Michael is focused on helping clients make the most of structural changes in the energy industry.
Michael counsels clients on the rights and obligations of participants in organized electricity markets. With a background working as in house counsel for a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) and a power trading firm, Michael is equipped to advise industry clients on numerous aspects of regulatory, financial, and transactional issues affecting the development and optimization of generation and transmission assets.
Previously with the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), Michael practiced before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) where he:
- Managed diverse groups of stakeholders toward consensus-driven changes to MISO’s interconnection process, including proceedings related to: modification of site control requirements; Network Upgrade cost allocation and transmission owner funding; creation of study processes for merchant HVDC transmission systems; revisions to surplus interconnection service processes.
- Negotiated numerous contracts relating to the interconnection of generation resources to the transmission system and operation of the grid including engineering agreements, generator interconnection agreements, transmission connection agreements, and various agreement relating to cost allocation of network upgrade costs.
- Counseled MISO in the development of hybrid resource capabilities, including the creation of capacity accreditation methodology and definition of market products for hybrid resources.
- Advised on the effect of FERC rulemakings on MISO including landmark open access rulemakings, Demand Response compensation in wholesale markets, Interconnection reform, Distributed Energy Resources, and various rulemakings affecting interconnection in RTO markets.
Michael is experienced with matters of market design and regulatory policy in many regions of the U.S. including the CAISO, ERCOT, SPP, MISO, and PJM. Michael has addressed matters relating to the development of energy imbalance markets, capacity market price formation, hedge strategy, and market settlements.