The Energy Law attorneys of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP provide transactional, regulatory and dispute resolution services for businesses in this industry.

SGR attorneys have extensive experience before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including Federal Power Act regulatory requirements, Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act requirements, Energy Consumer Protection Act, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration requirements, and many others. SGR attorneys have represented utilities, independent power producers (IPPs), qualifying facilities (QFs), liquid and natural gas pipeline companies, and natural gas marketers. SGR attorneys have experience with energy facility siting, transmission, interconnections, preemption, and associated regulatory matters. We also represent industrial and large institutional clients before state and federal energy regulators, covering such diverse matters as energy acquisitions, utility strategies and energy battery storage, enjoying an excellent track record for reducing the energy costs for businesses. For development projects and acquisitions and sales of facilities, we offer a full range of legal services, including corporate, environmental, financing, governmental relations, intellectual property, real estate, regulatory, tax, and related support. We have intervened in certification, rate case and rulemaking proceedings before state public service commissions and have participated in energy-related hearings and workshops in conjunction with those proceedings. SGR attorneys have been counsel for licensing or compliance for over 1 Gigawatt (1000 MW) of renewable energy in the State of Georgia, and have been involved with renewable projects in virtually every state in the country and internationally.

For industrial customers and operators of QFs, we have negotiated energy purchase agreements with Georgia utilities and advised about such agreements. For non-Georgia public utilities, we have served as Georgia counsel in connection with the acquisition of undivided interests in power production facilities located in Georgia. We have represented clients before the Georgia Public Service Commission (hearing officers and the full Commission) and before Georgia courts regarding rates, terms of service, propriety of charges, contract disputes, service pursuant to the Georgia Territorial Electric Service Act and rulemaking proceedings.

Our energy law practice also includes litigation know-how. We have represented an independent litigation committee of a Georgia public utility in connection with a shareholders’ derivative lawsuit arising from certain costs incurred to construct a Georgia nuclear power plant. In another case, we took to trial and defended on appeal a case involving software designed expressly for public utilities and non-utility generators (NUGs). SGR attorneys have served as lead counsel in litigation necessary to maintain compliance with license and utility requirements, challenges by third party entities, and regulatory interventions and investigations. SGR attorneys have assisted in acquiring and maintaining resources necessary to continue power generation.