industry will face regarding the future of fuel prices and resource planning."

Elder will provide insight into carbon regulation’s impact on the industry, the Waxman-Markey bill, and several power generation mix scenarios. She will also discuss R. W. Beck’s natural gas price forecast and potential long and short-term influences.

For more information on the 2009 APPA National Conference, visit www.appanet.org.

R. W. Beck to Speak at CEO Conference

bbell — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (June 2, 2009) – Mark Gabriel, senior vice president and principal at R. W. Beck, will present "Visions for a Sustainable Energy Future: Impacts and Choices" at the Carilec CEO’s Conference in Grand Cayman on June 8th.

"From the carbon/capacity conflict to intelligent infrastructure, the energy industry faces several challenges both today and in the future," said Gabriel.

Gabriel will provide insight into five megatrends that are impacting the energy industry and the resulting new business view for utilities. He will also discuss ideas regarding the future of energy and infrastructure.

For more information on Carilec and the 2009 CEO’s Conference, visit www.carilec.com.

R. W. Beck Partners with City of Wichita to Save Millions on Water Treatment Plant

bbell — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (June 1, 2009) – As the City of Wichita’s Program Manager, R. W. Beck helped the City save at least $16 million on the estimated costs for its new surface water treatment plant associated with the City’s Aquifer Storage and Recovery Program.

Working with the City, R. W. Beck implemented a competitive pricing strategy for the design-build contractor procurement. The Firm conducted in-depth interviews and reviews of the contractors’ price proposals, and the Firm’s experienced construction estimators verified pricing strategies, production rates, sub-contractor pricing, and labor quantities. Through its strategy and insight, R. W. Beck confirmed that the City could save millions of dollars under the engineer’s estimated cost for the plant.

"R. W. Beck was involved from day one in this procurement process. By helping Wichita with an efficient, competitive procurement, the City will save more than 20 percent of the initial project estimate," said Tom Jacobs, senior consultant and program manager.

R. W. Beck will work with the City on a dozen construction projects that will be designed and built within the next three years as part of the Aquifer Storage and Recovery program, which will help establish a future water supply to meet the City’s needs for the next 50 years.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Solid Waste Association Conference

bbell — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (May 27, 2009) – R. W. Beck Vice President Robert Craggs and Senior Consultant Abby Goldsmith will present at the Solid Waste Association of North America’s 14th Annual Landfill Symposium and Planning Management Conference in Savannah, Ga., on June 1st – 4th.

Craggs will present "Plasma Arc Gasification and Its Applicability to Municipal Solid Waste Management: An Update." The presentation will focus on recent activity in this growing area of solid waste management and provide perspective on this conversion technologies’ interface with recycling programs.

Craggs will also present "Creating a Regional Authority in Virginia Improves Landfill Operations and Reduced Costs for Five Communities." He will discuss how a group of Virginia communities developed a regional approach to solid waste management, including issues related to the financial feasibility of multiple options, detailed operational and policy analysis, and forming the regional authority.

Goldsmith will present the research and survey results from local governments regarding the types of revenue sources that have historically supported the capital and operating costs associated with their solid waste management systems and how these revenue sources have been affected by economic factors in "How Solid Waste Revenue Sources Fare in an Economic Downturn."

She will also present "Is a Construction and Demolition Debris MRF in Your Future?" and discuss the steps that a local government, or any disposal facility, should take to evaluate the feasibility of developing a facility for processing construction and demolition debris from disposal.

For more information, visit http://juneconference.swana.org.

R. W. Beck Author Wins 2009 National Indie Excellence Award

bbell — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (May 14, 2009) – Visions for a Sustainable Energy Future by Mark Gabriel,

senior vice president and principal at R. W. Beck, won the 2009 National Indie Excellence Award for environmental non-fiction.

"I am honored to be recognized with this award," said Gabriel. "By combining my business experience and technical expertise, I hope this book acts as a helpful resource to understand how energy companies can meet the challenges of a competitive environment and evolve into healthy, successful enterprises."

Visions for a Sustainable Energy Future offers a unique insight into the corporate health of energy companies in an evolving landscape. In the book, Gabriel provides a blueprint for utility strategy as it relates to technology and challenges in the coming years. For more details on Gabriel’s book or to order a copy, visit www.positiveenergydirections.com.

About the Author

Gabriel has more than 20 years of experience providing organizational leadership and strategic planning services to the energy industry, both domestically and internationally. He is proficient at leveraging people, technology, product/service offerings, and competitive market positions to achieve organizational success. As an expert in his field, he regularly speaks and writes on creating strategic direction and planning, evaluating organizational dynamics, refining utility and product strategy, and providing marketing assessment to further the development and application of new technologies.

R. W. Beck to Present Federal Smart Grid Grants Webinar

bbell — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (May 13, 2009) – Mark Gabriel, senior vice president and principal at R. W. Beck, Inc., will be featured on RMEL’s two-part webinar "Federal Smart Grid Grants: What Your Utility Needs to Know" on May 27th and June 25th.

"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocates nearly $17 billion to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including almost $4 billion in grants for Smart Grid investments and demonstrations," said Gabriel. "This could mean significant changes for utilities considering or currently developing Smart Grid projects."

In this phone and web based seminar, Gabriel will discuss what funds are available and how utilities can obtain them. More specifically, the presenters will focus on how to get started, criteria for eligibility, the application process, deadlines involved, long-term requirements, possible roadblocks and challenges, and the best resources and tools available.

R.W. Beck is currently helping a number of clients in their strategies and preparations to apply for ARRA funding including the Vermont Utility Working Group.

Jeff Genzer from the National Association of State Energy Officials and Mike Beehler from Burns & McDonnell will present with Gabriel.

For more information on RMEL and this event, visit www.rmel.org.

R. W. Beck to Speak at RMEL Electric Energy Conference

admin — Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER (May 12, 2009) – Robert Patrylak, R. W. Beck’s National Director of Energy Markets, will present "How Are Utilities ‘Firming Up’ Renewables?" at the RMEL 2009 Spring Electric Energy Conference in Keystone, Colo., on May 19th.

"Decision makers in the electric energy market are increasingly faced with challenges regarding integrating renewable projects into the grid," said Patrylak. "I’m looking forward to discussing both the challenges and opportunities related to these intermittent resources at the upcoming RMEL conference."

Patrylak will provide insight into the impact of renewable projects on the power system and how utility markets plan to firm up these intermittent resources. He will discuss renewables’ operational characteristics and the challenges of integrating intermittent resources into the grid. He will also speak on how power markets are coping with these issues by using backup power to cover ramp, capacity and regulation requirements.

For more information on RMEL and the Spring Electric Energy Conference, visit www.rmel.org.

R. W. Beck to Speak at State of Water Conference

admin — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

SEATTLE (May 7, 2009) – R. W. Beck Consultant Art Griffith will present “Key Elements of Rate Setting” at the American Waterworks Association Pacific Northwest Section’s State of Water Conference in Salem, Ore., this week.

“Establishing equitable and defensible water rates is critical to the management and operation of a financially viable and sustainable utility,” said Griffith.

Griffith will discuss the key steps in setting water rates, including financial planning, cost of service analyses and rate design. He will also discuss strategies for obtaining approval of a rate proposal from elected officials and decision makers. His presentation is part of a half-day technical session devoted to water utility finance. It is co-sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Section’s Financial Management Committee, which Griffith currently chairs.

