WHAT WE DO

SECTORS covered

Transmission and distribution systems and networks transmit and distribute electricity through cables and natural gas, water and wastewater through pipes overland, underground and undersea via interconnected grids serving consumer markets.  In much of the developed world, electricity, gas, water and wastewater grids have been in existence for many decades.  Grids in these markets have expanded over the decades.  However, in many cases there has been very little significant technological upgrades in these networks.  Some of these ageing grids have become obsolete and are in need of significant investment in upgrades and enhancement (such as the North American and parts of the European and Asian grids).  "Smart grid" technologies have been implemented in certain markets, but significant investment remains out of reach in many others.  In the developing and less developed world, it often remains a continually prioritized challenge for governments and their electricity and gas industries to build-out capital intensive transmission and distribution grids to serve dispersed populations, allowing electrification and gasification of both urban and rural regions, in effort to foster modernization and economic development. 

DCS experts cover all facets of the transmission and distribution infrastructure sector (including electricity, gas, water and wastewater).  We have significant experience and expertise with transmission and distribution assets under regulated, deregulated (market based) and hybrid market models. We assist both public and private sector clients in evaluating, planning, financing, developing, constructing, operating and managing electricity, gas, water & wastewater systems and networks.  This includes advisory services related to electricity, gas,  transmission and distribution networks and related infrastructure.  DCS experts possess the requisite skill sets necessary to advise utilities, telecommunications companies, project developers, sponsors, governments, contractors, lenders, multilaterals and regulators on the many facets that need to be taken into account, ranging from implications of current and future regulatory regimes (e.g. impacts of future de-regulation / unbundling initiatives); rapidly evolving technologies (e.g. "smart grids", evolving data bandwidth demand); changing electricity generation mix (e.g. renewables, etc.) and changing gas markets (e.g. new pipeline connections and LNG/CNG development, regional gas hubs/exchanges, reverse-flow piping, etc.)  Here, the scope of our advisory services go far beyond simply providing unparalleled transaction and project advisory services for each transmission/distribution project.  Complementing our knowledge and skill sets in the transmission and distribution sector, our expertise in the energy & utilities, telecommunications, pipelines, maritime and inland ports and oil & gas sectors can also be brought in to cover any of these related sectoral elements.

Supplementing our own extensive skill sets, DCS experts also maintain relationships with related pipeline sector project external consultants and participants including: both international and local legal advisors; technical, engineering and environmental/social advisors, economic/market consultants; contractors, vendors and technology providers; strategic and financial equity sponsors; lenders (including commercial lenders, international/development financial institutions (IFIs/DFIs), Export Credit Agencies and Export-Import Banks (ECA/Ex-IMs), institutional investors, bond funds and investment banks) and credit rating agencies (if applicable).  We are always prepared and highly experienced in taking on a lead transaction advisory or project/program management role where we coordinate and manage (in many cases, procure and retain via subcontract) various technical, legal, commercial, tax and other consultants required for the project.  On behalf of our clients we are also prepared and accustomed to leading and concluding negotiations with diverse stakeholders such as electricity, gas and water utilities, independent power producers, gas and water suppliers, governmental/public sector or equity sponsors/concessionaires, developers, investors, contractors and venders, lenders, rating agencies and regulators, as may be relevant for a given project.

We think of the "infrastructure business" of owning, operating and maintaining transmission and distribution infrastructure, as a separate and distinct business from the businesses which utilize pipelines, involved in the service businesses of transmission, distribution, sales, supply and trading electricity, gas and water.  In many cases, utilities that own transmission and distribution assets can and should consider divesting their grid infrastructure assets and focus on their core service businesses.  Transmission and distribution networks are a capital intensive long-term infrastructure assets, that may be attractively sold to long-tenor investors including infrastructure funds (debt and equity), pensions, insurance majors, sovereign wealth funds and similar investor types.  Divesting of transmission and distribution infrastructure asset can all utilities to focus on their core service businesses.

We take a multi-dimensional approach to advising our transmission & distribution sector clients.  In most client cases, there may also be a significant nexus between grid infrastructure facilities and other relevant sectors that we specialize in, such as transportation (interconnected multimodal networks: transmission, roadway, rail and pipeline corridors); telecommunications (communications towers, fiber optic networks), energy & utilities (gas and water transmission, distribution, sales & supply and trading utility elements; solar and wind renewable energy installations); water & wastewater, oil & gas (oil & gas producers and suppliers, LNG/CNG terminals); E&C (contractors) and heavy industries (heavy equipment and commodities suppliers).  We are prepared to bring our complementary expertise in these other sectors to our road sector clients, as their specific project may benefit.  There may be many collaborative partnership opportunities between diverse companies and public and private service providers, who may also have synergistic objectives and opportunities related to grid infrastructure assets and systems.  We can help our clients expand the horizons of their project and analyze and understand synergistic economic and commercial impacts related to transmission & distribution infrastructure assets and services.  This will also help forge potential new innovative partnerships with both private and public sector parties, where significant added-value can be realized.  

Please click on the below links to learn more about the specific services related to the pipelines infrastructure segment that DCS experts can offer:​

• ​Transaction Advisory
• Public Private Partnerships (PPP/P3)
• Project and Program Management
• Strategic Planning
• Project Feasibility Studies
• Debt and Equity Capital Raising
• Contract Drafting & Negotiation
• Financial Modeling, Review and Audit
• Business and Asset Valuation​
• Tender Management: RFEI/RFQ/RFP
• Mergers & Acquisitions and Privatizations
• Workouts and Restructuring​
• Corporate Governance
• Training & Capacity Building

DCS focuses on providing the above services in the pipelines infrastructure segment to the following categories of clients:

• Developers/Sponsors/Concessionaires
• Investors
• Corporations
• Governments/Governmental Entities
• Contractors/Vendors
• Utilities
• Lenders
• Regulators
• Investment Banks
• International Financing Institutions
• International Agencies

transportation infrastructure

transmission, distribution systems and networks