William Hewitt is the head of Pierce Atwood LLP's Renewable Energy Practice where he advises clients on a broad spectrum of renewable energy, policy and project development matters. Bill also regularly represents participants in the gas, electric and telecommunications sectors in complex regulatory and litigation matters before state and federal courts, administrative tribunals and private arbitration panels.
An engineer before attending law school, Bill's background allows him to provide a unique perspective and understanding of the legal, technical and operational issues faced by energy and telecommunications clients in today's competitive landscape. Bill's broad expertise and experience allow him to understand the client's business and help them achieve their commercial, regulatory and litigation goals.
Recent Experience
- Compressed Natural Gas Facility: Lead outside counsel responsible for successfully obtaining public utility commission approval for construction and operation of first compressed natural gas facility in New England
- State Procurement Contract Counsel: Successfully defended Maine's largest telecommunications business from multiple challenges to award of Next Generation 9-1-1 services contract after competitive bid process
- Gas Safety and Operations: Routinely advises clients on gas safety and operational issues, including rulemaking proceedings and defense of NOPVs
- State-wide Municipal Retail Electricity Supply Program: Lead outside counsel to an aggregator of municipal loads for a Northesast State in the restructuring of a state-wide municipal electricity supply program
- Cast Iron Replacement Investigation: Outside counsel to Maine's largest gas distribution company in regulatory investigation of accelerated replacement of cast iron and bare steel distribution main resulting in a favorable negotiated result; Lead outside counsel on subsequent regulatory reporting and related performance metrics
- Gas LDC Rate Case: Outside counsel to Maine's largest gas distribution company in its first rate case filed in nearly 30 years
- Pole Attachment Investigations: Lead outside counsel to Maine's largest telecommunications business in achieving dismissal of pole attachment dispute and state-wide investigation into terms and conditions of pole attachments
- Verizon New England, Inc.: Lead outside counsel in Maine Public Utility Commission proceeding approving $2.7 billion sale and merger of Verizon's landline telecom business with and into FairPoint Communications
- Energy Supply Contract Arbitration: Represented industrial purchaser of electricity in contract dispute with supplier over responsibility for regional transmission charges. Arbitrator reformed contract and awarded client over $2 million in damages and interest
- Retail Supply Contracts: Regularly represents industrial load in the negotiation of retail electricity supply contracts with competitive suppliers
Honors & Distinctions
Bill is included in
The Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law and
Chambers USA for Energy and Natural Resources matters.
Professional Activities
President, Northeast Chapter of the Energy Bar Association, 2011-12, Director 2006-12
Member, Energy Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Maine State Bar Association