For more information on AWWA and the Pacific Northwest Section Conference, visit www.pnws-awwa.org.

R. W. Beck, Inc. Named Among ENR’s Top Design Firms

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

SEATTLE (April 29, 2009) – R. W. Beck ranked no. 113 on Engineering News-Record’s annual Top 500 Design Firms list, which ranks the largest U.S.-based design and consulting firms on consulting-related revenue. R. W. Beck has ranked within the top 150 firms for the last four consecutive years. R. W. Beck reported revenue of $110 million in 2008, a four percent increase over 2007’s revenue. This revenue does not include the firm's disaster response subsidiary, Beck Disaster Recovery, which is considered a program management service.

With 27 offices nationwide and one in Singapore, R. W. Beck’s consistent placement on ENR’s list of design firms mirrors its work helping electric, water, wastewater and solid waste utilities advance the business of infrastructure. The firm's business and technical consultants provide engineering, economic, financial and planning solutions that improve clients’ ability to succeed in today's dynamic market.

"R. W. Beck is consistently recognized as a leader because we partner with our clients to provide Insight with Impact," said Ed Wetzel, executive vice president of the firm's Water and Waste Resources sector. "We understand the business decisions our clients face ultimately impact their capacity to serve their communities. Our clients rely on R. W. Beck’s ability to integrate business and financial acumen with high-level technical expertise to improve their decision making and help foster stronger energy, water and waste infrastructure systems."

R. W. Beck to Present at Texas Water 2009 Conference

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN – April 14, 2009 – Stakeholder support and funding will be highlighted at this week’s Texas Water 2009 conference in Galveston, Texas. R. W. Beck’s Steve Swenson and Dave Yanke will co-present “A Process for Obtaining Stakeholder Support and Funding for Your Utility Program.”

“Utility and infrastructure program managers are increasingly faced with challenges such as revenue shortfalls, regulatory compliance, organizational efficiency and other issues whose solutions require decision maker support” says Swenson, Principal and Senior Consultant. “Furthermore, utility and infrastructure programs are oftentimes not implemented because of the lack of available and dedicated funds” he adds.

Conference participants will learn how to involve key decision makers and stakeholders so that the planning processes can be used as a tool to get buy-in for programs and support for funding. The presentation will include a discussion of how to present your program’s accomplishments to the community in a way they can understand and then support.

Texas Water 2009 is the largest regional water conference in the U.S. and is sponsored by Texas AWWA (TAWWA) and the Water Environment Association of Texas. R. W. Beck will share its insights on Friday, April 17th.

Multiple R. W. Beck Projects Receive Civil Engineering Awards

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO – April 14, 2009 – Three projects for which R. W. Beck is providing construction management (CM) services are among the recipients of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) San Diego Section 2009 Awards Program selections.

R. W. Beck’s CM services are being provided for long-time client San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) who, as part of a $3.1 billion Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), is building infrastructure that will provide additional water supply to the eastern part of San Diego County, as well as provide additional distribution resources countywide. R. W. Beck is helping execute SDCWA’s accelerated CIP by acting as an extension of staff and managing the day-to-day CM for these and other infrastructure projects. Awarded projects include:

Pipeline 4 Repair at San Diego River – Award of Merit. R. W. Beck’s CM services were specifically recognized on this project which involves the urgent repair of one of the Water Authority’s aqueduct pipelines to maintain water delivery capability.

Interstate 15 Widening Design-Build Contract for Pipelines 3, 4 and 4A Relining – Award of Merit

San Vicente Dam Raise Aggregate Quarry Project – Award of Excellence

“R. W. Beck’s understanding of SDCWA processes and procedures, and understanding of the functions of the SDCWA departments, has proven instrumental in making each of these engagements successful.” says Vice President Chris Dull. “It’s very gratifying to be associated with projects where our client recognizes R. W. Beck’s value and that the industry recognizes as noteworthy infrastructure projects.”

The ASCE was founded in 1852 and is America's oldest national engineering society representing more than 146,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. Awards will be distributed at the ASCE San Diego Section annual banquet on May 16, 2009.

GPA Honors R. W. Beck Industry Professional

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER – April 10, 2009 – Jack Whiteside, President of Barnes & Click, a division of R. W. Beck, was honored at the Gas Processors Association (GPA) National Conference with a Recognition Award. Initiated in 1949, the GPA Recognition Award distinguishes longtime industry professionals whose integrity, honor, high principles, and dedication have become hallmarks of the gas processing industry.

“It is an honor to be recognized by GPA in this way. I have had the privilege of working with some great people in the organization for over 30 years and look forward to continuing to contribute to the advancement and development of the midstream industry,” said Whiteside.

Survey Reveals Water & Wastewater Utilities Doing More with Less

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER – March 19, 2009 – R. W. Beck’s second Alternative Project Delivery (APD) survey of water and wastewater utilities nationwide shows the utilization of alternative delivery contracting methods are an efficient and cost-effective means of procuring and developing their infrastructure projects. Utilities and municipalities responsible for new or upgraded infrastructure can benefit from design-build and design-build-operate, which are increasingly pursued compared to traditional design-bid-build.

Alternative delivery methods can be delivered affordably and with a shorter timeline while owners offset risks onto a single design-build contractor,” says Steve Gates, R. W. Beck Senior Vice President and principal author of the Firm’s survey team. Furthermore, owners who have used design-build contracting express very high satisfaction with it in our survey, he says.

Key points of interest include statistics of the time and cost savings associated with APD, its growing industry familiarity and the rate of Owner satisfaction using APD methods.

“The benefits of alternative delivery are real in any economy,” says Mr. Gates. “But as today’s project owners face greater accountabilities to deliver taxpayer-funded water and wastewater infrastructure, APD offers a real path to both efficiency and success.”

Click here to listen to a podcast by Mr. Gates and read more about APD in a challenging economy in his article published in the January-February issue of Dateline, the membership publication of the Design-Build Institute of America. For more information about the latest survey results, contact Steve Gates at sgates@rwbeck.com.

"New Nuclear in the U.S." Interview Published in NPI

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Denver – March 17, 2009 – An interview by Paul Harmon, Senior Vice President, in Nuclear Power International (NPI), March 2009, addresses the challenges facing companies that want to build new nuclear plants with the help of the DOE loan guarantee program. To access the full article, click here.

R. W. Beck to Moderate CEC Fact-Finding Workshop

admin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER – March 5, 2009 – R. W. Beck Senior Director Catherine Elder will moderate the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) and Electricity and Natural Gas Committee workshop on Tuesday, March 10. The fact-finding workshop will help Committee members gather information about natural gas procurement by California utilities, the effect of policy on procurement and the impact of volatile gas market prices on utilities and ratepayers. Representatives from state utilities, the California Public Utilities Commission and other stakeholders have been invited to speak.

Participating will be Commissioner Jeffrey D. Byron, Presiding Member, and Vice Chair James D. Boyd, Associate Member of the 2009 IEPR Committee and Electricity and Natural Gas Committee. Other Commissioners are expected to attend.

“The information to be shared at this workshop will help the Committee better understand both the current and future meaning of volatility in natural gas prices and how it affects utilities and customers,” says Elder. “Over the past year natural gas prices have ranged from around $3 per MMBtu to over $13 per MMBtu. We plan to talk about how that translates through to customers and what impact that should have on policies adopted by CEC. One key question is what will today’s volatility look like as utilities increase their reliance on renewables? This forum is designed to help policy makers understand the interaction between volatility, gas purchases and the consumer impact.”

