Chris’ practice focuses on the representation of electric, telecommunications, gas, water, and wastewater public utilities. He also practices in the areas of environmental, land use, renewable energy, and appellate law.
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Representative Experience
- Represent electric, telecommunication, gas, water and sewer utilities in regulatory and complaint proceedings before North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC).
- Represent water, wastewater and electric utilities in general rate case applications.
- Represent and advise natural gas and propane gas companies with respect to NCUC regulation.
- Represent electric, telecommunication, water and wastewater utilities in mergers, acquisition and divestment proceedings.
- Advise clients with respect to Senate Bill 3 renewable energy portfolio standards (REPS), renewable energy credits (RECs) and sustainable energy regulations.
- Represent utilities and commercial utility customers in general Superior Court litigation.
- Represent utilities in environmental and land use permitting and enforcement proceedings.
- Represent clients in appeals before state and federal appellate courts.
- Advise and represent clients on various issues under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
- Represent water, sewer and gas clients in contested case petitions before the Office of Administrative Hearings.
- Advise telecommunications companies on transition from regulated to competitive markets.
- Advise and represent telecommunications company in connection with the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
- Represent and advise competing local telephone providers (CLPs and CLECs) in proceedings before the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
- Advise public utilities regarding compliance with administrative rules and regulations.
- Represent and advise municipalities on public utility matters.
- Advise and represent municipalities regarding land use and zoning regulation and enforcement.
- Substantial experience in state appellate practice while serving as law clerk to a North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge.
- Represent electric power suppliers in REPS compliance proceedings and rulemaking before the NCUC.
- Represent electric power supplier in negotiating purchased power agreement.
read all representative experience
Prior Legal Experience
Prior to joining Poyner Spruill, Chris practiced with Hunton & Williams. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Linda McGee with the North Carolina Court of Appeals from 2002 to 2003.