Utilities
Electricity. Water. Wastewater. Telecom. Natural gas. All of it.
As counsel to investor-owned and municipally owned utilities, competitive providers of services in these industries, and trade associations representing entire groups of providers, the Spencer Fane Utilities team has a deep understanding of the technical as well as business considerations to look at when navigating both complex strategic matters and daily regulatory issues in the utility sector.
Overview
Advancing clients’ business objectives across the full spectrum of utility-related matters
The Spencer Fane Utilities team addresses legal and business matters affecting key infrastructure and electric, water, and other utility industry services.
Our team leverages its experience interfacing with public utility commissions, municipalities, state legislatures, and federal agencies to help clients on regulatory, operational, transactional, and litigation matters.
By staying ahead of the regulatory curve and developing proactive strategies to mitigate risk, our attorneys enable clients to stay focused on their business interests and position them for successful outcomes.
Our Utilities team advises on:
- Regulations and compliance
- Rulemaking proceedings
- Rate-making proceedings and contested cases
- Representation before state utility commissions
- Permitting and certificates
- Contract negotiations
- Sale / transfer / merger applications
- Purchase power agreements
- Service area disputes
- Transmission line routing
- Legislative and regulatory policy
- Enforcement actions
- Complaints, litigation, and appeals
Our Utilities industry team also includes lawyers in traditional practice areas whose extensive knowledge of utility businesses and the legal and regulatory framework in which utilities operate enhances their ability to address the legal and business needs of clients in areas such as:
- Corporate and business transactions
- Environmental
- Energy
- Real estate
- Tax incentives
- Privacy and cybersecurity
- Litigation and dispute resolution
- Labor and employment
Clients. In addition to municipally owned utilities and competitive retail electric providers (REPs), our clients include water and wastewater utilities, renewable and fossil-fueled electric generators, storage providers, commercial and industrial customers of utilities, cooperatives, water utilities. In addition, members of this practice represent competitive telecommunications providers, real estate developers, and property owners.
