Our energy regulatory lawyers have the expertise and in-depth understanding of the federal and state regulatory frameworks to address the many issues that confront regulated utilities, entities acquiring or selling energy generation facilities, and other parties subject to federal or state energy regulation, including ratemaking, purchase and sale and financing transactions, wholesale market participation and rules, compliance and investigations. At Pierce Atwood, our clients benefit from knowing that within a single law firm they have access to a team of accomplished energy lawyers to help them obtain the requisite federal and state regulatory approvals, navigate and comply with applicable federal and state regulations, and assess the impacts and risks of federal and state regulatory and policy developments.

Pierce Atwood offers a deep bench of attorneys who have served in senior policy positions at state and federal regulatory agencies. Our energy attorneys regularly practice before federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. We also have extensive experience before numerous state regulatory agencies, including California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. Several of our energy attorneys have previously served as staff to state and federal energy regulatory agencies and have a unique insight into how regulators approach various issues.

Ratemaking

Pierce Atwood’s energy attorneys have significant experience representing utilities and other interested parties in ratemaking proceedings before state and federal regulators. This experience includes all aspects of traditional cost of service ratemaking and rate design as well as performance-based or alternative ratemaking mechanisms, including rate adjustment indices, capital trackers, earning sharing, and service quality incentives and penalties. Our attorneys are knowledgeable and experienced in litigating rate proceedings through discovery and contested hearings or negotiating compromise solutions through the settlement process that benefit our clients.

Utility Mergers & Regulated Transactions

Pierce Atwood’s energy attorneys have significant experience representing utilities and other parties in obtaining necessary regulatory approvals for energy transactions, including federal and state approvals for utility mergers and purchase and sale transactions, affiliated transactions, and state-led energy procurements. Our attorneys have successfully negotiated fuel supply, transportation, and interconnection agreements for natural gas, biomass, LNG, and other fuels; interconnection agreements with electric transmission utilities; and power purchase agreements and other off-take contracts for the output of renewable and conventional fuel generation plants, and have obtained the necessary regulatory approvals for such agreements. In addition, we have substantial experience in obtaining approvals, exemptions and waivers under Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, as amended (PURPA) and the Federal Power Act; in obtaining certificates under the Natural Gas Act for gas pipeline and storage facilities; in guiding developers of crude oil pipelines through the open season, declaratory order, and tariff processes; and in complying with state and federal gas and power marketing regulations. We pride ourselves in our ability to assist our clients in structuring their transactions to exempt them from or minimize the impacts of FERC and state jurisdiction.

Wholesale Market Rules

Pierce Atwood energy attorneys also have extensive experience working in and with FERC, Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) on market-based authorizations for wholesale sales of electric energy, capacity, and ancillary services; arrangements and agreements for new power generators to participate in the organized markets; and for the sale and acquisition of facilities. Our attorneys were at the forefront of the development of FERC’s rules and policies regarding (i) natural gas pipeline capacity release and open access transportation, as well as more recent regulations granting exemptions for shippers utilizing asset management arrangements, and in obtaining individual waivers from FERC for specific transportation transactions, and (ii) the participation of energy storage facilities in the organized ISO energy, ancillary services and capacity markets. Pierce Atwood attorneys regularly advise clients regarding market rules governing selling and trading in the PJM, ISO-New England, NYISO, California ISO, MISO and ERCOT regional markets.

Impacting Policies & Regulations

Energy projects typically involve important federal and state regulatory policy issues, contracts with regional electric or natural gas utilities, and dealing with ISOs. Pierce Atwood has a long and distinguished history of representing clients before state and federal energy regulators and helping to shape relevant energy policies.  We regularly partner with our clients to collaborate with similarly situated companies to shape policies and regulations that support the advancement of renewable energy and the development of appropriate market rules.

Pierce Atwood represents energy clients in rulemaking proceedings before local, state, and federal agencies regarding all policy issues which would affect the development of electric power projects, electric transmission projects, and natural gas and oil pipelines and shippers. Our firm also has an experienced Governmental Relations team that assists our clients shape energy policy before State legislatures and federal and state agencies, including FERC and the U.S. Department of Energy. Learn more about our Government Relations Practice.