The workshop will be held 9 AM PST at the California Energy Commission at 1516 Ninth Street, First Floor, Hearing Room A, Sacramento, Calif. Meeting presentations and audio will be broadcast over the Internet via Windows Media (visit www.energy.ca.gov/webcast). Individuals interested in attending remotely may also participate by calling 888-566-5914, passcode IEPR, Call leader Lynette Esternon-Green.

"Journey to Sustainability" Article Published in Public Power Magazine

admin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER – March 3, 2009 – An article by Lynn Adams Vice President responsible for the Firm’s Utility Business Consulting initiative in WWR, appeared in the March-April issue of Public Power Magazine, the membership publication of the American Public Power Association. “Journey to Sustainability” highlights how Fort Collins Utilities is working to achieve enterprise-wide sustainability with our assistance. To access a copy of that article, click here.

Alternative Project Delivery Survey Results to be Released at DBIA Conference

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER – February 27, 2009 – Stephen Gates, Senior Vice President at R. W. Beck, will present on current trends for utilizing alternative methods for water and wastewater project delivery at the Design-Build Institute of America’s (DBIA) water/wastewater conference in early March. Mr. Gates conducted a survey among water and wastewater utilities nationwide to assess awareness and implementation of design-build, design-build-operate and other forms of alternative project delivery, R. W. Beck’s second such survey conducted on the subject in recent years. In 2006, R. W. Beck published its first set of results detailing the experience of project owners with methods other than the traditional design-bid-build option. The 2009 survey updates and expands the prior survey and identifies important market trends.

“Today’s economic challenges only magnify the need for project owners to pursue financing and scheduling efficiencies, and minimize risks associated with their capital projects,” says Mr. Gates. “As the savings and benefits associated with alternative project delivery become better known, these methods may be considered by a growing number of owners across the industry.”

Mr. Gates will present the results of the recent survey in his presentation, ‘Alternative Capital Project Delivery for Water and Wastewater Utilities, How Owners Are Doing More With Less’ on Thursday March 5. DBIA’s water/wastewater conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Denver, CO from March 4-6.

R. W. Beck to Speak at Water/Wastewater Utility Management Conference

admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER – February 16, 2009 – R. W. Beck consultants who work with utility executives to address technical and business challenges will present at the 2009 Utility Management Conference in New Orleans, La. This conference is co-sponsored by the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation, and is attended by decision-makers in the water and wastewater industries. R. W. Beck speakers will share their insights at these events on Thursday, February 19:

"Water Utility Finance Research Needs Roundtable" (7:00 AM). Dan Lanning, Senior Director, will participate in a roundtable discussion about the reduced amount of capital resources currently available to finance urgently needed infrastructure. Mr. Lanning will discuss research focuses that could provide useful tools to help address this challenge.

"A Substantive Approach to Utility Sustainability" (8:30 AM). Lynn Adams, Vice President, will co-present with Fort Collins Utilities on how the Utilities is taking decisive steps to transform itself into a Utility for the 21st century, guided by a vision of enterprise-wide sustainability. The Utilities recently became the first municipal utility to file a sustainability report with the Global Reporting Initiative.

"Capital Optimization Programs: Cutting Capital Expenditures Wisely" (2:30 PM). Fred Jennings, Executive Consultant, will present on a capital optimization program conducted by Colorado Springs Utilities that is meant to achieve its strategic objective of significantly reducing capital spending without reducing the value of operations or customer service.

"Why You Need A Strategic Plan for Customer Service and How to Build It" (2:30 PM). Don Schlenger, Vice President, will co-present with Brendon Lennox of Tualatin Valley Water District, on the benefits of optimizing and maintaining customer satisfaction through meaningful measures and a systematic planning approach that addresses customer needs.

"Going to Market: Financing Water and Wastewater Utility Capital Program Needs" (3:30 PM). Dan Lanning will participate on a panel discussion with other utility finance experts to discuss the financial issues facing utilities and the need to update their current infrastructure in this economic downturn.

The 2009 Utility Management Conference will be held from February 17 to 20 at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans.

Alternative Project Delivery Article Published in Dateline

admin — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DENVER – February 6, 2009 – Steve Gates, Senior Vice President at R. W. Beck, published an article about alternative project delivery in a challenging economy in the January-February issue of Dateline, the membership publication of the Design-Build Institute of America. To access Dateline, click here.

R. W. Beck Acquires Cognyst Consulting, LLC

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Boston | January 21, 2009 – R. W. Beck has acquired the assets and expert knowledge of Don Schlenger Ph.D. and Cognyst Consulting LLC, a firm that supports utilities in implementing customer service technologies, with a specialization in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Automated Meter Reading (AMR). The acquisition broadens R. W. Beck's utility business consulting expertise.

Joining R. W. Beck as Vice President, Don Schlenger is a former water utility executive and customer service technology and processes expert with more than 33 years of industry experience. Dr. Schlenger was founder and former Executive Director of Utilimetrics (formerly the Automatic Meter Reading Association). He serves on several water and metering industry committees and boards. Another new team member, Senior Consultant Jay Haas, is former Chief of Operations for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Customer Service. In that role, he coordinated the department's metering program and oversaw the deployment of its first customer information system for a service population of 8,000,000.

"R. W. Beck has a proven track record in program management and delivery as well as financial acumen," says Dr. Schlenger. "Our combined technical and business insights will expand our capabilities and ability to provide innovative and effective solutions for our client partners."

"Integrating their advanced metering and customer service expertise into R. W. Beck dramatically strengthens our ability to support utility clients looking to improve operations and maximize resource utilization," says Stephen Gates, Senior Vice President at R. W. Beck. "Our AMI/AMR consulting services benefited significantly from the acquisition of Plexus Research two years ago. Don and his team will bring another dimension and complementary expertise in this area to ensure the delivery of quality business solutions."

Cognyst Consulting has provided advanced metering expertise and project support to numerous municipal water utilities, including those of Cincinnati, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Honolulu, San Diego, Atlanta, Kansas City and Cleveland, and is involved in Water Research Foundation research projects.

Click here to learn more about Cognyst Consulting.

EWEB Selects R. W. Beck to Support AMI Initiative

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | January 20, 2009 – The Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB), Oregon's largest public utility, selected R. W. Beck to provide consulting services in support of EWEB's AMI and meter data management initiative. R. W. Beck will help EWEB develop a thorough cost-benefit analysis to establish an AMI business case, and identify, capture and quantify a range of benefits AMI technology will provide both to EWEB operations and its customers.

Following the business case development, R. W. Beck will help the EWEB team develop and specify technology and system requirements necessary to deliver the desired benefits, and support EWEB in the procurement of AMI technology.

"AMI technology will help improve the quality and reliability of our service to customers," says Randy L. Berggren, EWEB general manager. "It will also enable EWEB to provide information to help customers control their energy and water costs and to support conservation in our community. We look to R. W. Beck to help us evaluate the benefits, costs and business considerations, and put our options into perspective so we can successfully implement a system that delivers long-term benefits to EWEB and our customers."

Steve Brodsky, Senior Director at R. W. Beck says, "Making a strong business case for implementing an AMI system requires an informed, insightful cost-benefit analysis. We look forward to partnering with EWEB to help them deliver improved water and electric service performance for years to come."

