Dave Connelly | Balch & BIngham Headshot - Large

David Martin Connelly

Partner
  • (202) 661-6341
Download Resume dconnelly@balch.com
Education
  • University of Baltimore
    J.D., 1998, magna cum laude, Heuisler Honor Society (graduating top 10%)
  • Towson University
    M.A., Clinical Psychology, 1994
  • Albright College
    B.A., Psychology, 1991
Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia, 1999
  • Maryland, 1998
Related Practices
About Dave
David is diligent, has an eye for detail and the ability to manage complex matters and achieve successful outcomes. He is highly knowledgeable about the energy industry and developments at FERC.

- Chambers Global

Q&A
  • What previous experiences, prior to your work at Balch, influence your practice?

    The experience that most influenced my practice and provided me with the deepest exposure to and understanding of the electric utility industry was serving as Senior Counsel at what is now known as Dominion Energy Services, Inc. In that role, I  gained an in-house perspective in representing Dominion in a wide array of electric transmission matters and NERC-related issues. Also in that role, I was able to serve as the Chair of PJM Interconnection LLC’s (PJM) Transmission Owners Agreement-Administrative Committee (TOA-AC) Legal Issues Team, where I got to work with PJM transmission owners on various TOA-AC initiatives.

  • What type of clients do you represent?
    I primarily represent regulated public utility companies and their affiliates.  In addition, I have represented independent transmission and generation developers and owners, electric cooperatives, and other entities involved in the electric energy industry. 
  • What type of matters do you work on most often?
  • Which courts or agencies do you most often appear before on behalf of your clients?

Select Matters

  • Cost-of-Service Rates:  Represented investor-owned utility in proceeding involving cost-of-service rates under a grandfathered tariff.
  • Market-Based Rate Proceeding:  Represented investor-owned utility and affiliates in triennial market power analysis filing.
  • Modifications to Large Generator Interconnection Procedures (LGIP) to Implement Clustering Approach:  Represented investor-owned utility in filing to modify its LGIP to transition from a “first-come, first-served” generator interconnection approach to a “first-ready, first-served” generator interconnection approach.
  • Facilitating Replacement Generation: Represented investor-owned utility in filing modifications to implement provisions facilitating the replacement of generating facilities on utility's transmission system and in related filing of agreement between utility and independent generation replacement coordinator.
  • Annual Transmission Rate Processes: Represented investor-owned utilities in annual formula rate fillings, annual formula rate filings, and informal data requests under formula rate protocols.
  • Generation and Transmission Interconnections: Represented both investor-owned utilities and generation owners in negotiating interconnection agreements at transmission and distribution voltages, and represented investor-owned utilities in negotiating transmission-level “wires-to-wires” interconnection agreements with bordering utilities.
  • Depreciation Rate Filings: Represented investor-owned utilities in limited-scope, single issue filings to implement revised depreciation rates.
  • Order No. 864 Compliance Filings: Represented investor-owned utilities in filings to comply with FERC's requirements associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  • Transitioning from Stated to Formula Electric Transmission Rates: Represented investor-owned utilities in filings to transition from stated electric transmission rates to formula electric transmission rates
  • Stated Electric Transmission Rates: Represented a large independent electric transmission company (formed as a commercial venture between two utility holding companies) in transmission revenue requirement rate case.
  • Defending Section 206 Challenges: Represented investor-owned utilities in Section 206 challenges regarding justness and reasonableness of transmission rates.
  • Other Cost-of-Service Rates: Represented investor-owned utilities in rate filings for reactive power service, represented investor-owned utility in filing to update post-retirement benefits other than pensions, and represented electric entities in developing rates for wholesale distribution service. 
  • Incentive Rate Treatments: Represented investor-owned utility in obtaining FERC approval of incentive rate treatment associated with more than $850 million of transmission enhancement projects.

Publications

    News

      Credentials

      Education
      • University of Baltimore, J.D., 1998, magna cum laude, Heuisler Honor Society (graduating top 10%)
      • Towson University, M.A., Clinical Psychology, 1994
      • Albright College, B.A., Psychology, 1991
      Courts
      • U.S. Supreme Court, 2002
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 1999
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, 2000
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2000
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 1999
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 2001
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2001
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2008
      • U. S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 1999
      • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 2000
      • U.S. District Court, Maryland, 1999
      Bar Admissions
      • District of Columbia, 1999
      • Maryland, 1998
      Professional Affiliations
      • Energy Bar Association, 1998-Present
        • President, Board of Directors, 2023-present
        • President-Elect, Board of Directors, 2022-2023
        • Vice President, Board of Directors, 2021-2022
        • Assistant Secretary, Board of Directors 2020-2021
        • Board of Directors, 2015-2018
      • Charitable Foundation of Energy Bar Association
        • Board of Directors, Ex Officio, 2021-present
        • Ex Officio, President Board of Directors, 2020-2021
        • President, Board of Directors, 2019-2020,
        • Vice President, Board of Directors, 2018-2019
      • Foundation of the Energy Law Journal
        • Board of Directors, Ex Officio, 2021-present  
      • Maryland State Bar Association, 1998-present
      Awards & Accolades
      • Chambers Global, Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation), 2022 - present
      • Chambers USA, Nationwide Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation), 2019 - present
      • The Best Lawyers in America®, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, 2023 - 2024
      • Lawdragon 500: Leading U.S. Energy Lawyer, 2023 & 2024
      • Legal 500 US: Energy Regulation, 2018-2022
      • Legal 500 US: Next Generation Lawyer - Energy Litigation: Conventional Power, 2017
      • Super Lawyers: Washington, D.C., Energy and Natural Resources, 2023 
       
      Community Involvement
      • The John Carroll Society
      • St. Bartholomew Catholic Church - Bethesda, MD, Usher

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