Dan H. McCrary

I have appeared many times before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Alabama Public Service Commission, but have also handled matters associated with regulatory orders at various federal and state appellate courts (primarily the D.C. Circuit and the Alabama Supreme Court).

I work primarily with regulated utility companies, but also with energy companies, generators, and other entities involved in the energy industry.

Energy law is never static; it is dynamic and ever-changing.  Over the course of my career, I’ve seen the industry move from a structure that was exclusively cost-based and duty to serve in nature to one that encompasses market rate authority, open access transmission, and various types of non-utility market participants.  I can think of no other field that can cite changes of such size and scope over a relatively short period of time, and it will most certainly continue.

In many respects, energy policy is now driven by environmental policy.  The latter is severely challenging many traditional fuels and generating sources, as well as creating great momentum for emerging technologies, most notably renewables.  The variable nature of renewables poses a very real challenge to the electric system, both in terms of stable operation and adequacy of supply.  I suspect the industry will continue to struggle with these issues for years to come.