Get Ahead of the Current™

I continue to get more creative thinking from Balch than I get from other firms. They are always thinking of 'what's this going to mean in a few years for us.

- Firm Client

Integrated Energy Counsel

Balch assembles cross-disciplinary teams who draw from the firm’s corporate, construction, finance, environmental, real estate, tax, labor and employment, and litigation capabilities.

Transactions & Project Development

Balch attorneys represent clients in acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, project development and financing. We draft and negotiate power purchase and sale agreements, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, equipment supply agreements, long-term service agreements, operations and maintenance agreements, fuel supply and transportation agreements, interconnection arrangements, and transmission and shared-facilities agreements.

Regulatory & Compliance

Balch advises on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorizations and proceedings, including Section 203 approvals, market-based rate authority, transmission service, generator and large-load interconnection, regional transmission organization and independent system operator (RTO/ISO) market rules, long-term transmission planning, reporting, audits and enforcement. We represent clients before state public utility commissions in rate cases, integrated resource planning, certificate proceedings, fuel and environmental cost recovery, rate design, tariffs and contested cases. Additionally, we counsel nuclear clients on Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing, compliance, investigations and enforcement.

Litigation & Investigations

Balch represents energy companies in federal and state courts, agency proceedings and arbitrations involving contracts, construction, generation assets, utility service, rates, market rules, environmental issues and other regulatory or commercial disputes. Our litigation team coordinates with the firm's transactional and regulatory attorneys to address the technical, operational and commercial context.

Public Policy & Government Relations

Balch attorneys and policy advisors counsel clients on federal and state legislation, rulemakings and policy developments affecting electricity, nuclear energy, renewables, natural gas and energy infrastructure. We help executives, companies and industry organizations engage with Congress, state legislatures and regulatory agencies.

Industry Experience

Balch’s experience spans nuclear energy, conventional and renewable power generation, battery energy storage, transmission and distribution, grid reliability, data centers and other large-load projects, hydropower, oil and gas, and related energy infrastructure. 

Nuclear Energy

Balch advises owners, developers, operators, and vendors on new plant development, licensing, construction, operating-plant compliance, transactions, decommissioning and recommissioning, spent fuel and waste, supply-chain matters, investigations, and public policy.

The firm has served as lead project counsel on the development of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 since the project’s inception, supporting federal policy initiatives, due diligence, licensing, contract negotiation and administration, commercial dispute resolution, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission matters.

Power Generation, Renewables & Storage

Balch counsels clients on natural gas, solar, wind, battery energy storage, and other power generation projects. Balch advises on development and financing, construction, operation, acquisition, and disposition.

Our attorneys negotiate power purchase agreements, EPC agreements, equipment supply agreements, long-term service agreements, operations and maintenance agreements, and other commercial arrangements for new and operating facilities. We also represent utilities, generation owners, developers, and investors in acquisitions and divestitures involving renewable, conventional, and energy storage projects. 

Transmission, Reliability & Large Loads

Balch advises energy market participants on FERC matters involving mergers and asset transfers, market-based rate authority, transmission service and planning, generator and large-load interconnection, regional transmission organization and independent system operator market rules, compliance, and enforcement. We represent clients in federal and state rate proceedings, contested cases, investigations, appeals, and commercial disputes. Additionally, Balch represents clients in front of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and the Railroad Commission of Texas, including rulemakings, protocols, compliance requirements, contested proceedings, and large-load interconnection issues.

For data centers, hyperscalers, and other large-load projects, Balch advises utilities, developers, investors, and end-use customers on power supply, interconnection, rate design, infrastructure development, regulatory approvals, and commercial arrangements. 

Hydropower

Balch represents hydropower owners and operators in FERC licensing and relicensing proceedings, regulatory compliance, environmental review, project modifications, commercial agreements, and related disputes. 

Oil, Gas & Related Infrastructure

Balch advises clients across the hydrocarbon and energy supply chains on natural gas supply and transportation, interstate and intrastate pipelines, gas-fired generation, infrastructure development, permitting, and regulatory compliance. The team also supports acquisitions, divestitures, financings, joint ventures, and the negotiation of engineering, procurement, construction, transportation, fuel supply, and related commercial agreements. 

The team is knowledgeable in the energy industry, detail-oriented, has savvy negotiation skills and is able to easily translate desired commercial concepts into legal contracts.

- Chambers USA