1. Developing Public Support for Utility
Infrastructure: How STAR Group’s Structured
Approach to Stakeholder Involvement Achieves
Superior Results
Christopher G. Kenny, President
STAR Group, LLC
4100 Marble, N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87110
www.stargroupconsulting.com

2. About STAR Group, LLC
Since 1995, STAR Group has provided clients
exceptional value through the design and facilitation of
stakeholder-driven strategic planning and problem-
solving processes. Our clients include businesses,
government agencies, and NGO’s.
© STAR Group, LLC

3. Experience
 Non-Utility
– Community Development
– U.S. Forest Service
– Cochiti Pueblo & U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
– Intel
 Utility
– Public Service Company of New Mexico (Project Power, Santa Fe
Loop)
– Central Vermont Public Service Corporation and Vermont Electric
Power Company (Southern Loop)
– NationalGrid USA (NEEWS Project)
– Progress Energy Florida (Baseload Transmission)
– Puget Sound Energy (Thurston County Project; Cross-Cascades
Project)
© STAR Group, LLC

4. Our Approach
Strategic planning, whether for a utility project or any other
community infrastructure project, requires informing and
engaging stakeholders in a proactive manner.
For our utility clients, we create and maintain a neutral space
in which community leaders are able to engage in a
constructive dialogue with the utility. As a result, the
community comes to understand the need for the project and
develops useful recommendations for the utility’s
consideration, all the while understanding clearly that the utility
will make the final decisions regarding the design of its
electrical system.
© STAR Group, LLC

5. What Most Stakeholders Want
 They want to be certain that the project is truly
needed
 They want to know that their opinion is valued
© STAR Group, LLC

6. What’s Important to the Utility
 Build necessary projects on time and within budget
 Minimize controversy and unnecessary expense
 Retain control over the outreach process and project
design
© STAR Group, LLC

7. How We Help Our Utility Clients
1. Enable the client to communicate the project need
2. Build trust and confidence in the process and in the utility
 Bring the right people together at the same time and place
 Level the playing field among all participants
 Provide an open dialogue for people to say what’s difficult
 Build on common ground instead of focusing on differences
 Document alternatives & outcomes so they don’t get lost
 Follow through to keep the public informed & engaged
3. Obtaining meaningful input while preserving the utility’s
control over the project design
4. Provide ongoing consulting and guidance regarding public
involvement
© STAR Group, LLC

8. STAR Group’s
Utility Search Conference® Process
Nominate & Utility Community
Project Leadership
Select Search Working
Team Team
Participants Conference Group
Technical Regulatory
Working Open
Filings,
Group Houses
Permitting
1-2 1-2
months 3 months days 4+ months
TIMELINE
© STAR Group, LLC

9. STAR Group’s
Utility Search Conference® Process
Nominate & Utility Community
Project Leadership
Select Search Working
Team Team
Participants Conference Group
Technical Regulatory
Working Open
Filings,
Group Houses
Permitting
Project Team – 8-10 Utility staff such as government and community
relations, legal, senior planning engineers and project managers. Works
with STAR Group on overall process design; helps identify possible
Leadership Team members; holds periodic meetings throughout to ensure
process goals are being met. Receives ongoing feedback at all stages.
© STAR Group, LLC

10. STAR Group’s
Utility Search Conference® Process
Nominate & Utility Community
Project Leadership
Select Search Working
Team Team
Participants Conference Group
Technical Regulatory
Working Open
Filings,
Group Houses
Permitting
Leadership Team – 6-10 community leaders (including 2 Utility executives)
who (1) establish the Focus Statement to be addressed, (2) determine the
stakeholder groups to be included in the process, (3) initiate the participant
nomination process, (4) confirm USC participants, (5) review
recommendations from the USC, and (6) provide direction to the CWG.
© STAR Group, LLC

11. STAR Group’s
Utility Search Conference® Process
Nominate & Utility Community
Project Leadership
Select Search Working
Team Team
Participants Conference Group
Technical Regulatory
Working Open
Filings,
Group Houses
Permitting
Nomination & Selection Process – Initiated by Leadership Team and
conducted by STAR Group. Nominees are contacted, informed of the
process, asked about their level of interest, asked for additional names, and
are notified that they will be contacted IF they are selected by the LT to
participate.
© STAR Group, LLC

12. STAR Group’s
Utility Search Conference® Process
Nominate & Utility Community
Project Leadership
Select Search Working
Team Team
Participants Conference Group
Technical Regulatory
Working Open
Filings,
Group Houses
Permitting
Technical Working Group – 5-8 independent experts (including 2 Utility
engineers) who provide technical expertise. The TWG helps to review and
provide comments for the Background Document.
© STAR Group, LLC

