With a decade of experience in the electric power industry, Sylvia guides clients through energy regulatory approvals, compliance and transactions.
Sylvia represents electric generation and transmission companies before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and provides transaction counsel, with a focus on energy regulatory requirements. She has extensive experience in FERC litigation and is highly knowledgeable about federal and state energy regulations.
Sylvia advises electric generation developers on generator interconnection procedures and agreements, including application requirements, material modifications, site control, network upgrade cost allocation, surplus and provisional interconnection service, milestone extensions, scope changes, wholesale market participation agreements, and requests for tariff waivers. Sylvia has a special focus on helping clients navigate both high-stakes interconnection issues and routine interconnection requirements, both of which can be outcome determinative for a power project. Additionally, Sylvia represents electric generation owner/operators in obtaining FERC approvals, such as market-based rate authorization, and in drafting and submitting FERC filings, such as qualifying facility (QF) Form 556 self-certifications, notices of self-certification of exempt wholesale generator (EWG) status, notices of change in status, and market-based rate relational database updates.
Sylvia advises electric transmission companies and customers on transmission formula rates, informal and formal challenges, cost allocation, negotiated rates, capacity allocation, and transmission planning procedures. She regularly represents independent and merchant transmission companies, both inside and outside of regional transmission organizations (RTO) and independent system operators (ISO).
Sylvia also advises clients on Federal Power Act (FPA) section 203 transaction approval requirements, Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA) exemptions and compliance, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) registration, and large load and generator co-location strategy. In addition, Sylvia advises clients on the application of state energy regulations and state utility commission approval requirements to both utility-scale and distributed power projects.
With a reputation for providing strategic, proactive advice, Sylvia serves as an integral part of clients’ legal and development teams. Clients especially value Sylvia’s enthusiasm for their work: with a renewable energy law practice in mind, she earned an Energy Law certificate from Vermont Law School, and she has devoted her career to the electric industry. She loves being a part of developing solutions to challenges facing the grid and the country’s energy supply.
Sylvia is an active member of the Energy Bar Association and has served as president of the Foundation of the Energy Law Journal.