Generating Electric Power:
Key Legal & Technical Power Plant Issues

This three-day course reviews business, engineering and legal issues and concepts which must be understood in order to properly develop, construct and operate power plants. The course is presented by two highly experienced practitioners, one in the field of engineering and the other in law, who have worked together extensively in the power sector.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Project Managers responsible for the development, construction and/or operation of power plants, managers and legal professionals responsible for negotiating, drafting and administration of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (“EPC”) contracts and long term service agreements.
• Bankers and Credit managers active in the field of Power Plant Development and financing.
• Accountants and other financial professionals involved with power plant cost drivers and cost structure.
• Plant Managers and Plant Engineers responsible for operation of power plants and administration of Long Term Service Agreements (“LTSAs”).
• Sales professionals responsible for marketing power projects or power sector design and construction services.
• Legal advisors and attorneys who need to understand the intricacies of negotiating, drafting and administering EPC contracts and LTSAs, and power plant dispute resolution.

DAY 1

Development and Operations of a Combined Cycle Power Plant

Terminology

• Engineering
• Legal

Major Equipment Description

• Gas Turbines
• Steam Turbines
• Boiler Feed Water Pumps
• Heat Recovery Steam Generators
• Condensers
• Condenser Cooling Water Pumps
• Transformers

Alternative Sources of Energy

Combined Cycle Coal Gasification Plants, Wind, Compressed Wind, Solar, River Hydro and Fuel Cells

• Initial Cost Including Installation
• Operational Cost
• Pay Back Time

Carbon Sequestration Power Plants

Structuring a Financial Development Package

• Modeling a Financial package
  

DAY 2

Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contracts

Coordination between Owner and OEM’s of major Equipment
Owner’s responsibility
EPC contractor’s responsibilities
Balance of Plant Equipment
Labor Concerns
Legal definition of Acceptance of the Plant

• Mechanical Completion
• Performance Acceptance
• Reliability Acceptance
• Substantial Completion
  

Major Plant Operational Problems

• Gas Turbines
• Steam Turbines
• Boiler Feed Water Pumps
• Heat Recovery Steam Generators
• Condensers
• Condenser Cooling Water Pumps
  

Long Term Service Agreement (LTSA)

• Coverage of Agreement
• Duration of Agreement
• Agreement Guarantees
• Termination of Agreement
  

DAY 3

Engineering Pitfalls to Avoid

• Gas Turbines
• Steam Turbines
• Heat Recovery Steam Generators
• Power Augmentation
• Fuel Systems

Dispute Resolutions

Informal Settlement Efforts
Mediation
Mediator as a Facilitator
Arbitration

• Federal Arbitration Act
• State Arbitration Statutes
• Multi-Party Arbitration
  • Owner, EPC Contractor and Subcontractor (Including OEM)
• Litigation and Judicial Trial Know the Courts
  • Jury vs. Judge
  • Federal vs. State Courts

Where You Can Sue or Be Sued
Discovery
Expert Witnesses

• Crucial in Technical Disputes
• Damages and Delay
  

Round Table Discussion between Instructors and Attendees

Participants are encouraged to discuss their projects, and bring case histories to discuss.

Course Schedule

Day	9 -10:30		10:45-12	12-1	1:00-3:00		3:30-5
1	Development and Operations of a Combined Cycle Power Plant	Coffee	Alternative Sources of Energy	Lunch	Structuring a Financial Development Package	Coffee	Structuring a Financial Development Package
2	Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contracts	Coffee	Major Operational Problems	Lunch	Major Operational Problems	Coffee	Long Term Services Agreements
3	Engineering Pitfalls to Avoid	Coffee	Dispute Resolutions	Lunch	Round Table Discussion between  Instructors & Attendees

Professor Meherwan P. Boyce, PhD., P.E. (USA), C.Eng.  (UK), Fellow ASME (USA), IMechE (UK), & IDGTE (UK) is CEO of The Boyce Consultancy Group, LLC.  He has over 45 years of experience in the power sector in both industry and academia.  His industrial experience includes 30 years of power sector design and service as CEO of a power industry engineering firm which he founded.  His 15 years in academia included the position of Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University.  He is the author of over 150 technical articles and the sole author of several books such as the Gas Turbine Engineering Handbook (Elsevier), Cogeneration & Combined Cycle Power Plants (ASME Press), and Centrifugal Compressors, A Basic Guide (PennWell Books).  Professor Boyce is also a contributor to several Handbooks; his latest contribution is to the Perry’s Chemical Engineering Handbook Seventh and Eight Editions (McGraw Hill) in the areas of Transport and Storage of Fluids, and Gas Turbines.  He has taught over 150 short courses attended by over 4,500 students representing over 500 companies, and has served as an expert witness in many power sector lawsuits and arbitrations. .  He is a Consultant to the Aerospace, Petrochemical and Utility Industries globally, and is a much-requested speaker at Universities and Conferences throughout the world.

Attorney Judah Lifschitz J.D., is Co-President of Shapiro Lifschitz & Schram P.C. and has over thirty years of experience representing clients in complex construction disputes, arbitrations, lawsuits and transactions.  Based in Washington, D.C., Mr. Lifschitz handles matters regionally, nationally and internationally and represents government and private owners and regional, national and international contractors, construction managers, subcontractors and design professionals.  Mr. Lifschitz has extensive experience with power industry contracts, projects and dispute resolution.  In addition to power sector construction projects, Mr. Lifschitz is experienced with construction projects of many types, including buildings, heavy highway, industrial, power, hospitals, sports facilities, subway systems, waste water treatment, and military.  He has tried cases and handled arbitration proceedings across the country.  He has published a treatise on construction law and lectured extensively on construction topics, and served on the faculty (construction law) of the Washington College of Law of American University.  He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and Maryland Bar and is admitted to practice before various federal courts across the country and the United States Supreme Court.  Mr. Lifschitz has an AV Martindale-Hubbell rating and has been designated as a Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.  Mr. Lifschitz has been designated as a Washington, D.C. “Superlawyer” by Law and Politics.

 

InterContinental Hotel
2222 W. Loop-South
Houston, TX, 77027

George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)
Distance 26.47 MI / 42.6 KM SOUTH WEST to Hotel
Shuttle Charge (one way): $25.00 (USD)
Taxi Charge (one way): $56.00 (USD)
Time by taxi: 30 - 45 minutes

Houston-Hobby Airport (HOU)
Distance 16.48 MI / 26.52 KM NORTH WEST to Hotel
Shuttle Charge (one way): $20.00 (USD)
Taxi Charge (one way): $46.00 (USD)
Time by taxi: 25-30 minutes

Course Fee: $2,500 per person

Click here to register

Cancellation

Due to limited space, limited registration is available and it is suggested you register early to ensure participation. An attendee will not be considered as registered unless his fees are paid in full.  A refund, less 15% administration charge, will be made if cancellation is received in writing 10 business days before the start of the course.  Substitutions may be made at any time.  We are happy to hold a rain check credit towards a future course.