Regulatory Compliance & Investigations

Given our experience practicing before numerous federal and state energy regulators and understanding of the applicable laws and regulations, our energy attorneys also regularly advise on regulatory compliance matters. We conduct compliance training for electric and natural gas clients and, when necessary, represent clients in administrative investigations, show cause proceedings, management audits and prudency reviews.

Representative Experience

Advising Encino Acquisition Partners (Encino Energy) on agreements for the sale and transportation of Encino's natural gas for compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requirements. Encino acquired the Ohio Utica Shale assets of Chesapeake Energy.

Agreements for Natural Gas Sale & Transportation

We advised a large independent oil and gas exploration and production company that will be an anchor shipper on a new regulated crude oil gathering pipeline in the Delaware Basin of Texas and New Mexico that will move crude oil from the basin to larger trunk pipelines and on to Cushing, Oklahoma and other points.  We assisted in the negotiation of a letter of intent, a transportation service agreement including benefits for anchor shippers that will require approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (“FERC”) in a petition for declaratory order, tariff provisions, storage agreements, and other contracts.  We also advised the client on timing and options for dealing with FERC’s current lack of a quorum, which limits the agency’s ability to issue the requisite declaratory order.  In addition, we reviewed and assisted in the negotiation of downstream transportation agreements.

Anchor Shipper for New Regulated Crude Oil Gathering Pipeline

Pierce Atwood acted as real estate and environmental permitting counsel for Calpine Corporation in its $530 million acquisition of the 809 MW Fore River Generating Station in North Weymouth, Massachusetts from Exelon Corporation in 2014. Pierce Atwood attorneys from the Real Estate, Energy, Environmental and State and Local Tax practice groups worked seamlessly to analyze and resolve the many complex land use, tax, and environmental issues. The initial bid preparation through purchase agreement negotiation was accomplished in 15 weeks. Our work included analysis and management of complex tidelands, former coal ash disposal, dual fuel delivery requirement, and management of active MassHighway bridge relocation through the center of project site.

Calpine Acquisition of Fore River Generating Station

Represented a community-based wind farm in obtaining state regulatory approval for a long-term electricity contract.

Community-Based Wind Farm State Regulatory Approval for Long-Term Electricity Contract

Represented Cumberland Gulf and others in rulemaking proceedings before the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

Cumberland Gulf in Rulemaking Proceedings Before MPUC

We successfully obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) two key waivers of its capacity release rules for a large independent oil and gas producer client.  FERC requires that shippers on natural gas pipelines that seek to transfer pipeline capacity in connection with a large transaction or exiting the natural gas supply business seek a waiver of the capacity release rules and policies to ensure that there are no inadvertent violations. 

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FERC Waivers of Capacity Release Rules

Represented market participants, including Bath Iron Works, Calpine, and Cate Street in ISO-NE markets, providing them representation and advice regarding compliance with market rules.

Market Participants in ISO-NE Market Rules Compliance

Retained to advise Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) in connection with general regulatory issues. 

Regulatory Advice to Vermont Electric Power Company

Represented an owner/developer in conjunction with all aspects of a major commercial facility roof top PV installation in California, which at the time was the largest project of its type there. This work included negotiation of Cal ISO grid integration protocols, negotiation with the local utility with which the project interconnects, working with the California PUC on permits and tax credits, and advice regarding federal tax credits, together with associated commercial and financial advice.

Roof Top PV Installation at Major Commercial Facility

Representation of Southbridge Business Center in connection with 15-year oversight of 3.2 MW combined cycle electric/ steam/hot water/chilled water system for plant landlord and owners of serviced hotel and industrial park. Managed successful workout when plant operator failed.

Southbridge Business Center in Oversight Combined Cycle System

Negotiated electricity, capacity, and REC contracts on behalf of state agency.

State Agency Negotiation of Electricity, Capacity, and REC Contracts