Related Practices

Admitted to Practice

District of Columbia, 2003
U.S. Court of Appeals D.C. Circuit, 2004

Margaret H. Claybour

Associate

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Washington, D.C.

T202.973.4238

F202.973.4438

Margaret Claybour represents traditional utilities, merchant and renewable generators, and independent transmission companies before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). She helps clients develop regulatory strategy and structure transactions, and advises them in ratemaking proceedings and settlement procedures. Margaret helps clients obtain various regulatory approvals, including Section 203 and 204 approvals, exempt wholesale generator and qualifying facility status determinations, and market-based rate authority. She regularly advises clients on compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and regional entity reliability standards.

Representative Experience

Development - renewable for National Energy Systems Co.

Representation of independent power producer in the development of two wood-waste fueled biomass power plants in Oregon and negotiation of associated pine sole agreements. (Ongoing)

Regulatory - electric for Calpine Corporation

Representation of various qualifying facilities and other generators owned by Calpine Corporation in regulatory proceedings, commercial negotiations and disputes. Representation includes providing regulatory opinions on over a billion dollars' worth of project financings. (Ongoing)

Regulatory - natural gas for Freeport-McMoRan Corporation

Representation before the FERC and in the federal court of appeals with respect to El Paso Natural Gas Company rate proceedings. (Ongoing)

Litigation for FirstEnergy Corporation

FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. and others have appealed FERC Orders permitting widely disparate charges for reactive power service supplied by different generators within the region served by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. that are not justified by differences in costs or otherwise. The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the charges at issue were unduly discriminatory, and vacated the underlying FERC orders in which such charges had been approved. (D.C. Cir. 2011)

Development - renewable for NaturEner

Represented developer in negotiating and obtaining regulatory approvals for power purchase and in associated renewable portfolio standard proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission. (2010)

Additional Qualifications

Associate, Winston & Strawn LLP, Washington, D.C., 2002-2011

Professional & Community Activities

Energy Bar Association, 2002-present

Education

J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, 2002
- Associate Editor, Washington University Law Quarterly
B.A., English, Carleton College, 1991, cum laude