Recycling in Remote Communities Article Published in MSW Management

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | January 15, 2009 – Katie Wussow and Seth Cunningham, Solid Waste Consultants at R. W. Beck, published an article about recycling in areas far from major markets in the January-February issue of MSW Management. To access that article, click here.

Smart Grid Article Published on Energy Central

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | January 15, 2009 – An article published by Steve Hadden, Vice President of Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, Inc., and Shannon Messer, a Senior Consultant at R. W. Beck, appeared on Energy Central. The article, which discusses practical approaches to the Smart Grid that utilities can implement now, can be accessed by clicking here.

SMUD Selects R. W. Beck to Help Implement AMI System & Evaluate Smart Grid

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | January 08, 2009 – The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) selected Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, Inc., to provide expert consulting services to support the procurement and implementation phases of SMUD's Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project. The three-year project will also assess the potential and value of future Smart Grid applications for the AMI system.

"As one of the largest municipal utilities in the country, SMUD is a leader and pacesetter in deploying AMI and Smart Grid technologies," says Tim Wolf, VP, Marketing and Business Development at Plexus Research. "Plexus and R. W. Beck will continue our AMI consulting work to help enhance SMUD's current capabilities with a successful AMI deployment that serves future Smart Grid objectives."

SMUD generates, transmits and distributes electric power for nearly 600,000 residential and commercial customers in California's Sacramento and Placer Counties.

Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, Inc., provides utility industry consulting services in the technologies, applications and economics of advanced energy systems, especially in the areas of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Automated Meter Reading (AMR) applications, load management, premises automation, telecommunications, customer communications and demand response.

R. W. Beck Endorses PPPs to Address Nation's Infrastructure Needs

admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | January 05, 2009 – R. W. Beck endorsed a letter by the National Council of Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) encouraging incoming U. S. President-Elect Barack Obama to consider public and private sector collaborations as a financially beneficial method for addressing the nation's infrastructure needs. After Obama announced his incoming administration would pass a stimulus package to develop deteriorating infrastructure including roads, bridges, the electricity grid and other public works projects, we added our voice to others advocating public-private partnerships.

The NCPPP letter articulates the benefits of this innovative method for funding infrastructure projects including reduced costs, accelerated project delivery, job creation and risk transfer to the private sector. Public-private partnerships can also help the federal government significantly leverage public sector funds to offer a greater return on investment.

"From consulting on projects utilizing public-private partnerships, we recognize the benefits that accrue to owners and the communities served, such as access to the financial and knowledge resources within both sectors," says Paul Harmon, Senior Vice President in GAC. "Critical infrastructure developed through stimulus funding would be well served by considering this method of project delivery."

To access the letter, visit www.ncppp.org.

Desalination Project Wins Public-Private Partnership Innovation Award

admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Dec. 3, 2008– R. W. Beck served as Owner's Advisor on a project whose owners were recognized at the National Council of Public-Private Partnerships' annual meeting last month. Tampa Bay Water, the largest regional water authority in the Southeastern United States, and American Water-Pridesa received the 2008 Distinguished Public-Private Partnership Innovation Award for collaborating on a new desalination plant, which now supplies water to 3.1 million residents in and around Tampa Bay, Fla. Since March 2007, the facility has produced over 6 billion gallons of drinking water.

R. W. Beck helped guide the water authority's alternative project delivery approach for the desalination plant, served as Program Manager and Procurement Advisor, and assisted in the project financing.

In June, the project also won a Desalination Plant of the Year Award from the publisher of Global Water Intelligence, a newsletter that provides analysis and strategic data on the international water market.

Natural Gas Article Published in APGA Publication

admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Dec. 3, 2008– An article published by R. W. Beck Senior Director Catherine Elder in the winter issue of The Source addresses the role of natural gas in a carbon-constrained world. The Source is the membership publication of the American Public Gas Association, which serves over 705 publicly-owned natural gas distribution companies in the United States. To access the full article, click here.

R. W. Beck Selected for ComEd’s AMI Deployment Planning Workshops

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Nov. 19, 2008– The Executive Director of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has selected Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, Inc., to facilitate a series of Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) workshops that will guide planning for the scaled deployment of up to 200,000 advanced meters and associated infrastructure at Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation that provides service to 3.8 million customers in Chicago and Northern Illinois.

The AMI workshops will begin in early December and continue over six months to develop strategies, goals, timelines, and evaluation and technology selection criteria for the AMI pilot program. Mark Gabriel, senior vice president and principal for Plexus Research and R. W. Beck, will serve as primary workshop facilitator and will be supported by a team with AMI technology and business case expertise, and related Smart Grid and management consulting capabilities.

"Their technical expertise will be essential to drive the success of this initiative," said Tim Anderson, ICC Executive Director. "The Plexus team has the experience facilitating stakeholder input and consensus building among diverse constituencies, highly qualified and resourceful personnel, and the ability to be an impartial and objective facilitator."

"This collaborative process will help us understand and assess the operational, customer service and societal benefits of AMI technology, and build a solid business and technology foundation for investment decisions moving forward," said Anne Pramaggiore, Executive Vice President, Customer Operations, Regulatory and External Affairs, ComEd.

"We look forward to partnering with ComEd and its stakeholders to support a successful initial deployment of AMI technology," said Tim Wolf, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Plexus Research.

Discussing Desalination Project at NCPPP Annual Meeting

admin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Nov. 14, 2008– Neil Callahan, a Vice President at R. W. Beck, will discuss the successful completion of the nation's first large-scale seawater desalination plant when he speaks at the National Council of Public-Private Partnerships' (NCPPP) annual meeting later this month. The desalination plant, which was completed using a Design-Build-Operate public-private partnership and became operational last December, is owned by Tampa Bay Water, the Southeast's largest regional water authority, and helps serve the water needs of 2.4 million residents in the Tampa Bay region.

"Tampa Bay Water has been a long-standing advocate of the use and benefits of public-private partnerships in the water industry," says Mr. Callahan. "The desalination project has significantly expanded the boundary of value such partnerships can deliver."

R. W. Beck served as owner's agent, procurement advisor and program manager for the rehabilitation and completion of the desalination plant. The project was implemented to diversify water supply sources, provide environmental remediation and meet new demand in the region.

NCPPP's annual meeting will be held at the Westin in Indianapolis, IN from November 20-21. Mr. Callahan will participate in a panel session, "Innovations in Water and Energy Projects" on Friday, November 21 at 10:30AM.

Rising Power Plant Construction Costs Article Published in Platts’ Insight Magazine

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Oct. 28, 2008– An article published by R. W. Beck Principal and Vice President David Patton in the October issue of Platts' Insight Magazine addresses the factors contributing to rising power plant construction costs. Patton spoke about this topic at Platts' 10th Annual Financing US Power conference earlier this month.

Helping States to Develop Informed Solid Waste Policies

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Oct. 23, 2008– R. W. Beck is performing a roadside litter assessment for the State of Georgia's Department of Community Affairs, a study designed to determine the factors influencing the location and amount of litter on state roads, and increase the effectiveness of targeted education, enforcement and eradication initiatives. The Firm has conducted several studies for Georgia and South Carolina that determine actionable response strategies when resources may be limited.

"The technical expertise we bring combined with an in-depth understanding of current problems and strategies that have been successful elsewhere inform public policy decisions at the state level," says Robert Craggs, Vice President of the Firm's Solid Waste Practice. "By identifying the characteristics and causes of litter, and recommending appropriate actions, states respond with legislative action, appropriate enforcement of these measures and targeted educational programs."

