Smart Grid Development and Implementation: Legal Strategies

Tackling Standard Setting, Pricing, Cost Recovery and Regulatory Incentives

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar/teleconference with Q&A


Conducted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Recorded event now available


This seminar will discuss the challenges for businesses and their legal counsel in smart grid development and implementation and will review steps the federal government has taken to advance the process.

Description

Climate change and energy independence are challenges that require efficient use of energy infrastructure and resources. Developing and implementing the smart grid are critical to overcoming these challenges—and environmental counsel play a key role.

In July 2009, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a policy statement on smart grid technologies, providing guidance on future smart grid interoperability standards. The statement also included an interim incentive rate policy that applies to near-term smart grid deployments.

To encourage deployment of smart grid projects, the federal government allocated billions in federal funds for investment. However, companies must address a variety of complex legal issues as the smart grid is developed, including standards development, pricing and rate design, and cost recovery.

Listen as our authoritative panel of legal specialists examines the regulatory issues facing companies and counsel involved in the implementation of a smart grid, pricing and rate design, and funding availability. The panel will offer their insights for environmental law counsel to overcome smart grid challenges.

Outline

  1. Overview
    1. Regulatory framework
    2. Role of DOE
    3. FERC’s policy statement
  2. Standard setting
    1. Data security/security of smart grid devices
    2. Common standards, interface with grids
    3. NIST process
  3. Pricing and rate design
    1. Scope and duration of rate policy
    2. Incentive rate treatments
    3. Interplay of FERC rate policy with DOE funding grants
  4. Cost recovery and regulatory incentives
    1. Regulatory challenges
    2. Cost allocations issues
    3. Trackers, surcharges and other options

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

  • What are the regulatory structures for smart grid technology?
  • How are costs recovered?
  • What factors should utilities take into account in the procurement and contracting process for smart grid technologies?
  • How will data privacy and cyber security issues be addressed?

Faculty

Ray L. Gifford, Partner
Kamlet Reichert, Denver

His expertise lies in public utilities law, principally telecommunications and energy. He served as Chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and, before that, as the state's First Assistant Attorney General in the Regulatory Law Section.

Roy M. Palk, Esq., President / Consultant
New Horizons Consulting, Lexington, Ky. / LeClair Ryan, Richmond, Va.

He advises various energy and energy-related clients regarding production technologies, project development, strategic planning, corporate governance and staff development, fuel issues, environmental issues and financing. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of East Kentucky Power Cooperative for 13 years and has worked in the energy industry for 37 years.

Elias G. Farrah, Partner
Dewey & LeBoeuf, Washington, D.C.

He represents electric utilities and natural gas companies and handles regulatory and transactional issues, and he regularly represents his clients before state and federal agencies and courts. He has acted as outside general counsel to an interstate gas pipeline company, group counsel for a consortium of gas distribution companies and group counsel to a consortium of electric generation companies.

Ordering

Online CLE - Audio Recording

Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for participatory or non-traditional/alternate format credit in: CA, HI*, NY*, WV*. Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, MO, MT, TX*, VT, WA.
Upon request, also available in: CO, CT*, FL, GA, ID, KY, LA*, ME, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR*, SC, TN, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for credit in one of these states, make sure to select those states when placing your order.
(*Indicates that Strafford must report attendance.)

Online CLE Audio $149.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

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Recorded Event

Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX*, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, GA, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com. (*Indicates that Strafford needs to process the CLE — see below to purchase this option.)

Webinar Download (Slide Presentation with Audio) $49.00
Available three business days after the live event

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DVD (Slide Presentation with Audio) $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

MP3 Download (Audio Only) $49.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?

CD (Audio Only) $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

Webinar/Teleconference

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Program Materials

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Program Materials

Requires Adobe Reader 8 or later. Download Acrobat FREE.

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Customer Reviews

The program was very well organized and the speakers were prepared.

Marti Sharp

Kell Alterman & Runstein

Very good and concise CLE.

Anthony DiSandro

Stevens & Lee

The webinar offered excellent insight into some specific areas.

Beth Ann R. Lawson

Virginia Beach Law Group

This was an excellent teleconference; one of the best I have listened to. The speakers were all very knowledgeable on the subject, but importantly, they were able to present in a very direct, easy to listen to and understand style.

Jose E Guzman, Jr.

Nossaman

The presentation was not too long, but included a great deal of information. The speakers kept to their times and provided an opportunity for questions at the end.

Amy E. McShane

Phillips Lytle LLP

or call 1-800-926-7926

Environmental Law Advisory Board

John J. Allen

Partner

Allen Matkins

Albert M. Cohen

Partner

Loeb & Loeb

Aaron Courtney

Of Counsel

Stoel Rives

Andrew N. Davis

Partner

Shipman & Goodwin

Paul E. Gutermann

Partner

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Brian D. Israel

Partner

Arnold & Porter

Thomas J. P. McHenry

Partner

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher

Reed D. Rubinstein

Partner

Dinsmore & Shohl

Jeffrey A. Smith

Partner

Cravath Swaine & Moore

E. Gail Suchman

Special Counsel

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan

Gregory D. Trimarche

Partner

Bryan Cave

or call 1-800-926-7926

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