Jan. 27, 2012 - Possible law firms to give presentations on municipalization, FERC qualifications

Contact:

Andrew Barth, Energy Future, 303-441-1937
Sarah Huntley, Media Relations, 303-441-3155

Possible law firms to give presentations on municipalization, FERC qualifications

The City of Boulder invites the public to view presentations by law firms that have been chosen as finalists to assist in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proceedings related to the city’s municipalization efforts. The firm selected will advise the city in all matters related to FERC requirements and services while the city examines the feasibility of forming its own electric utility.

Presentations by the five finalists will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, in the City Council Chambers, 1777 Broadway. A meet and greet session will follow the presentations at 4 p.m. in the Municipal Building Lobby, 1777 Broadway.  Staff interviews will follow this public presentation opportunity, and the selection of a firm is expected to be made by mid-February.

The city is seeking to retain this counsel to provide representation expert assistance as it moves towards potential municipalization of the electrical distribution system in Boulder, which stems from the passage of ballot items 2B and 2C in November.

FERC counsel will be important in assisting the city through federal regulatory requirements associated with the creation of a municipal utility, including proceedings associated with the FERC, and issues surrounding open access transmission tariff, stranded costs, and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance issues.

Boulder City Council has said it will not make a decision about whether to issue bonds to pursue municipalization until it knows the city can meet FERC regulations and all costs associated with acquisition are known.  The firm will work closely with city staff and FERC counsel, and engineers as the city creates a separation plan and conducts negotiations for potential municipalization.

The five firms that have been invited to present include:

• Brickfield Burchette Ritts & Stone, PC
• Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, PC
• Duncan & Allen 
• Patton Boggs LLP
• Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP; Dietze & Davis, PC; and, Bill McEwan

For more information regarding the city’s work related to potential municipalization, including short biographies about the firms, visit www.BoulderEnergyFuture.com.

--CITY--

Last Updated on Friday, 15 June 2012 08:05