This study follows an earlier roadside assessment conducted by R.W. Beck in 2006. Similar policy-setting work in Georgia includes a waste characterization study that led to the development of new recycling infrastructure, development of the State's solid waste management plan and advisory services for a statewide recycling branding campaign. In South Carolina, R. W. Beck evaluated the need for and potential economic impact of additional processing capacity for recyclables and is developing the State's recycling training program for a second consecutive year.

"These states appreciate what we provide to help them create effective policies," says Craggs. "Beyond simply performing waste studies, our insights and recommendations have positioned us as a long-term and trusted source of knowledge."

In addition to state-level partnerships, the Firm also works with counties and local governments across the United States.

Energy Markets Specialist Joins R. W. Beck

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Oct. 15, 2008– R. W. Beck welcomes Robert Patrylak as National Director of Energy Markets responsible for providing business solutions to electric and gas executives seeking advanced knowledge of energy markets. Mr. Patrylak has 20 years of experience working with electric G&Ts, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), independent system operators (ISOs), energy consumers, transmission companies and power project developers.

His areas of expertise include energy market advisory, RTO market design and implementation, resource planning, trading operations, asset valuation, risk management, energy procurement, electric transmission and distribution, and strategic planning.

"Rob will be an extremely valuable asset for the leadership of our Energy Markets team," says Tim Corrigan, Executive Vice President at R. W. Beck. "He combines strong market insight with sophisticated market modeling knowledge to offer utilities and energy clients deep understanding of market challenges."

Mr. Patrylak holds an MBA and a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He will work out of the Firm's Orlando office and can be reached at rpatrylak@rwbeck.com.

Five R. W. Beck Speakers to Address WASTECON 2008

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Oct. 14, 2008– Five R. W. Beck consultants will deliver presentations at WASTECON 2008, the premier international solid waste trade show. As awareness grows about the impact of waste resources on the environment, industry professionals face numerous challenges that require long-term, insightful solutions.

Lynn Adams, Abby Goldsmith, Karl Hufnagel, Raymond Randall and Bob Craggs will discuss, respectively, integrating strategy and sustainability into solid waste management programs, the application of plasma arc gasification to municipal solid waste management, designing materials recovery facilities to the waste stream, redefining the role of small rural transfer stations, and Cleveland's automated waste collection and curbside recycling pilot program. R. W. Beck's clients will co-present with our consultants on several of these topics.

"Decision makers in the waste industry must consider a host of issues to make prudent business and environmental decisions," says Bob Craggs, Vice President of R. W. Beck's Solid Waste Practice. "Economics, environmental sustainability, innovative technologies, and quality and level of service all play a critical role as local and state governments develop strategies to successfully manage their waste resources. R. W. Beck is excited to participate in WASTECON 2008 and to share our insights in this important dialogue."

Hosted by the Solid Waste Association of North America, WASTECON will be held from October 21 to 23 in Tampa, Florida at the Tampa Bay Convention Center. This year's theme is "Energy, Climate and the Solid Waste Connection."

R. W. Beck to Discuss Rising Construction Costs at Platts Power Finance Conference

admin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Oct. 13, 2008– David Patton, Principal and Vice President at R. W. Beck, will speak about the impact of rising construction costs and fuel cost volatility on power generation projects at Platts' 10th Annual Financing US Power conference.

"Recent construction cost increases and fuel volatility raise significant questions about how demand for electric power using new generation will balance against inherent upward electric rate adjustments," says Patton. "Yet while credit concerns, policy decisions, environmental issues and regulatory rulings should help mold some aspects of future construction costs, the underlying reasons for cost increases probably will not be eliminated or minimized anytime soon."

Patton will speak about the subject in a panel discussion on Monday, October 20 at 9:10AM. Financing US Power will be held at the Marriott New York Downtown from October 20 to 21 in New York, NY.

Future of Fuels Article Published in Public Power Magazine

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Oct. 10, 2008– October's Public Power Magazine cover story addresses electric generation fuel mix considerations in anticipation of carbon regulation. "The Future of Fuels in a Carbon-Constrained World" by Catherine Elder, Senior Director with R. W. Beck, is based on a well-received presentation at the 2008 American Public Power Association national conference. Public Power Magazine is circulated to over 21,000 decision makers in the municipal power market, bringing news and analysis to industry managers and policy makers nationwide. To access the article, click here

Presenting the Future of Sustainable Energy at WEEC

admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Oct. 8, 2008– Mark Gabriel, senior vice president and principal at R. W. Beck, gave a keynote presentation to the 31st World Energy Engineering Congress (WEEC) about how industry leaders can create a sustainable energy future. The five critical factors he addressed were industry demographics, the evolution of the energy business, carbon constraints and capacity demands, the need for intelligent infrastructure and greater customer engagement.Gabriel, a frequent speaker and author of Visions for a Sustainable Energy Future, spoke to an audience of several hundred industry leaders concerned with energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. WEEC was hosted by the Association of Energy Engineers in Washington, DC.

"Creating a sustainable energy economy means pursuing some necessary but often unattractive options," says Gabriel. "Global warming and climate change suggest we immediately embrace renewable technologies, but the required economic investment means relying on an energy portfolio that continues to include coal and other fossil fuels. Our country cannot simply pursue what we want to do. We must understand what we have the power to do. Long-term solutions that address today's energy challenges must integrate knowledge, creativity and pure pragmatism."

Before his WEEC keynote presentation on October 1, Gabriel addressed the intersection of energy, environment and sustainable development at the 25th International Pittsburgh Coal Conference.

Smart Grid Interoperability Project Management for NIST

admin — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Oct. 6, 2008– The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a division of the United States Department of Commerce, has hired Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, Inc., to assist in fulfilling its mandate to identify and support Smart Grid standards of interoperability as specified in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007).

EISA 2007 directs NIST to identify existing and developing standards related to Smart Grid technologies, assess their current functional and technical interoperability, and prioritize actions to achieve a higher level of interoperability that would benefit utilities, businesses and consumers. NIST has tapped Plexus Research and R. W. Beck to provide the Smart Grid domain expertise to fulfill this mandate. The effort comprises three key deliverables to NIST:

• A Smart Grid Standards Knowledge Base (SKB) that will serve as a central repository describing standards that support operation and integration of Smart Grid applications.

• A Smart Grid Standards Interoperability Assessment (SIA) that will identify alignment, overlaps, and gaps among Smart Grid standards.

• A Smart Grid Standards Landscape Map (SLM) that provides an interface for user access to the SKB and SIA. The SLM will enable a broad base of users to view and understand the elements, structure, status, and development of the Smart Grid standards landscape. The expected users of the SLM will be the Smart Grid standards development community; the Smart Grid stakeholders, various media; and political leaders who want to monitor, enable, and encourage Smart Grid progress.

"This work for NIST dovetails very well with several other Smart Grid-related projects Plexus Research and R. W. Beck are engaged in with both utility and institutional clients," said Tim Wolf, Vice President at Plexus Research. "Achieving a high level of interoperability is essential to achieving the Smart Grid vision, and we look forward to helping NIST provide the tools, processes and data necessary to support harmonization of standards in the Smart Grid sector."

Helping NRECA Co-Ops Better Utilize Software Systems Data

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Sept. 30, 2008 – Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, Inc., was selected by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and its research arm, the Cooperative Research Network (CRN), to help distribution cooperatives transform an ever-increasing amount of data from integrated software applications into refined and actionable information to improve operations and customer service.

