Troutman Sanders LLP Executive Partner for Client Development Strategic Planning Kevin C. Fitzgerald and Energy Associate Christopher R. Jones recently wrote an article “Reconsidering Synergies,” which was published in the July 2011 edition of Public Utilities Fortnightly.

We invite you to click through to a copy of the article, available…

Utility companies should be aware of the July 21, 2011 compliance deadline arising from  Section 1100F of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“the Act”), which amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. (“FCRA”). 

On July 22, 2011, the Atlantic Wind Connection (“AWC”), offshore transmission line project off the Mid-Atlantic coast that would bring thousands of megawatts of offshore wind capacity ashore (see the October 12, 2010 edition of the WER), announced that Belgium-based transmission company Elia has taken a minority stake in the project and will be providing consulting services to the AWC.

On Monday, July 11, 2011, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (“Chesapeake”) announced its plan to spend over $1 billion over the next 10 years in order to help spur the development and demand for domestic supplies of natural gas and oil.

On April 25, 2011, Entergy Corporation (“Entergy”) announced that the company will be joining the Midwest Independent System Operator (“Midwest ISO” or “MISO”).  Entergy expects to formally join MISO by December 2013.  Entergy anticipates making their initial filings with retail regulators on or before May 12, and soon thereafter, Entergy will file their formal retail regulatory filings.

On April 13, 2011, American Transmission Co. (“ATC”) and Duke Energy (“Duke”) announced the joint venture of Duke-American Transmission Co. (“DATC”) to build and operate new transmission projects in North America.   DATC will own and operate all assets built by the joint venture, and equity ownership will be split equally by Duke and ATC.

On February 28, 2011, the PJM Interconnection L.L.C. Board of Managers (“PJM Board”) instructed transmission owners to “suspend efforts” on the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (“PATH”). 

On January 10, 2011, Duke Energy and Progress Energy, Inc. (“Progress Energy”) announced the companies had entered into a merger agreement which, if consummated, will create the largest electric utility in the United States.