THE WILLIS UTILITIES PRACTICE

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1 THE WILLIS UTILITIES PRACTICE

2 UTILITIES: INDISPENSABLE RISK: UNAVOIDABLE THE RIGHT RISK PARTNER: INVALUABLE THE WILLIS UTILITIES PRACTICE Willis 2

3 POWER As the utility industry adopts strategies that emphasize flexibility and limit capital exposure, insurance programs play an increasingly important role. Driven as well by changes in ownership and management, utilities have become sophisticated buyers of insurance, highlighting the need for a broker expert in both traditional and nontraditional risks, including: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE. Personal accountability to a wide range of stakeholders for missteps, perceived or actual, is higher than ever before. ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES. Old sites, waste depositories, emissions controls, carbon sequestration and other implications of global warming must be addressed. WEATHER EXPOSURES. Climate change can hit revenue streams cool summers mean low power sales; warm winters, low gas sales; droughts can hurt hydro facilities. REGULATORY CONCERNS. FERC, PUC, rate base recovery and rate freezes keeping track of all of these issues is complicated. TERRORISM. Transmission companies as well as fossil fuel, hydroelectric and nuclear facilities are potential major targets. SPOT MARKET EXPOSURES. Replacement power, gas supply prices and spark spread issues continually loom. TECHNOLOGY ISSUES. Markets for prototype equipment and design exposures are restricted. POWER SALES EXPOSURES. Power purchase contracts, gas take-or-pay contracts, capacity payments, merchant power sales all come with risks. RENEWABLE ENERGY. Risk profiles will change as utilities react to the regulatory drive to expand renewable energy availability and grapple with new technologies and designs. BUILDERS RISK. Technology issues, civil exposures, advance loss-of-profits and wrap-ups; plus, projects in foreign countries can result in Kidnap & Ransom and Political Risk exposures as well. Willis 3

4 WHO WE SERVE Willis understands the factors differentiating one set of exposures from another and is thus able to work with clients to develop risk management strategies and options appropriate to the full scope of their operations, financial circumstances and long-term goals. The main utility business components we service include: Vertically integrated electric utilities: investor-owned, municipally-owned and cooperatives Horizontally integrated electric utilities Regulated power generation Independent power producers Merchant power producers Electric and gas transmission companies Electric and gas distribution companies Water distribution and waste management companies Alternative energy operations Our utility clients range from some of the world s largest multinational utilities to small local utilities with limited service territories. In 50 countries around the globe, we represent a full range of generators, from nuclear and hydro to combined cycle gas turbine and renewable energy operators, electric and gas distribution and transmission companies and water companies. Large power projects are challenging in part because of their sheer size, usually remote locations and because they frequently encompass multiple contracting parties. Willis works with the project principals to ensure their broad insurance program provides effective and efficient protection to all parties involved. This is usually accomplished through an owner-controlled insurance program (OCIP) tailored to meet the project s specific needs at the lowest reasonable cost. As the world s leading construction broker, Willis is arguably the leader in establishing OCIPs and CCIPs (contract-controlled insurance programs) and shaping them to suit the contractual arrangements between the principal parties. Our practice focuses on the four standard utility sectors: electric, gas, water and alternative energy. We cover both regulated and non-regulated entities. Our clients operations vary widely by location, age of facility and exact type of operation, and each has a different set of business drivers. Willis 4

5 KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE The Willis Utility Practice functions in two ways: as a source of industry-specific knowledge and expertise, and as a conduit for our clients to access the full array of Willis risk management and product offerings. This combination offers clients the benefit of Willis expertise in traditional areas such as Property, Casualty, Executive Risks, Construction and Employee Benefits, as well as many other areas that are material to meeting the needs of modern utility clients, including: Actuarial service Captive management Engineering and loss control Risk management consulting Contract review and analysis Mergers and acquisitions Project finance Structured risk financing We develop new products for the utility sector as its risk financing needs evolve. Past innovations include: Environmental cost cap and liability products Multiyear weather insurance deals Alternatives to financial and performance bond insurance Generation spot price volatility covers The reason you buy insurance is to protect assets and liabilities, and when the unexpected loss event occurs you want to make a quick and effective recovery. We have a thorough understanding and detailed knowledge of adjusting complex claims and working with insurance carriers toward an optimal resolution of the claim. Our claim experience includes construction and operational losses due to major mechanical breakdowns, catastrophic fires, builders risk collapses, business interruption, delay in start-up, contingent business income loss, Workers Compensation claims, third-party property damage and injury, directors and officers suits, fiduciary suits, explosions, flood, professional liability, political risk, marine transit, and tax credit recapture losses. Willis 5