Plexus Research will work with CRN and member cooperatives to develop specific strategies and steps to more effectively integrate and utilize data from systems such as AMI, OMS, CIS, GIS and SCADA. The result will be a strategic roadmap for the nation's more than 900 electric cooperatives to improve their business processes and decision support in areas such as planning, operations, maintenance, customer service, engineering, rate analysis, accounting and finance.

"Distribution cooperatives have made significant investments in data-intensive systems, which provide a tsunami of information related to AMI, outage management, workforce management, geospatial and customer information," says Marty Gordon, senior program manager at CRN. "But they often face a challenge in the inability to extract and interpret data that delivers real business value. We look to Plexus Research to help our member co-ops determine how to capture that critical information. Their team has an exceptional track record and broad knowledge of utility systems and business processes."

Plexus Research will analyze current software systems and applications utilized by NRECA members to make recommendations for the more effective utilization of data-intensive systems to improve customer satisfaction, staff productivity and control costs. Based on those results, Plexus Research will provide additional insight by conceiving algorithms and interfaces not currently in place, but which would be valuable to distribution cooperatives in achieving key business objectives.

"Our utility clients have made it clear that transforming data into actionable knowledge and increasing the transparency of their business processes is critical to achieving a strong return on these technology investments," says Tim Wolf, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development at Plexus Research. "This project will provide NRECA member cooperatives with a broadly applicable strategy and roadmap to put the data they're collecting with these systems to better use for the benefit of their operations and customers."

R.W. Beck Selected to Support Maryland’s Clean Energy Capacity Project

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Sept. 30, 2008– R. W. Beck has been selected by the Maryland Energy Association (MEA) to provide business consulting and engineering expertise to support the Maryland Utility-Scale Clean Energy Capacity Project, a Department of Energy (DOE)-funded initiative to develop a statewide integrated Smart Grid regulatory and policy program. Most electricity decisions are left to the states but DOE provides financial assistance to efforts intended to modernize the power grid.

"The State of Maryland has enacted ambitious goals with respect to energy efficiency, demand reduction and environmental stewardship," says Malcolm Woolf, MEA Director. "The Clean Energy Capacity Project will provide the regulatory and policy framework through which we can achieve these objectives. We've assembled a capable consortium of Smart Grid expertise, including R. W. Beck, to assess the state of technology and programs nationwide, provide cost-benefit analyses and facilitate the process of effective policy development."

R.W. Beck has a long history of providing utility industry consulting services in the technologies, applications and economics of advanced metering systems, especially in intelligent infrastructure, load management, premises automation, telecommunications, customer communications and demand response. The Firm will work with MEA, Energetics Inc. and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy to identify, analyze and design the elements of a Smart Grid program for Maryland. This should support the state's EmPOWER Program vision to reduce energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015 and enable at least one gigawatt of clean energy capacity when fully implemented, a measurement of electricity sufficient to power a medium-sized city.

"This project represents a promising effort by Maryland to utilize current and future technologies for conservation and efficiency," says Mark Gabriel, senior vice president and principal at R. W. Beck. "Intelligent infrastructure will play a critical part in managing our power supply needs and reducing environmental impacts. We are pleased to work with the State as it serves as a model for others by delivering clean energy through an advanced Smart Grid program."

R. W. Beck Stormwater Client Earns Airport Industry Environmental Achievement Award

admin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Seattle | Sept. 29, 2008 – The Port of Seattle's Seattle-Tacoma International Airport received the 2008 Environmental Achievement Award from Airports Council International–North America, an award which annually recognizes a member airport that demonstrates outstanding environmental programs or initiatives. The Port of Seattle hired R. W. Beck to consult on the stormwater management program associated with its $4.2 billion capital improvement plan, including construction of a third runway and major redevelopment of the airport terminal and road system. One key priority was continued compliance with the airport's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements.

R. W. Beck evaluated the airport's drainage system, recommended and designed capital facilities, and helped the Port adopt technologies and best management practices to successfully address regional environmental concerns.

"This award recognizes the Port of Seattle for cutting-edge, sustainable management of airport runoff," says Ralph Nelson, project manager at R. W. Beck. "The airport's rapid growth requires careful planning and construction to control pollutant discharges articulated in increasingly rigorous regulations."

Utility Management and Operations Veteran Joins R. W. Beck

admin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Sept. 26, 2008– R. W. Beck announces the hire of David Andrus as a Senior Director in the Firm's Energy Sector. Mr. Andrus has over 20 years of experience consulting on electric utility management and operations, with specialized knowledge of transmission and distribution planning, substation design, system reliability assessments, and technical and economic analyses. His career spans working with electric utilities, industrials and developers on different projects, including expansion plans, generation siting and interconnection alternatives, and transmission constraint evaluation and mitigation design.

"Utility executives can ensure the reliability and performance of their transmission and distribution systems by making sound business decisions," says Joe Mancinelli, Vice President at R. W. Beck. "Dave brings insight to help clients make informed investments regarding the future of their electrical infrastructure. This strengthens their bottom line and results in the delivery of quality service to customers."

David can be reached at dandrus@rwbeck.com.

Generation and Transmission Modeling Expert Joins R. W. Beck

admin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Sept. 19, 2008 – Ajit Kulkarni, PhD in Electrical Engineering, has joined R. W. Beck as a Senior Director in the Firm's Energy Markets Consulting group. Dr. Kulkarni will lead the Transmission Stability initiative and contribute to client studies in the areas of market rules, unit commitment and dispatch, production costing, zonal analysis, nodal/LMP analysis, power flow and regional and portfolio analysis. He brings in-depth familiarity of national and international markets.

"Ajit's technical expertise combined with his outside consultant skills and client focus will complement and strengthen our service offerings to clients in this area," says Joe Mancinelli, Vice President at R. W. Beck. "He is respected in the industry for his sophisticated analytical capabilities and ability to help utilities effectively manage their power assets."

Dr. Kulkarni has worked in the electric energy industry for 13 years and has extensive experience providing consulting services to various clients. He has performed and managed studies on topics such as asset (generation, transmission and FTR) valuation, congestion analysis, transmission issues, market restructuring and market policy/rules. In addition, Dr. Kulkarni has led R&D efforts in model development and has managed technical teams performing support, training and implementation of software models. He was responsible for development and maintenance of a sophisticated production-cost model widely used in the industry.

Dr. Kulkarni can be reached at akulkarni@rwbeck.com.

Financial Times, Economist Recognize R. W. Beck Analyst for Distinction in Quantitative Finance Education

admin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Sept. 19, 2008 – Chris Gibbons, an analyst with R. W. Beck, has been recognized for achieving a grade of 'distinction' from an internationally recognized certificate program in quantitative finance. In successfully completing the program, Mr. Gibbons joins an exclusive global community of finance practitioners and was recognized in The Financial Times and The Economist.

The Certificate in Quantitative Finance was launched five years ago to provide high-level training opportunities for individuals working in, or intending to move into, derivatives and risk management. The six-month intensive program offers a structured approach and commitment to the quantitative finance field.

"We're pleased with Chris' accomplishment," says Tim Corrigan, Executive Vice President of Energy at R. W. Beck. "By furthering his knowledge of this field through focused dedication, the value of the consulting services he offers our clients increases significantly."

