In their roles as legal counselors, the Energy Law attorneys of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP provide transactional, regulatory and dispute-resolution services for businesses in this industry. The firm also assists non-energy businesses in need of energy-related legal services and represents clients in transactions or disputes with Georgia electric and natural gas public utilities.
We have represented the Georgia Independent Power Producers Group (IPP Group), independent power producers (IPPs), qualifying facilities (QFs) and natural gas marketers. 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 the Georgia Public Service Commission and have participated in energy-related workshops in conjunction with those proceedings.
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).