Public Utility Law

Hance Scarborough’s practice of public utility law involves legal representation of government and privately owned industries such as electric, telecommunications, gas and water utilities. The Firm can represent clients in industries that are regulated in Texas by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, Texas Railroad Commission and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. On the federal level, The Firm represents clients before the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Although recent federal and state statutory enactments have begun the process of facilitating competition, operation of the free market, and customer choice, utilities remain subject to extensive agency regulation and oversight. The Firm is able to help its clients with licensing of regulated activities, regulatory compliance and enforcement matters before those various agencies. The Firm is able to negotiate and communicate with agency regulators, interpret regulatory requirements and represent client’s at evidentiary hearings before administrative law judges and agency decision makers.