Energy and Utilities
The energy industry and its participants, structure, markets, and regulation are always changing. Phelps Dunbar’s representation of energy clients reflects substantial experience in the evolution of the industry. We are immersed in the industry’s ongoing developments in the production and generation, transmission and distribution, and wholesale and retail sales of energy commodities, as well as in the regulatory and competitive aspects of energy markets. Our broad energy and utilities practice concentrates on the electric and natural gas industries, with a specialized focus on electric and natural gas utilities.
Phelps Dunbar’s energy practice focuses on all aspects of electric and natural gas public utility transactions and law, including: regulation by the Louisiana Public Service Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; regulated rates for transmission, distribution and sales; interconnection matters; acquisitions and sales of utility assets; general corporate, including corporate governance; utility financings; cogeneration and other power plant development; renewable resources; environmental; representation in regulatory enforcement and compliance matters; and representation in civil litigation. We represent major electric and natural gas utilities and a major wind power developer and operator.
Our energy and utilities practice also concentrates on mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, diversification, labor and employment benefits, tax, antitrust and utility bankruptcy. We have experience in rural electric cooperative and municipal electric law. We also represent major independent electric power producers, with counsel particularly focused on generation development, state and federal regulatory advices, as well as general corporate and business issues. In addition, we represent industrial consumers in self-generation projects and interactions with their incumbent electric utility provider. We also represent lenders and public investors in electric power projects.
The firm’s energy and utilities practice includes the representation of parties involved in the sale or transmission of natural gas and liquid hydrocarbons. Here, our practice concentrates on the contracting and regulatory aspects of such arrangements. Our representation is on behalf of pipelines as well as of industrial consumers and shippers of natural gas.
Our traditional oil and gas practice covers both the transactional and operational segments of the industry. We have represented energy companies as well as individuals on a wide variety of matters, including the negotiation and drafting of leases, farmout agreements, operating agreements and the like; title review and opinions; oil and gas property acquisitions and sales; and environmental compliance and litigation. We have experienced litigators with knowledge of the issues unique to the oil and gas industry. The firm also has represented lending institutions and energy companies in the execution of energy-related mortgages and other security devices.
Alan C. Wolf directs the firm’s energy and utilities practice. He has 38 years of experience in electric and natural gas utility matters and previously served as a senior trial attorney in the Electric Rates Section of the Office of the General Counsel of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and subsequently as Vice President and General Counsel of Mid-Louisiana Gas Company, an interstate natural gas pipeline and production company. Mr. Wolf is a former chair of the Electric Power Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law, as well as a former chair of the Natural Gas Rates Committee of the Federal Energy Bar Association, and now serves as a member of the Legal Committee of the Edison Electric Institute.
We have represented developers in the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy facilities. We are experienced in the negotiation and enforcement of related off-take, spot sales, transportation, and feed stock agreements.