13. STAR Group’s
Utility Search Conference® Process
Nominate & Utility Community
Project Leadership
Select Search Working
Team Team
Participants Conference Group
Technical Regulatory
Working Open
Filings,
Group Houses
Permitting
Utility Search Conference – 40-70 qualified participants (including Utility
representatives) are invited to convene and generate 4-5 recommended
solutions to the Focus Statement.
© STAR Group, LLC

14. STAR Group’s
Utility Search Conference® Process
Nominate & Utility Community
Project Leadership
Select Search Working
Team Team
Participants Conference Group
Technical Regulatory
Working Open
Filings,
Group Houses
Permitting
Community Working Group – 18-25 individuals (including 2 Utility
representatives) who make sure there is meaningful follow through on the
Utility Search Conference recommendations. Members of the CWG also
assist with the design and content for Open House Meetings.
© STAR Group, LLC

15. STAR Group’s
Utility Search Conference® Process
Nominate & Utility Community
Project Leadership
Select Search Working
Team Team
Participants Conference Group
Technical Regulatory
Working Open
Filings,
Group Houses
Permitting
Open House Meetings – Exhibit Hall format meeting where USC
recommendations (as refined by the CWG) are presented to the public for
comment and feedback.
© STAR Group, LLC

16. STAR Group’s
Utility Search Conference® Process
Nominate & Utility Community
Project Leadership
Select Search Working
Team Team
Participants Conference Group
Technical Regulatory
Working Open
Filings,
Group Houses
Permitting
Regulatory Filings, Permitting – Members of the CWG often assist by
attending public hearings on the project. Even if they do not necessarily
support all of the recommendations, they speak to the integrity of the
process.
© STAR Group, LLC

17. Client & Participant Testimonials
“STAR Group’s Utility Search Conference
provided a new medium for exchanging
information and ideas. The end result was a
better set of alternatives for transmission-line
routing. Also, we got a better understanding of
long-range possibilities for alternative energy
sources and conservation.”
-- Roger Flynn, Chief Operating Officer
Public Service Company of New Mexico
© STAR Group, LLC

18. Client & Participant Testimonials
“There’s a high likelihood of misunderstanding between those who
want to do an infrastructure development project and those who
will be most affected by that project. The Utility Search Conference
. . . was an excellent approach to overcoming that lack of
understanding. Attendees had the opportunity to fully understand
why the project was needed, what the various options were, and
how input from all stakeholders was important in resolving the
problem. Moreover, all parties came away with a better
appreciation for why something needs to be done, and what
should be considered in doing it.”
-- John Stevens, Director of Distributed Generation
Sandia National Laboratories
© STAR Group, LLC

19. Client & Participant Testimonials
Baseload Transmission Video
(Progress Energy)
http://www.progress-
energy.com/aboutenergy/transmission/florida/energyplanning/default.
asp
Bay News 9 Video Clip (Tampa Bay © STAR Group, LLC

20. Progress Energy Florida
 Over180 miles of new 500kV and 230kV
transmission across 10 counties
 “Community Partnership for Energy Planning” praised
by federal, state and local officials
 12 citizen participants testified in favor of the project
at regulatory hearings
 Over$250,000 in estimated savings to Progress
Energy Florida
© STAR Group, LLC

21. Central Vermont Public Service &
Vermont Electric Power Company
 56-mile 345kV transmission line through dense forest
 Hostile regulatory and public environment
 Very active environmental/alternative energy groups
 Result: VT Regulators approved the project, citing
the exceptional public outreach
Central Vermont Public Service
© STAR Group, LLC

22. PNM (New Mexico)
 New 115kV line for Santa Fe, NM area
 Prior effort: 7 years, $13MM, no line
 STAR Group result: each of seven regulatory
authorities gave unanimous approval for the new line
 Line was energized in 2006
© STAR Group, LLC

23. Additional Utility Clients
 NationalGrid USA
 Salt River Project
 Puget Sound Energy
 Arizona Public Service
 Dominion Virginia Power
© STAR Group, LLC

24. What Sets STAR Group Apart
1. A structured process which develops
recommendations that all stakeholders are willing
to support.
2. Our experienced staff of former utility executives
and trained public involvement professionals.
3. A proven track record of success.
© STAR Group, LLC

25. How to Reach Us
STAR Group, LLC
4100 Marble, N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 260-0876
www.stargroupconsulting.com
Christopher G. Kenny, President
ckenny@stargroupconsulting.com
(505) 263-7067
© STAR Group, LLC