Assistant Gen Counsel / Senior Counsel - FERC

American Electric Power • Austin, DC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, FERC Legal and RTO Policy, the Assistant General Counsel / Senior Counsel, FERC will lead and independently manage significant federal energy regulatory matters, including proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and matters in PJM, SPP, and MISO. AEP’s scale and multi-region footprint will provide the attorney with opportunities to work on issues central to the industry’s evolution, including transmission and regional cost allocation, wholesale market and resource adequacy rules, interconnection and transmission service, rapid growth in large loads and data centers, complex rate proceedings, and the FERC-regulatory aspects of strategic transactions and investments. The position offers substantial ownership and a varied docket. The attorney will develop strategy, advise senior leaders, draft and advocate AEP’s positions, and manage matters from inception through resolution, while partnering with internal business and policy teams and outside counsel as appropriate. The practice is centered on FERC electric rates and terms of service, transmission, interconnection, wholesale markets, FERC transaction approvals, and NERC issues. Experience with formula rates, cost-of-service principles, and utility accounting is especially valuable, although the role will extend well beyond any single FERC subject area.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree and Juris Doctorate.
• Senior Counsel Experience: 6+ years of experience, preferably in a law firm or corporate legal department and in the electric utility or energy sector.
• FERC-related legal experience preferably with a law firm, corporate legal department, or on the staff of a rate regulatory body, such as FERC or a state regulatory agency.
• Assistant General Counsel Experience: 8+ years of experience, preferably in a law firm or corporate legal department, including at least 4 years of experience as a practicing attorney on FERC matters.
• FERC-related legal experience preferably with a law firm, corporate legal department, or on the staff of a rate regulatory body, such as FERC or a state regulatory agency.
• Active license to practice law in state in which position is located.
• Understanding of legal and regulatory issues relating to electric utilities.
• Understanding of federal energy regulation of Transmission and RTOs, including experience representing or working closely with Transmission Owners.
• Ability to manage FERC regulatory proceedings, tariff filings, and rulemakings.
• Experience with (a) preparing briefs, motions, case evaluation summaries and other documents as required by the nature of a case, (b) helping prepare witnesses for testimony, (c) conducting hearings in federal and/or administrative courts, and (d) preparing filings before FERC and/or state public utility commissions and other government bodies related to corporate matters.
• Excellent advocacy, negotiation and written communication skills.
• Ability to promote teamwork and build relationships within the legal and business unit teams get work accomplished
• Ability to relate to many different constituencies in a positive, proactive manner that will engender confidence from company management, employees, public utilities commissions and other industry groups.
• Problem solver coupled with good conflict resolution skills.
• Ability for initiative and working independently of direct supervision

Nice To Haves

• Experience with formula rates, cost-of-service principles, and utility accounting is especially valuable

Responsibilities

• Represent AEP on complex, high-profile FERC proceedings and disputes involving transmission rates and service, regional transmission planning and cost allocation, interconnection, wholesale market design, capacity and resource adequacy, large-load integration and other matters under the Federal Power Act.
• Develop and execute legal and regulatory strategy from issue identification through resolution; conduct legal analysis; prepare and review comments, protests, complaints, briefs, testimony, settlement materials, legal opinions and other filings; and advocate AEP’s positions in contested proceedings, rulemakings and settlement processes.
• Represent AEP in PJM, SPP and MISO stakeholder, tariff and governance processes, working closely with the FERC and RTO Policy organization and business leaders to shape outcomes on transmission, markets, planning, reliability and large-load issues.
• Provide practical, business-oriented advice to AEP’s transmission, generation, commercial, regulatory, finance, operations and other teams regarding FERC jurisdiction, RTO tariffs, transmission service, interconnection, rates, compliance and state-federal jurisdictional issues.
• Advise on complex rate matters, including transmission formula rates, cost of service and utility accounting, while maintaining a broad portfolio that also includes tariff terms and conditions, transmission policy, interconnection and wholesale-market matters.
• Lead the FERC-regulatory workstream for significant corporate and commercial initiatives, including transactions, generation and transmission investments, competitive projects and arrangements to serve new large loads, where federal approvals, tariff rights or market rules are material.
• Take direct substantive ownership of matters and exercise independent judgment, while coordinating with and directing outside counsel, consultants and cross-functional internal teams when their expertise or resources will advance AEP’s objectives.
• Identify emerging regulatory risks and opportunities, translate complex legal developments into clear recommendations for senior management, and help align AEP’s legal, policy and business positions across its operating regions.

Benefits

• Base salary
• Annual bonus
• Long-term incentive
• 401K match
• AEP Pension
• Comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior