Firm News and Announcements

DWGP is pleased to support the Light Up Navajo Initiative to bring electricity to rural Navajo households

The Navajo people often live on large parcels of land, creating significant distances between neighboring homes, producing one of the lowest number of utility customers per mile in the U.S. and a high cost of providing service. As a result, it is often cost-prohibitive to provide utility services to individual homes on much of the Navajo Nation. While over the past ten years, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) has electrified over 4,800 homes, there remain over 15,000 homes (over 60,000 Americans) within the Navajo Nation without electricity. In an effort to advance the electrification of homes within the Navajo Nation, in 2018, NTUA in coordination with the American Public Power Association (APPA) and its members created the Light Up Navajo! initiative. DWGP encourages you vist the website and learn more about the Light Up Navajo! initiative and consider donating to the GoFundMe page for the effort: https://www.publicpower.org/LightUpNavajo.

Jeff Genzer Presented on Advanced Metering Infrastructure at NARUC

On Tuesday, February 12, 2019, DWGP President Jeff Genzer presented on advanced metering infrastructure (“AMI”) deployment at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (“NARUC”) Winter Policy Summit. Mr. Genzer, who serves as General Counsel to the National Association of State Energy Officials (“NASEO”), provided his perspective on the theme of the panel: whether AMI data programs are keeping up with the evolving market and producing the benefits that customers and regulators were promised. For more information, please contact Jeff Genzer.

Matt Rudolphi Presented on Regulation of Broadband by FCC

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019, DWGP Shareholder Matthew R. Rudolphi presented on the Regulatory Overview panel at the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association’s (“TVPPA”) “Fiber University” conference. Mr. Rudolphi’s presentation provided an overview of FCC regulation of broadband and voice providers, with specific emphasis on the particular periodic filing requirements. The Fiber University conference provides a venue for public power utilities to share experiences and learn from subject matter experts in technology, law, finance, and marketing of broadband systems. For more information or to request a copy of his presentation, please contact Matt Rudolphi.

Derek Dyson Presented on the Implications of Grid Modernization for Tribal Communities

On Friday, December 7, 2018, Derek Dyson presented to the National Conference of State Legislatures Capitol Forum on Grid Modernization, with a focus on electrification and bringing water services to tribal communities. Mr. Dyson specifically addressed work with the Navajo Nation and identified opportunities for legislators to help ensure that basic electric and water services are provided to tribal communities. Founded in 1975, the National Conference of State Legislatures supports state legislatures by providing tools, information and resources to allow them to craft solutions for complex problems. Mr. Dyson is shareholder at DWGP and serves as counsel to the Navajo Nation Tribal Utility Authority.

Lisa Gast Presented on NERC Compliance at APPA Legal Seminar

On October 8, 2018, Lisa Gast presented at the American Public Power Association’s 2018 Legal & Regulatory Conference (in Charleston, South Carolina) on NERC compliance issues. In her program, Ms. Gast took the audience on a deep dive into each of the elements that NERC and its Regional Entities are looking for in a robust Internal Compliance Program, including some helpful tips along the way to make a utility’s ICP even stronger and more useful to the utility itself. After her formal presentation, Ms. Gast fielded questions from the audience and was able to provide guidance on specific issues and concerns. For further information on NERC compliance, please contact Lisa Gast.

DWGP Attorneys Led Seminars on FERC Electricity 101, Compliance and Enforcement

On November 6 and 7, 2018, attorneys from Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. led seminars hosted by the EUCI entitled FERC Electricity 101 and FERC Compliance and Enforcement in Newport Beach, California. In these comprehensive seminars, Peter Scanlon, Sean Neal, and Andrew Art discussed the evolution of FERC’s impact on the electric power industry, the substantive requirements with which utilities, and other participants in electricity markets, must comply, including NERC Reliability Standards, and how future requirements may change the shape of the energy landscape. The seminars were intended for participants with a wide-range of energy experience that have an interest in the growing importance of FERC regulation. For further information on the FERC Electricity 101 and FERC Compliance and Enforcement presentations, please contact Peter Scanlon, Sean Neal, or Andrew