Chris Jones represents clients in the energy industry before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and federal courts, focusing on vertically-integrated electric utilities and utility holding companies. Chris has particular experience in energy markets and works routinely on competition-related issues such as mergers and acquisitions, market-based rate authority for generators, organized RTO and ISO markets for energy, capacity and ancillary services (including market design issues), and issues related to the nation's bilateral energy markets. In addition, Chris works on transmission related issues such as transmission rate incentives, generator interconnections, OATT compliance and Standards of Conduct, as well as FERC compliance and investigation defense matters.
Chris has previously served as the Vice Chair of the ABA Committee on Restructuring of the Electric Industry and the Committee on Gas and Electricity Marketing. He recently moderated an ABA panel discussion on the Supreme Court's decision in Morgan Stanley v. FERC.
Prior to joining Troutman Sanders in 2004, Chris spent several years in the government relations and opinion research businesses and on a national political campaign.
Representative Experience
Represented Western RTO in drafting and defending new market tariff based on Locational Marginal Prices.
Represented energy trader in FERC investigation.
Represented merchant generating arm of utility holding company in FERC compliant against an Eastern RTO relating to its capacity market and generator interconnection queue.
Represented Midwest generation owner in FERC investigation.
Represented vertically-integrated utility in FERC hearing regarding generation market power issues.
Served as FERC counsel on large utility merger.
Counseled multiple utilities on asset transfers and corporate transactions requiring FERC approval under Sections 203 and 204 of the Federal Power Act.
Served as counsel of record for merchant generating arm of utility holding company in multiple petitions for review of FERC capacity market decisions at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Served as counsel in three different RTO markets on "buyer-side" market power proceedings at FERC.
Represented Midwest transmission owner in dispute with interconnection customer.
Counseled merchant generator regarding RTO market design issues.
Represented Western RTO in multiple tariff amendments regarding market design issues.
Represented multiple utilities in reforming their generator interconnection procedures.
Represented several vertically-integrated utilities on defense and maintenance of market-based rate authority.
Represented transmission owner in application for incentive transmission rates.
Represented renewable energy developers in FERC compliance efforts.
Presentations and Publications
"Reconsidering Synergies, Cap-ex Plans Raise the Stakes for Utility Mergers", Public Utilities Fortnightly, July 2011.
FERC Order No. 890 The Next Generation of OATT Transmission Service, Troutman Sanders Conference 2007.
Moderator, 2008 American Bar Association panel discussion on the Supreme Court's decision in Morgan Stanley v. FERC.
Served as Executive Editor of Troutman Transmission Monthly.
Work Experience
Director of Business Development, Cassidy & Associates Government Relations, 2002-2004
Director of Business Development, SWR Worldwide Opinion Research, 2000-2002
Special Assistant to the Candidate, Elizabeth Dole for President, 1999
Special Assistant to the President, American Red Cross, 1998
Memberships
· District of Columbia Bar
· Energy Bar Association