In pursuing the certificate, Mr. Gibbons received an advanced understanding of derivatives modeling and valuation, applicable to valuing generation and gas storage assets, hedge transactions and portfolios, and other financial and energy derivatives.

Benefiting from Strategic Leadership: New Book Provides a Critical Tool for Executives

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Sept. 5, 2008 – The Art of Strategic Leadership, a new book written for those responsible for the day-to-day leadership of public and private infrastructure organizations, provides an approach for how executives can achieve a strategic perspective to help their organizations succeed. Authors Lynn Adams, Dave Jochim and Tom Cutting translate their experience working in the energy, water, wastewater, solid waste and transportation industries into accessible and easily understandable techniques for enhancing organizational performance.

"The Art of Strategic Leadership is a pragmatic tool to enhance leadership across all levels of an organization. Our years of experience have shown that developing clear strategy is probably the most essential leadership function and this book provides a tool for how to accomplish that while building endorsement across the organization. We also address the critical element of incorporating the governing body into the process," says Ms. Adams, Vice President at R. W. Beck who leads the Firm's utility business consulting initiative. "Surveys repeatedly show that infrastructure executives view business and organizational concerns as key barriers to high-level performance. Knowing that these 'softer' aspects are in fact at the core of many business issues, we have developed a methodology by which leaders can confidently develop integrated, forward-looking strategy."

The book suggests how executives can help others succeed in key leadership roles, discusses important business issues and ways managers can communicate effectively, and offers advice for dealing with change. While many business books rely on theory without sharing specific approaches or techniques, The Art of Strategic Leadership offers both.

The authors, all management consultants at R. W. Beck, combine over nine decades of experience providing infrastructure organizations and engineering companies throughout the world with the tools necessary to help their businesses succeed through integrated strategic and business planning.

Financial and Economic Management Specialist Joins R. W. Beck

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Aug. 25, 2008 – R. W. Beck welcomes Dan Lanning as a Senior Director in the Firm's Dallas office to assist clients in the water, wastewater and electric industries. Mr. Lanning brings over 30 years of utility financial and management achievements to R. W. Beck and has, throughout his career, prepared asset valuations, rates and charges, financial feasibility and management studies for public and private sector organizations in the electric, water, sewer, stormwater, reclamation and solid waste industries.

"Dan will be a valuable resource for our clients," says Neil Callahan, Vice President at R. W. Beck. "Utility executives are under tremendous pressure to consider all the financial and social implications of their decisions to keep customers satisfied and their businesses sustainable. Growing markets, aging infrastructure and a dynamic regulatory market all create challenges for utilities attempting to remain financially stable. Dan's experience with utilities and regulators places him in a position to help clients maneuver through a successful decision-making process when faced with such concerns."

Before becoming a consultant, Mr. Lanning held previous positions at the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commissionincluding as Assistant Finance Director. He also was Chief Auditor responsible for reviewing construction costs at a nuclear power plant and a PUC Examiner.

"I look forward to joining the R. W. Beck team," says Mr. Lanning. "The Firm's reputation for working with infrastructure organizations to identify and respond strategically to factors affecting their business viability has earned great respect within the industry. I am excited to contribute my knowledge to help sustain their record of success with clients."

Independent Engineering Veteran Joins R. W. Beck

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | Aug. 14, 2008 – Brad Barta brings over two decades of experience providing independent engineering and due diligence services to the power industry as he joins R. W. Beck as a Senior Project Manager. He possesses broad technical knowledge of power generation technologies ranging across renewables, nuclear energy and fossil power. Mr. Barta's experience consulting with independent power project developers, financial institutions and investors, electric utilities, and federal entities including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy will be valuable to the Firm's clients as they consider the impacts of their business and investment decisions.

"Brad's wealth of global independent engineering experience extends the firm's capabilities to serve lenders and investors in infrastructure projects," says Bill Reynolds, Executive Vice President of Global Asset Consulting at R. W. Beck. "His knowledge of different technologies and significant international experience is especially helpful in an era when clients are faced with generation choices ranging from renewables to nuclear power. We are extremely pleased to have a person of Brad's experience and integrity joining our firm."

In previous engagements, Mr. Barta helped buyers, sellers and investors review equipment technology and the condition of generation assets, assisted in contract preparation and negotiation, developed financial projections and evaluated project feasibility. He has fulfilled global independent technical consulting assignments for existing and green-field projects in support of financing, acquisition and divestiture for financial institutions.

Mr. Barta began work at the Firm's Denver office on August 11. He can be reached via email at BBarta@RWBeck.com.

R. W. Beck is DBO Procurement Advisor and Program Manager on Global Water Award-Winning Desalination Project

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | June 30, 2008– A desalination facility owned by Tampa Bay Water won a 2008 Global Water Award as the Desalination Plant of the Year. The plant represented "the most impressive technical achievement in the industry," according to the award-selecting publisher of Global Water Intelligence, a newsletter that provides analysis and strategic data on the international water market. The annual Global Water Awards recognize outstanding water companies, public agencies, water deals and banks that contribute to financing water services.

R. W. Beck served as Design-Build-Operate Procurement Advisor and Program Manager on the project. "We are happy Tampa Bay Water received this recognition," says Neil Callahan, Vice President at R. W. Beck. "With its current capabilities, the desalination plant shows how a coastal utility can effectively invest in capital infrastructure to address challenges associated with population increases and finite potable water supplies."

The desalination plant is the first of its kind for the water services industry in that it was initially developed by the private sector before being sold to and completed by Tampa Bay Water, the Southeast's largest regional water authority that supplies 3.1 million bay area residents. Since March 2007, the facility has produced over 6 billion gallons of drinking water.

Although R. W. Beck has worked with Tampa Bay Water since 1998 on a variety of projects, the Firm was specifically tasked in 2003 to help the utility guide its alternative project delivery approach to the project, assist the project financing and resolve the acceptance test deficiencies. The developed procurement successfully transferred the project risk and secured a replacement DBO contractor willing to assume full performance risk, so the utility could complete construction of the facility to meet regional demand for water supply.

R. W. Beck to Develop Database and Website for Nation’s Largest State Recycling Agency

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | July 28, 2008– R. W. Beck has been selected by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) to document the State's solid waste management and recycling infrastructure. The initiative aims to deliver this information, and a model for projecting future needs through a new, interactive web-based information system featuring GIS capabilities, to be added to CIWMB's expansive web site.

"This is the first data gathering, management and modeling project of its size," says Ed Boisson, project manager at R. W. Beck. "CIWMB's decision to centralize information on the nation's largest and most advanced recycling infrastructure should be of keen interest to waste management and recycling organizations throughout California and in other states."

Mr. Boisson believes the tool can help CIWMB and local governments evaluate current and future needs for recycling processing facilities, composting sites and other waste reduction infrastructure. Private sector firms could utilize the tool to investigate market opportunities.

The infrastructure inventory and information framework will also facilitate consideration of regional initiatives by mapping existing solid waste and recycling facilities and projecting regional waste generation and infrastructure needs. "Ultimately, this tool will make it easier for state policymakers to set a baseline grounded in current realities and plot a course towards CIWMB's zero waste goal," explains Mr. Boisson.

The project will begin with a broad user needs assessment to ensure the information system responds to stakeholders' needs and priorities. As it gathers and manages data, R. W. Beck will abide by the confidentiality requirements of facility owners and operators. The Firm will work with CIWMB on this two-year $900,000 project to research and collect data, and develop the final information framework, as well as a protocol for periodic updates.

