Energy Regulation and Compliance

Energy Blog

Energy Regulation and Compliance

Bracewell represents energy clients in all aspects of power generation and transmission regulation, licensing and ratemaking. With decades of experience practicing within and before state, federal and international energy regulatory agencies, our lawyers know how to make regulation work for and not against our clients’ interests.

Our federal compliance representation involves regular interaction with the Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. At the state level we represent clients before public service and utility commissions, energy boards and commissions, and environmental and land use agencies. Our international regulatory practice spans the Americas, Europe and Central Asia.

We have broad experience representing utilities and energy suppliers in federal and state public utility rate, access, licensing and retail customer choice proceedings, rulemakings and adjudications. We also have been involved in numerous state regulatory proceedings involving the merger or acquisition of electric utilities, including multi-state review of licensing and retail marketing regulation in connection with power company acquisitions. Our compliance and regulatory practice also includes:

• defense of administrative and civil investigations and orders to show cause
• advice on natural gas quality and interchangeability standards
• preparation of electric utility and natural gas pipeline tariffs, rate schedules and certificates
• analysis of market power issues and preparation of applications, including renewals, for market pricing of sales of energy and natural gas
• ensuring access to electric utility and natural gas pipeline services
• structuring and bidding in open-season auctions of transmission and pipeline capacity.