Laura Szabo

Counsel | She/Her/Hers

Overview

Laura Szabo's practice focuses on advising energy companies and investors on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) matters (ranging from the simple to the complex, and to the novel) involving: the development, ownership and/or operation of electric generation and battery storage projects and associated interconnection facilities; power sale activities; debt, equity, sale and/or acquisitions transactions related to the ownership or operation generation projects; and, obtaining related approvals to comply with FERC’s rules. 

Laura’s extensive experience includes:

  • Guiding clients on how to structure their ownership or investments in electric assets or electric industry activities to comply with, mitigate, or avoid FERC utility regulation under the Federal Power Act (FPA) and/or the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA).
  • Advising clients on FERC regulatory matters arising under a wide range of commercial and corporate energy contracts in transactions involving the development, ownership and operation of electric energy projects or the acquisition or disposition of ownership interests in electric energy assets or energy companies.
  • Assisting companies with obtaining FERC FPA or PUHCA approvals related to the ownership, operation, acquisition or disposition of electric energy assets including
    • FPA approvals necessary to sell power (i.e., market‐based rate (MBR) authority), acquire or dispose of direct or indirect ownership interests in generation or transmission assets or companies (i.e., Section 203 approval) or to own or control shared interconnection facility agreements (i.e., Section 205 rate schedule filings), and
    • PUHCA approvals such as for exempt wholesale generator (EWG) or foreign utility company (FUCO) status.
  • Counseling companies with respect to ongoing regulatory FERC compliance.

Career & Education

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    • Sacred Heart University, B.S., summa cum laude, 1985
    • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 1990
    • Sacred Heart University, B.S., summa cum laude, 1985
    • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 1990
    • Connecticut
    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    • Connecticut
    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    • Law Clerk to the Honorable Colleen Kollar‐Kotelly, District of Columbia Superior Court, 1990
    • Law Clerk to the Honorable Colleen Kollar‐Kotelly, District of Columbia Superior Court, 1990

Laura's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 03.01.21

New MBR Reporting Requirements Take Effect on April 1, 2021

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) new rules under Order No. 860 take effect on April 1, 2021, and will change the way market-based rate (MBR) filings are made. FERC’s aim is to create a relational database to contain MBR seller information that ultimately will allow, among other things, for the automatic generation of an appendix of relevant affiliated assets and indicative market power screens. The first focus will be for each MBR seller to make a baseline submission to FERC’s MBR Portal between April 1 and August 2, 2021.  ...

Laura's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 03.01.21

New MBR Reporting Requirements Take Effect on April 1, 2021

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) new rules under Order No. 860 take effect on April 1, 2021, and will change the way market-based rate (MBR) filings are made. FERC’s aim is to create a relational database to contain MBR seller information that ultimately will allow, among other things, for the automatic generation of an appendix of relevant affiliated assets and indicative market power screens. The first focus will be for each MBR seller to make a baseline submission to FERC’s MBR Portal between April 1 and August 2, 2021.  ...