Kirk Knight

Kirk Knight advises clients on complex regulatory, transactional, and policy matters in the energy industry. With more than two decades of experience spanning law, corporate governance, and security operations, he brings a multidisciplinary perspective to his practice, helping clients navigate the evolving landscape of utility regulation, renewable energy policy, and infrastructure development. Kirk enjoys working closely with clients to understand their business and to develop thoughtful solutions that help them achieve their goals. 

Before joining Smith Gambrell & Russell, Kirk served as Associate General Counsel at Georgia Power Company, where he was a key member of the company’s legal leadership team. In that role, he provided strategic counsel on energy regulation, rate making, resource planning, and territorial law proceedings before the Georgia Public Service Commission. He also advised senior executives on business development, compliance, and major commercial transactions, including power purchase agreements, utility franchises, and large retail electric service contracts. His work was instrumental in several successful Integrated Resource Plan and Rate Case proceedings that supported Georgia’s long-term energy reliability and economic growth.

Earlier in his career, Kirk held leadership positions in corporate security and risk management with Georgia Power and BellSouth Corporation, and he began his professional career in law enforcement and federal investigations. This diverse background informs his practical, solutions-oriented approach to complex regulatory and operational challenges.

Kirk's Practice

Representative Matters

Kirk has served as a principal attorney in highly complex integrated resource planning, rate making, fuel cost recovery, resource certification, and territorial proceedings pending before the Georgia Public Service Commission, including:

• 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025 Integrated Resource Plan proceedings involving the approval of essential long-term investments in energy infrastructure required to meet the evolving energy needs of retail electric customers throughout Georgia.
• 2019 and 2022 Rate Case proceedings and 2025 rate extension proceeding in which the Georgia Public Service Commission approved equitable rates for the recovery of essential infrastructure investments with an appropriate financial structure and return on equity for his client.
• 2023 Fuel Cost Recovery proceeding in which the Georgia Public Service Commission authorized the recovery of previously unrecovered fuel costs and approved equitable rates designed to recover projected future fuel costs.
• 2025 updates to utility electric service rules and large customer contracting protocols, as approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission, ensuring the terms and conditions of electric service appropriately address the recovery of costs from large customers, supporting positive economic growth while maintaining affordability for all customers.