The Public Utilities Board has chosen Bates White Economic Consulting out of Washington, D.C. as technical advisor on the board’s reliability and resource adequacy review.

In September, Liberty Consulting announced that it was ending its consultancy role with the PUB.

Liberty had provided advice to the board on a variety of important issues in recent years, including cutting costs at Nalcor and Hydro, as well as operation of the Holyrood generating plant and ongoing assessment of progress with the Muskrat Falls project.

Liberty indicated at the time that it was concerned about the “pace that NL Hydro is keeping” in addressing solutions toward what it calls a secure and affordable electric energy future.

The PUB says Bates White Economic Consulting has extensive experience in a broad range of energy-related matters “including significant regulatory experience in Canada and the United States.”

The firm has previously provided consulting services for electricity regulators in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Alberta and New Brunswick.

The PUB says Bates White will begin work immediately as Liberty Consulting concludes its ongoing work in the review.

The board says Liberty will continue to be available for consultation on reliability matters that may arise into the winter.