Andrea I. Sarmentero Garzón

Experience

Andrea I. Sarmentero Garzón joined the Firm in 2023 and represents clients in transactional, regulatory, and compliance matters in the electric and natural gas industries. Ms. Sarmentero advocates for her clients in litigation and settlement proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and in the federal courts of appeals. Ms. Sarmentero’s regulatory practice includes advising clients on issues involving utility and pipeline revenue requirements, electric transmission rates and incentives, electric transmission planning and cost allocation, pipeline transportation rates, pipeline certificate proceedings, participation in regional energy and capacity markets, FERC’s jurisdictional boundaries, grid resilience and reactive power revenue requirements. Ms. Sarmentero is experienced in drafting and negotiating agreements for energy transactions, including agreements addressing ownership and operation of transmission and generation facilities, capital investments, power purchases, engineering procurement and construction, dynamic transfers of electricity, interconnections, and water and power supply. She advises clients on matters concerning compliance with FERC’s pro-forma open access transmission tariff, FERC regulations, policies and standards, NERC electric reliability standards, and PHMSA safety regulations for natural gas pipelines.

Presentations & Publications

Presentations

• Presenter, Arizona Mexico Commission “Rate Design & Support Mechanisms For Distributed Solar Energy,” (June 27, 2019)
• Presenter, American Public Power Association Legal Seminar,  “Subsidizing New and Existing Generation: Needed Investment from Consumers? Or Consumers’ Exploitation?” (2016)
• Presenter, American Public Power Association Legal Seminar, “The Latest Threat to Capacity Markets: Customers!” (2013)

Publications

• Author, “FERC considers incentivizing resilient transmission,” District Energy Magazine, Vol. 105, No. 3 (Autumn 2019)
• Co-author, “Forty Years after enactment: How will PURPA evolve?” District Energy Magazine, Vol. 105, No. 2 (Spring/Summer 2019)
• Author, “Defining and Compensating Resilience Attributes: An Opportunity for District Energy Systems?” District Energy Magazine, Vol. 104, No. 3 (Third Quarter 2018)
• Co-author, “Developments in FERC Policy for Determining Return on Equity,” Energy Law Journal (2017)
• Co-author, “FERC to reform interconnection procedures for large generators,” District Energy Magazine, Vol. 103, No. 2 (Second Quarter 2017)
• Co-author, “In the wake of Hughes v. Talen Energy, might states turn to CHP to help meet future energy demand?” District Energy Magazine, Vol. 103, No. 1 (First Quarter 2017)
• Co-author, “Grid Interconnection Rules for District Energy/CHP Systems,” District Energy Magazine, Vol. 102, No. 1 (Second Quarter 2016)
• Co-author, “The Benefits of Project Finance for Renewable Energy Facilities,” District Energy Magazine, Vol. 101, No. 4 (Fourth Quarter 2015)
• Co-author, “D.C. Circuit Decision Brings Uncertainty to CHP Participation in Demand Response Markets,” District Energy Magazine, Vol. 101, No. 1 (First Quarter 2015)
• Co-author, “New Laws Promote Development of Small Hydropower Projects,” Energy and Natural Resources Litigation Committee Newsletter, American Bar Association (2014)