Energy, Telecom and Utilities
Fennemore Craig serves the telecommunications, electric, gas, sewer and water utilities and electric co-generation industries. Fennemore Craig represents clients in diverse and complex matters before the Arizona Corporation Commission, which has full power to prescribe the rates and charges of public service companies doing business within the state of Arizona. The firm's utilities and regulatory practice also extends to other state agencies, state boards and commissions, as well as related litigation in state and federal courts.Work on behalf of clients includes regulatory proceedings, rule-making, arbitrations, rate-setting, certificates of convenience and necessity, financing proceedings, appeals to courts from administrative decisions and prosecution of claims to water rights.
Its extensive history with utilities and regulatory matters encompasses the restructuring of the telecommunications industry and the enactment of legislation and adoption of rules for the deregulation of the electric industry.
Lawyers from the firm also have extensive experience in the negotiation of franchise agreements with municipalities and utility service agreements between major customers and utilities.
Utility Representations
Following are examples of Fennemore Craig's utility representations:
- Development of the Arizona Corporation Commission's rules and regulations for electric deregulation, which included the adoption of guidelines for stranded cost recovery and unbundling of tariffs.
- Negotiated settlements approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission that opened the service territories of Arizona Public Service Company and Tucson Electric Power Company to competition.
- Represented one of the country's largest telecommunications providers in the negotiations and agreements for telecommunications deregulation in Arizona.
- Helped draft and pass legislation for deregulating electric generation services in Salt River Project's service territory. Negotiated with the Arizona Corporation Commission and Salt River Project on the settlement agreement for opening its service territory to competition.
- Represented clients in connection with the Environmental Portfolio Standards rules, adopted by the Arizona Corporation Commission, which required providers of electricity to acquire a certain percentage of their electricity from solar or renewable resources.
- Negotiated new pipeline safety rules on behalf of gas utility companies.
- Represented one of Arizona's largest home development companies in negotiations for its utility contracts valued at over $125 million covering water and sewer utility services.
- Negotiated on behalf of private water companies in dealing with groundwater management plans, which impose conservation requirements on municipal water providers.
- Represented Arizona's private water companies in applications before the Arizona Corporation Commission for rate changes, certificates of necessity and convenience, and authorization to operate.
