Andrew Schulte guides energy industry clients through the complex and dynamic regulatory environments at the local, state, and federal levels. As former counsel to both the Kansas Corporation Commission (“KCC”) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), Andrew uses his understanding of the legal, procedural, and political issues at play in regulatory proceedings to help clients achieve their business goals.
Andrew has represented electric cooperatives, municipalities, independent transmission companies, independent power producers, and private equity investors in connection with the development, financing, operation, and divestiture of a wide variety of electric assets.
Andrew has extensive experience with proceedings before regulatory bodies, including preparing filings and testimony, negotiating multi-party settlements, managing discovery, presenting oral arguments, cross-examining expert witnesses, and drafting motions and briefs for presentation to regulatory decision-makers. For example, Andrew recently guided a transmission-owning public utility through the application and hearing process at the KCC to obtain regulatory approval for its sale to a foreign holding company.
Andrew also excels in advising independent power producers and distributed generation providers on how to structure deals to avoid tripping regulatory jurisdiction, where appropriate. For example, he has advised solar developers on the nuances of the definition of “public utility” in various states and made regulatory “opt-out” filings for independent power producers.
Moreover, Andrew counsels energy developers and investors on project development, local permitting, and mitigating the impact of opposition groups.
In addition to his regulatory background, Andrew has significant experience with energy-related transactions, including the purchase and sale of energy assets, interconnection agreements, and power purchase agreements. Andrew has conducted due diligence, drafted and reviewed contracts for the transfer of interests in electric assets, and obtained the necessary regulatory approvals for such transactions.