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QUANTA SERVICES INC, QUANTA SERVICES MANAGEMENT ...

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anticipate continuing development of renewable energy projects in the near-term, primarily utility-scale solar<br />

facilities, creating increased opportunities for our engineering, procurement and construction services for these<br />

projects.<br />

With respect to our electric power distribution services, we saw a slowdown in spending by our customers<br />

for more than two years on their distribution systems, which we believe is due primarily to adverse economic and<br />

market conditions. Some increase in distribution spending occurred in the latter part of 2010 and throughout<br />

2011, but we are cautious with respect to the sustainability of the increase in distribution spending given<br />

continued economic uncertainties. However, as a result of reduced spending by utilities on their distribution<br />

systems for the past few years, we believe there is a growing need for utilities to resume sustained investment on<br />

their distribution systems to properly maintain the system and to meet reliability requirements. We also anticipate<br />

that utilities will continue to integrate “smart grid” technologies into their transmission and distribution systems<br />

to improve grid management and create efficiencies. Development and installation of smart grid technologies and<br />

other energy efficiency initiatives have benefited from stimulus funding under the American Recovery and<br />

Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as well as the implementation of grid management initiatives by utilities and<br />

the desire by consumers for more efficient energy use.<br />

Several existing, pending or proposed legislative or regulatory actions may also positively affect demand for<br />

the services provided by this segment in the long term, particularly in connection with electric power<br />

infrastructure and renewable energy spending. For example, legislative or regulatory action that alleviates some<br />

of the siting and right-of-way challenges that impact transmission projects would potentially accelerate future<br />

transmission line construction. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently issued FERC Order<br />

No. 1000 to promote more efficient and cost-effective development of new transmission facilities. The order<br />

establishes transmission planning and cost allocation requirements intended to facilitate multi-state electric<br />

transmission lines and to encourage competition by removing, under certain conditions, federal rights of first<br />

refusal from FERC-approved tariffs and agreements. We believe FERC Order No. 1000 will have a favorable<br />

impact on electric transmission line development, although the impact of its implementation is not expected to<br />

occur for several years. We also anticipate increased infrastructure spending by our customers as a result of<br />

legislation requiring the power industry to meet federal reliability standards for its transmission and distribution<br />

systems and providing incentives to the industry to invest in and improve maintenance on its systems. Certain<br />

aspects of the ARRA have also provided various incentives, such as tax credits, grants and loan guarantees, for<br />

renewable energy, energy efficiency and electric power infrastructure projects, although the feasibility of similar<br />

projects in the future will be affected when or if these incentives are no longer in effect. The benefits of pending<br />

or proposed legislation could also be impacted by the timing and scope of such legislation if and when enacted.<br />

Several industry and market trends are also prompting customers in the electric power industry to seek<br />

outsourcing partners. These trends include an aging utility workforce, increasing costs and labor issues. We<br />

believe the economic recession in the United States slowed employee retirements by many utility workers,<br />

causing the growth trend in outsourcing to temporarily pause. As the economy continues to recover, we believe<br />

utility employee retirements could return to normal levels, which should result in an increase in outsourcing<br />

opportunities. The need to ensure available labor resources for larger projects also drives strategic relationships<br />

with customers.<br />

Natural Gas and Pipeline Infrastructure Services Segment<br />

We see strong potential growth opportunities over the long-term in our natural gas and pipeline operations,<br />

primarily in the installation and maintenance of natural gas and oil pipelines, gathering systems and related<br />

facilities, as well as pipeline integrity and specialty services such as horizontal directional drilling. We believe<br />

opportunities for this segment exist as a result of the increase in the ongoing development of unconventional<br />

shale formations that produce natural gas and/or oil, as well as the development of Canadian oil sands, which will<br />

require the construction of transmission pipeline infrastructure to connect production with demand centers and<br />

the development of midstream gathering infrastructure within areas of production. We also believe the goals of<br />

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