The Competitive Assets Team

E. Denise Stokes, Ph.D.

Denise Stokes founded Competitive Assets in 1997 and manages its consulting and information services. Dr. Stokes has been involved in the electric utility industry in various capacities for over 25 years. While developing the in-depth knowledge of this industry that only direct experience can bring, she has demonstrated her ability to see how the bigger picture both informs and is affected by significant details. This latter skill has enabled her to integrate diverse fields of expertise in her professional endeavors, these having energy and utility aspects as their common link. Her versatile abilities are reflected in her background as an electric utility consultant, utility regulator, energy auditor, demographer, human ecologist, sociologist, teacher, real estate consultant, and rancher. In addition to actively managing the Competitive Assets consulting and information services, she also consults directly with clients about electric utility matters and initially creates many of the information products from concept to design to implementation. She maintains her current and comprehensive knowledge of the industry by monitoring many proceedings at the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the Texas Legislature, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), as well as performing research and other tasks for clients needing government agency information or organizational help.

Dr. Stokes initiated and was deeply involved in the founding of all the periodicals listed on this website that are published by Competitive Assets associates, including the Electric Issues Discussed at the General Decision Meetings of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the PUCT Filings List Service. Under the auspices of Competitive Assets, Dr. Stokes also compiles and publishes other specialized reports.

Prior to her work with Competitive Assets, Dr. Stokes served in a variety of positions at the PUCT. During the final two years of her 10 years with the Commission, she advised each of the Commissioners on electric and telephone utility policy matters in contested cases and rulemakings. As Chief Policy Analyst of the Office of Policy Development (OPD), she was also responsible for drafting PUCT rules and orders for commissioner signature. Prior to her duties at OPD, she provided expert witness testimony on rate design, cost allocation, and customer service rules in contested proceedings. She also participated in legislative bill analysis, performed detailed analyses of electric utility rates, and forecasted end-use electricity demand for utilities in Texas. During her years at the PUCT, she was frequently called upon to perform many duties, such as serving as the Chair of the PUCT Grants Committee, coordinating Commission strategic planning and performance measure activities, directing customer service activities, and managing division budgetary functions. Prior to her experience at the PUCT, she was a consultant in energy efficiency and energy planning.

Dr. Stokes' private practice experience includes consulting assignments for generation companies, power marketers, retail electric providers, industry associations, and other firms. In this capacity she monitors proceedings, advises clients on the likely outcome of government activities, plans strategies for achieving policy objectives, represents clients at ERCOT and PUCT proceedings, and authors comments on PUCT rulemakings, among other activities. She lives on her ranch, which is "off the grid," incorporating energy-efficient passive building design as well as alternative utility resources that include solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, propane-fueled major appliances, and a rainwater collection system.

Dr. Stokes has the breadth of understanding necessary to see the interrelationships among the major forces that shape the political economy in which utilities operate. Her analytical abilities, widespread industry contacts, and diverse background allow her to tie the details of regulatory and government requirements to clients’ business and broad policy objectives. Her creative application of these skills is the driving force behind many of the services and information products which Competitive Assets clients find so valuable. Her presence on the Competitive Assets team ensures that clients will receive the highest quality and most timely services to help them achieve their goals with maximum success and minimum cost.

The Competitive Assets Team has broad expertise in the Texas utility industry, with major strengths in the areas of government policy, economics, technical analysis, rate analysis, and law. The number of independent consultants actively working with Competitive Assets varies over time, usually including from six to twelve associates. In addition to our primary associates listed at the left, other associates participate to a lesser degree.

For further information, contact Denise Stokes by or
P.O. Box 140	(512) 581-0151 phone
Red Rock, TX 78662	(512) 581-0185 fax