Public Version of the Commission Trial Staff Direct and Answering Testimony and Exhibits; RP12-955-000 - CenterPoint Energy - Mississippi River Transmission under RP12-955.

EXHIBIT NO. S-6 FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LITIGATION CENTERPOINT ENERGY--MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRANSMISSION, LLC DOCKET NO. RP12-955-000 DIRECT AND ANSWERING TESTIMONY OF COMMISSION TRIAL STAFF WITNESS KEVIN J. PEWTERBAUGH April 9, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION CenterPoint Energy--Mississippi ) Docket No. RP12-955-000 River Transmission, LLC ) Summary of the Direct and Answering Testimony of Kevin J. Pewterbaugh Witness for the Trial Staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Trial Staff witness Kevin J. Pewterbaugh's direct and answering testimony, Exhibit No. S-6, presents Trial Staff's depreciation and amortization rate proposals. His Exhibit No. S-7 contains a list of his prior testimony as well as a list of the crude oil depreciation studies he has performed. Exhibit No. S-8 contains his supporting schedules, and Exhibit No. S-9 contains his workpapers. Mr. Pewterbaughs depreciation rate analysis is based on the remaining economic life supported by Trial Staff witness Mr. Christopher Skorski, the plant data provided by Trial Staff witness Mr. Carlton Steen, and the average remaining life (ARL) Mr. Pewterbaugh developed through the use of his Iowa curve selections. Based on this information, he believes that the depreciation rate proposals of CenterPoint Energy--Mississippi River Transmission, LLC (MRT) are reasonable. For MRTs proposed amortization rates, based on the calculated average service lives (ASLs) for these accounts, Mr. Pewterbaugh believes MRTs proposals are reasonable. Mr. Pewterbaugh has given his conclusions to Mr. Steen for his use in determining the proper cost of service. Mr. Pewterbaughs testimony also addresses the appropriate ARL and percent of current plant surviving at the estimated retirement date of MRTs facilities. He has given his results to Mr. Skorski for his development of the appropriate negative net salvage rates for MRTs underground storage and transmission plant. A summary of Mr. Pewterbaugh's recommendations is provided in Exhibit No. S- 8, Schedule No. 1 (page 1 of 19). EXHIBIT NO. S-6 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION CenterPoint Energy--Mississippi River ) Docket No. RP12-955-000 Transmission, LLC ) Prepared Direct and Answering Testimony of Kevin J. Pewterbaugh Witness for the Trial Staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 1 INTRODUCTION 2 Q. Please state your name and business address. 3 A. My name is Kevin J. Pewterbaugh. My business address is 888 First Street, N.E., 4 Washington, D.C. 20426. 5 Q. By whom are you employed and what is your position? 6 A. I am employed by the Federal ...