Energy & Telecommunications
Energy & Telecommunications Overview | Team
The legal, regulatory and legislative landscape for energy and telecommunication companies continues to undergo dramatic and far-reaching changes, with new markets and business models layered over traditional utility regulation. Increased demand for renewable power has created new challenges and opportunities for existing energy companies and for companies looking to enter this dynamic industry. Likewise, new proposals to promote and regulate the converging technologies of the telecommunications industry have increased the need for companies to seek systematic and coordinated strategies.
With decades of experience in both industries, the Energy and Telecommunications Law Group at Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer understands both traditional regulation and cutting edge issues. We represent energy and telecommunications service companies in all aspects of their business in Vermont and throughout New England. We have a deep and nuanced understanding of our clients’ businesses, and we use a team approach that draws upon the depth of other practice areas within the firm to address the full range of our energy and telecommunications clients’ legal needs in the most cost-effective way. Our attorneys have strong working relationships with the attorneys and staff at the relevant state regulatory agencies.
Energy Law
We have broad experience in the energy industry. We represent developers in obtaining permits and financing for hydro, biofuel, and wind generation projects, including the first project to be certified as a Sustainably Priced Energy Enterprise Development (SPEED) project by the Public Service Board under 30 V.S.A. § 8005. PPEC attorneys have also successfully obtained permits for bulk transmission upgrades that improve regional reliability and for smaller subtransmission projects that link individual distribution systems to a broader network.
In addition to permitting, we have been actively involved in all aspects of right-of-way acquisition for such transmission projects. Finally, the Energy Law attorneys have decades of experience representing publicly and privately-owned distribution companies in such diverse areas as certification, rates cases, financings, mergers and acquisitions. Supporting the Energy Law team, PPEC can provide our energy clients with access to experienced attorneys in financial services, corporate services, real estate law, employment law, and litigation.
Telecommunications Law
Our Telecommunications Law group addresses the corporate, regulatory and legislative needs of telecommunications companies. Our legislative team was instrumental in gaining relaxed regulatory treatment for small eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in Vermont (30 V.S.A. § 227d) and worked closely with Vermont regulators and legislators on the enactment of Vermont’s historic "E-State" legislation (Act 79 of 2008).
Our lawyers have led efforts to clarify the regulatory treatment of "virtual NXX" traffic (Vermont PSB Docket No. 6209) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) traffic (Vermont PSB Docket No. 7316), and have worked with carriers in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine on the challenges and opportunities posed by the FairPoint bankruptcy.
The Telecommunications Law Group represents local and long-distance companies, cable television operators, Internet service provider, wireless providers, and other broadband service providers. Our team brings broad experience in all aspects of telecommunications law, including:
- Commercial formations and dissolutions
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate financings
- Regulatory enforcement actions
- Rate cases
- Administrative rulemakings
- Legislative matters
In addition, the Telecommunications Law Group works with the Litigation, Employment Law, Taxation, Intellectual Property, Financial Services, and Government Relations practice groups at Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer to assist our telecommunications clients with a broad spectrum of legal and legislative needs.
