Jo Ann Biggs

Represents client in investigations into performance of the electric grid during extreme weather events conducted by state, regional, and federal regulators

Counsels clients in evaluating possible violations of NERC’s Reliability Standards and state regulations

Represents clients during compliance audits, recertification audits, and spot checks conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, NERC, and the Texas Reliability Entity

Assists clients in understanding pending and recently passed legislation as well as pending and recently adopted regulations that could affect their businesses

Assists clients in preparing required regulatory reports, such as reports related to vegetation management plans, infrastructure hardening efforts, and reliability performance

Represented a client in multiple rulemakings at the Public Utility Commission of Texas related to the deployment of advanced meters and in the related state court appeal

Served as lead attorney in three administrative proceedings in which the costs of advanced meter deployment were reconciled

Represented clients in preparing applications for loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005

Represented private equity purchasers regarding regulatory issues in a $45 billion acquisition of major Texas energy company

Served as lead attorney for the largest electric utility in Texas in achieving an unprecedented regulatory settlement that resolved all major issues related to the company’s transition to retail electric competition and authorized securitization of $1.3 billion of regulatory assets. Also served as lead attorney in hearings before the Public Utility Commission of Texas to obtain regulatory approval of that settlement and in appeals of that approval

Served as lead attorney for the largest electric utility in Texas before Public Utility Commission in litigation of multi-phased proceeding to unbundle the company pursuant to Texas electric industry restructuring legislation, and to set transmission and distribution rates

Served as lead attorney for clients in numerous administrative proceedings and rulemakings relating to the implementation of Texas electric industry restructuring legislation, including proceedings to evaluate business separation plans and develop rules for the unbundling of vertically integrated utilities and stranded cost recovery

Participated extensively in the preparation of legislation governing a restructuring of the Texas electric industry to require transmission open access and authorize competition in the generation and retail sale of electricity

Represented a governmental agency in connection with licensing a geologic nuclear waste repository