Elizabeth W. Whittle

My focus

Federal Regulatory

I am an active practitioner before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, representing clients in hearings, settlement conferences and adversary proceedings in the natural gas, electric and hydroelectric areas. I am active in proceedings involving regional transmission organizations and wholesale markets, including PJM, Midcontinent ISO, ISO New England, New York ISO, Southwest Power Pool and the California ISO. I represent clients on pipeline systems including Tennessee Gas, Algonquin, Dominion Transmission, ANR, Columbia Gas, Columbia Gulf, Empire and Millennium. Finally, I assist hydroelectric licensees and preliminary permittees in obtaining, maintaining and amending hydroelectric licenses and permits.

In addition to regulatory proceedings, I work with clients seeking regulatory approvals to engage in activities, such as market-based rate transactions, and to become EWGs or QFs. Obtaining approval of interconnection agreements, engineering and procurement agreements and transmission agreements can be complicated, so I navigate my clients through these aspects.

I also represent clients before FERC in enforcement proceedings and have successfully handled enforcement issues ranging from hydroelectric compliance matters, capacity release and natural gas-related compliance matters and electric quarterly report issues.

Transactional

I represent clients in negotiations with pipelines over precedent agreements, transportation agreements, and capacity release agreements. I represent clients in negotiations over interconnection agreements and related facility construction agreements. I work with clients to negotiate power supply and natural gas supply agreements, often using EEI, NAESB and Gas EDI forms.

Looking ahead

The integration of the electric grid is continually evolving. Technology is driving much of the innovation, but there will be more pressure on RTOs and utility participants to integrate their operations even further. In natural gas, the east coast pipeline service is expanding, taking advantage of new reserves in Marcellus and Utica regions and changing the way interstate pipelines operate. This may also affect how they price their services. Additionally, recently enacted legislation will permit additional conduit hydroelectric companies to develop facilities without becoming bogged down in the FERC’s hydroelectric license procedures, which may encourage growth in this area.