Founded over 65 years ago, R. W. Beck (rwbeck.com) is a technically based business consulting and engineering firm providing services to both public and private sectors in the areas of energy, water and waste resources.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board (ciwmb.ca.gov) is the state's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes reducing waste whenever possible, managing all materials to their highest and best use, and protecting public health and safety and the environment. CIWMB is one of six boards, departments and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency.

R. W. Beck to Provide Independent Engineering for Nuclear Innovation North America’s STP 3&4 Nuclear Projects

admin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | July 18, 2008– R. W. Beck was selected by NRG Energy to review its two new Bay City, Texas-based nuclear projects. With plans to develop South Texas Units 3 and 4, Nuclear Innovation North America, a joint venture of NRG Energy and Toshiba, looks to R. W. Beck and its teaming partner, EXCEL Services Corporation (EXCEL), to prepare an independent engineering report as required by the Department of Energy (DOE) and rating agencies to be eligible for DOE's loan guarantees.

Investing in nuclear infrastructure has grown more attractive for utilities seeking to develop new capital projects that address carbon emissions concerns and a growing demand for power. Since the third quarter of 2007, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received combined construction and operating license applications for 15 units at nine new sites, representing the first nuclear power-related applications filed since before the Three Mile Island accident in 1979.

"We look forward to providing independent engineering and other services to a new generation of nuclear infrastructure," says Paul Harmon, Senior Vice President at R. W. Beck. The Firm's prior involvement in the industry concentrated on offering due diligence and independent engineering services to lenders, developers and owners to help assess and manage risk on complex, high-profile projects.

R. W. Beck entered into its current agreement with EXCEL in February to provide clients with additional safety, performance licensing and operations services. EXCEL has worked with regulators and nuclear industry executives worldwide to help achieve nuclear facility performance and safety goals for 23 years.

Disaster Recovery Services Help Utilities Mitigate Impact of Emergencies

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | June 17, 2008– Beck Disaster Recovery, Inc. (BDR), a subsidiary of R. W. Beck, offers experience to help utilities prepare for and respond to natural and man-made disasters. BDR, a consultancy, has provided program management services for hazard mitigation, emergency preparedness planning, and response and recovery to schools, government and hospitals since 2000.

"Our affiliation with R. W. Beck made it natural to consider what support we can offer utilities during a crisis," says Jonathan Burgiel, BDR President. "An IT security breach, destruction caused by a tornado or an epidemic that leads to significant absenteeism shouldn't prevent a utility from delivering services that millions of people depend on."

Headquartered in Orlando, Fla., BDR's 85 emergency management planning and disaster recovery experts are located in five offices nationwide and can coordinate with more than 1,800 additional personnel trained in emergency preparedness. For one utility, BDR identified alternate facilities, developed mitigation strategies, recommended the protection of vital records and clarified succession and delegation of authority for each department.

"BDR has already made a significant impact preparing communities to respond to disaster-related events," says Tim Corrigan, Executive Vice President of Energy at R. W. Beck. "In the course of our own work for utilities, we have found opportunities for our clients to benefit from BDR's additional level of knowledge."

R. W. Beck Hires Strategic Leadership Executive

admin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | June 12, 2008– Thomas Cutting, P.E., a management consultant who has helped public agencies and private sector companies make effective business decisions through a variety of strategy development and leadership enhancement approaches, has recently joined R. W. Beck. Mr. Cutting has decades of experience facilitating a process to help organizations address key institutional challenges and develop stakeholder-endorsed solutions. With two co-authors from R. W. Beck, he will share highlights of these approaches in a book to be published later this summer, The Art of Strategic Leadership.

"Tom's keen insight in leading strategy development sessions and challenging the thinking of executive teams delivers remarkable impact in terms of real change within infrastructure organizations. The result is an ability to prioritize decisions and execute strategy to address critical business issues," says Lynn Adams, Vice President and Utility Business Consultant at R. W. Beck. "Clients will benefit from his significant experience."

Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Cutting ran his own consultancy, providing management consulting services to a variety of organizations including those in energy, water, wastewater, transportation and solid waste. He also contributed significantly to the business development, sales and marketing efforts of companies worldwide.

"His engineering perspective and experience in the utility space will make him an outstanding resource for our clients and contribute significantly to effective consulting engagements and long-term business relationships," says Ms. Adams.

New Marketing and Business Development Vice President Joins Plexus Research

admin — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | June 9, 2008– Plexus Research, a division of R. W. Beck, Inc., has hired a new vice president of marketing and business development whose knowledge of how utilities implement and utilize advanced metering technologies will increase the company's capabilities in this rapidly growing sector. Tim Wolf comes to Plexus Research, an R. W. Beck company, with more than 10 years of marketing experience at Itron Inc., where he gained a deep understanding of electric, gas and water AMI/AMR systems, as well as related software and services.

In his new role, Mr. Wolf will focus on business development, marketing and project management. Drawing on his knowledge and experience in customer-facing technologies, Mr. Wolf will help Plexus Research and R. W. Beck build relationships with utility clients and help those clients make informed technology decisions that deliver a strong return on investment.

"Tim is that rare talent who offers both in-depth technical understanding and exemplary communications skills," says Ralph Abbott, President of Plexus Research. "We enthusiastically welcome him to our team and to the broader family of R. W. Beck."

Mr. Wolf will leverage the consulting services Plexus Research offers to ensure utilities successfully select and implement advanced metering infrastructure to meet customer expectations, support regulatory requirements and achieve key business objectives.

"I have had the pleasure of working directly with Plexus Research over the past decade in a variety of capacities and their knowledge and reputation in the industry is second to none," said Mr. Wolf. "I'm looking forward to joining the Plexus/R. W. Beck team as they expand their footprint among both investor-owned utilities and municipalities in the rapidly growing AMI/AMR market."

Plexus Research, a Divsion of R. W. Beck, Inc., provides utility industry consulting services in the technologies, applications and economics of advanced energy systems, especially in the areas of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Automated Meter Reading (AMR) applications, load management, premises automation, telecommunications, customer communications and demand response. The company celebrates its 25th anniversary this year (1983-2008).

R. W. Beck Addresses Increased Significance of Risk Management to S&P Ratings Criteria

admin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Denver | June 6, 2008– R. W. Beck co-presented with two member firms of the Committee of Chief Risk Officers to help energy firms better understand the ratings impact of a new Standard & Poor's (S&P) initiative. On May 7, S&P announced it would begin incorporating assessments of a company's risk-management culture and strategic risk management into its ratings process in the third quarter of 2008. Within a year, every company is expected to have had at least an initial enterprise risk management discussion. A subsequent benchmarking process will form the basis of scoring to identify situations that could require ratings or outlook actions.

This web-based event was sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute on Thursday, June 5.

"Sound risk management execution can and should be a strategic business advantage for a company, enhancing its ability to improve overall performance and avoid losses beyond capital capacity," says Robert Young of R. W. Beck, who has consulted with financial institutions, energy firms and Fortune 500 companies on risk- and strategic planning-related initiatives for over 20 years. "A growing number of regulators, ratings agencies and investment analysts are expecting risk management to be a core competency of companies involved in all aspects of the energy markets."

The discussion explored the specifics of S&P's planned risk management assessment program, and proposed ways energy firms can position themselves to ensure the efficacy of their risk management programs.