Edward W. O'Neill

Ed O’Neill advises competitive utility service providers, large consumers of utility services, public agencies, utilities and consumer groups on a wide range of electric, natural gas, telecommunications and water matters. He places special emphasis on practice before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Prior to joining the firm, Ed served at the CPUC as administrative law judge, Commissioner's advisor and Assistant General Counsel.

Practice Highlights

• Authored the California Public Utilities Commission’s rule implementing the California Environmental Quality Act and assisted utilities, public agencies and intervenors in licensing and environmental review of electric and telecommunications infrastructure projects.
• Secured California Public Utilities Commission approval of power purchase agreements for development of renewable energy projects.
• Successfully settled an administrative enforcement proceeding against a telecommunications company rising out of the October 2007 wildfires that burned large portions of San Diego County and caused over $1 billion in damage claims.
• Secured an order from the California Public Utilities Commission conditioning approval of an international water utility merger on the divestiture of a local California water utility affiliate to a local public agency client.
• Secured an exemption for a public agency client from certain “nonbypassable” charges arising from the California Energy Crisis, saving the client over $2 million annually.
• Lead strategist and negotiator for the California Public Utilities Commission and State of California in resolving an international trade dispute brought by the Canadian federal government and provinces of Alberta and British Columbia over the terms and conditions affecting $1 billion in annual natural gas trade.
• Lead attorney on the administrative agency review of cost overruns incurred by Pacific Gas and Electric Company in constructing the $5.8 billion Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.