We have spent a considerable amount of time in the past few years assisting utilities making the transition to a competitive market structure, and assisting newly formed subsidiaries of energy companies devise workable, profitable plans for corporate growth.

Following is a brief discussion of the areas in which CCNA offers expertise to its clients.

CCNA develops business plans that work. Our work in this area spans the entire process of starting a new business or transforming an existing one into a more competitive, profitable entity. We have been at the center of the process of building non-regulated utility ventures from the ground up - including but not limited to ESCOs -- and we take a practical approach to developing the information that management needs to derive the maximum value from their resources. Furthermore, we have done business planning for foreign governments privatizing their utilities, and non-utility companies seeking access to deregulating utility markets. 

CCNA business plans ensure alignment with corporate goals, risk tolerance, and culture by challenging key assumptions. Technical, financial, and other risk parameters are thoroughly explored through sensitivity analysis and advanced decision analysis techniques. CCNA applies a disciplined, creative approach throughout all aspects of the process - clearly defining products and services, identifying and profiling target markets, developing strategic marketing plans, and establishing key performance indicators.

In summary, business planning for both established and newly formed enterprises is one of CCNA's strong suits, spanning the financial, marketing, and strategic components of the operational spectrum.

Marketing and Business Development

We have assisted a number of clients in transitioning their marketing organizations and capabilities to better address a deregulated marketplace. CCNA has strong expertise in the complex process of analyzing, developing, and positioning products and services for utilities and energy service companies seeking to generate new sources of revenue and to satisfy the crucial energy-related needs of their customers. We have also provided direct marketing and sales support. CCNA has strong expertise in segmenting and characterizing markets. Our market assessment work has been used to support business plans and investment, revisions to business direction, strategic plans and performance objectives, product and service development and marketing, and financial options evaluations.

CCNA provides services that are essential to businesses approaching new geographic areas, new market segments, or considering expansion beyond their traditional core products and services. Some of the services we provide include:

Industry Restructuring

CCNA consultants have participated in a number of industry restructuring assignments in the past several years. Our experience spans all aspects of this increasingly global phenomenon, having worked at utility and governmental levels in various restructuring situations. Our consultants have worked on strategic-level engagements in which entire wholesale markets were being redesigned, and at the individual company level, assisting in the formation of new corporate entities in response to novel market conditions and competitive pressures. Additionally, we have worked on various tariff reform efforts at the wholesale and retail levels. As an example of our policy practice, CCNA is providing high-visibility advisory services to the Armenian Ministry of Energy and the Philippines Department of Energy in their respective restructuring efforts. 

Finance

CCNA can call upon years of experience in corporate finance and financial planning, ranging from capital lease, tax, dividend, and capitalization studies, to analyzing potential mergers and acquisitions. The experience CCNA offers in the financial planning area for newly organized companies can make the difference between a financially secure subsidiary and one that struggles with cash flow and profitability problems.

Furthermore, the CCNA team excels in the financial modeling area; in fact, CCNA offers its own registered financial planning software product, CashFlow®, which has been implemented by several clients in the U.S. and abroad. CCNA can customize this model for clients, or develop a unique financial application for specific purposes should the client have a need for such a tool.

Finally, CCNA has certified SAP R/3 financial expertise within the company, and is positioned to assist clients seeking ways to derive more benefits from their enterprise resource planning systems.

Resource Planning

CCNA consultants are recognized experts in the resource planning field, having developed numerous long term resource expansion plans for a wide variety of clients in North America as well as overseas. CCNA consultants have published articles and delivered papers at major conferences related to planning practices and methodologies, and have offered expert testimony in regulatory hearings on these topics.