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7 THE VALUE GAP The knowledge, skills and expertise offered by more than 200 professionals that comprise the Willis Utility Practice help widen what we call the value gap the difference between what clients can or choose to do for themselves and what we can do for them. The more we can do for our clients, the greater the value gap, and the more valuable we believe our services are to them. How do we accomplish this? By offering clients a competitive advantage over their peers through superior strategies and insurance solutions whether this means finding a less expensive insurance program, a new approach to loss control or a credit enhancement program that allows the insured to enter into larger trading deals. Through development with extensive research and analysis of tailored solutions in esoteric areas, such as environmental, loss portfolio transfers, captive options and other structured risk solutions. By helping develop revenue enhancement products via such programs as warranty coverages and electric rate guarantee programs. By educating insurers, thus enabling more attractive placements. Willis Utility Practice clients also benefit from comparable expertise in several Willis specialty practices. ENVIRONMENTAL Our industry-leading environmental operation has extensive experience with superfund and manufactured gas exposures, asbestosis hazards and other complex environmental exposures. WEATHER Our proven weather programs can be carefully structured to protect revenue streams or offer revenue enhancement opportunities. ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT Our consultants work with clients to identify exposures extending beyond traditional insurance risks and develop cutting-edge financial solutions that can have a substantial impact on the bottom line. MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS Our M&A specialists provide crucial support to an industry that is expected to see continuing consolidation over the next several years. Willis 7

8 ONE TEAM LED BY YOUR CLIENT ADVOCATE The Willis Client Advocate concept is a key factor that sets Willis apart. Through the Client Advocate Model, all of our resources people, knowledge, technology, experience come together for a single purpose: to help your organization succeed. Your Client Advocate is the senior Willis person selected to work with you and manage all aspects of your account current and prospective risks, loss prevention and loss settlement, marketing and administration. He or she has the expertise to understand your organization and its component parts and will take the time to learn your operations, the specific nature of your risks and your long-term financial goals. Your Client Advocate is your doorway to the global expertise of Willis, your willing champion in the marketplace and your trusted adviser. GLOBAL RESOURCES DELIVERED LOCALLY Through the Willis team approach, we combine the convenience and servicing capabilities of a local broker with the superior expertise and market relationships of a global player. With your Client Advocate as a single point of contact and our state-of-the-art technology and communications as a foundation, we offer Glocal service: global resources, delivered locally. No matter where our clients or their operations are located, they benefit from all Willis resources wherever they might be found. Willis 8

9 MARKET RELATIONSHIPS The Willis approach to the marketplace differs markedly from that of our competition: we mobilize global resources to assure superior delivery that is customized by local Associates. We do not use a centralized marketing group to negotiate with specific markets, but rather, our marketing specialists are part of your Willis account service team and develop a tailored marketing strategy. We believe that a centralized marketing operation cannot be as intimately familiar with your risk exposures or loss history as an involved, local team. In addition, a centralized approach essentially removes you from the process and significantly reduces important personal interaction between you and the underwriters. Our methodology maximizes information flow, ensuring optimal partnerships are established in the placement process. At the same time, our approach allows our local marketers, working with our Global Markets team, to benefit from relationships with global carriers built on the strength of our business worldwide. ONE SIMPLE SOLUTION Whether you are an investor-owned electric utility or a cooperative, handle gas transmission or are an independent power producer, whether you have operations in a single location or spread around the world, the Willis Utility Practice can help. We can provide access to any type of insurance coverage, offer broad-based consulting expertise or create the cuttingedge financial products that your organization may need to be fully protected. We have the extensive market relationships required to provide the best available options for your risk management programs. Your problems may be complex, but the solution is simple: Willis. Willis 9

10 CONTACT For additional information, please contact your local Willis representative or: NORTH AMERICA David Scott Willis Utilities Practice Leader Paul Becker Willis Construction Practice Leader Ayesha Navarro Willis Canada EUROPE Michael Buckle Willis Global Markets International +44 (0) Willis 10