Overview
Gregory D. Jones is an experienced regulatory and litigation attorney with expertise in energy, environmental, and utility law. Mr. Jones works extensively on federal and state electric regulatory matters, including stated and formula rate proceedings, RTO/ISO market rules and stakeholder initiatives, open access transmission tariffs, generator interconnections and affected system issues, transmission incentives, and NERC compliance and audits. Mr. Jones has successfully litigated complex transmission rate cases before FERC and certificate proceedings before state public utility commissions. He has also successfully led settlement negotiations on behalf of his clients, achieving considerable cost savings in reduced rates.
In addition to his electric regulatory practice, Mr. Jones has assisted clients with the development of renewable energy projects, preparing various transactional documents and permit applications, and advised utility clients on their responsibilities under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
Prior to joining Paul Hastings, Mr. Jones was in-house counsel at GridLiance, an independent transmission-only company. Mr. Jones is
admitted to practice law in Texas and the District of Columbia.
Education
- American University Washington College of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2011
- Syracuse University, B.A. (magna cum laude), 2005
Representations
- Represented GridLiance High Plains LLC in two litigated proceedings involving zonal placement of transmission assets into the Southwest Power Pool, addressing a wide range of issues including SPP Attachment AI, FERC’s Seven-Factor test, rate impacts and cost causation, and prudence challenges.
- Represented GridLiance Heartland LLC in a litigated hearing before the Illinois Commerce Commission for a certificate of public convenience and necessity.
- Represented GridLiance Heartland LLC in various FERC proceedings, allowing the company to close on a key transaction and expand into the Midcontinent Independent System Operator region.
- Advised GridLiance West LLC on its participation in the California Public Utility Commission’s Integrated Resource Planning process.
- Represented the GridLiance Operating Companies in a settlement proceeding at FERC involving the companies’ permissible income tax allowance recovery.
- Represented various municipal clients in annual transmission rate cases at FERC and acted as lead spokesperson for the aligned customer group in settlement negotiations.
- Advised tribal utility client in developing a utility-scale solar generation project, preparing various transactional documents and permit applications at the federal, state, and county levels.
Engagement & Publications
- Moderator, "Virtual Advocacy Workshop," Energy Bar Association 2021 Annual Meeting and Conference, May 2021.
- Moderator, "FERC Pass-Through Taxation and Income Allowance Recovery," Energy Bar Association Energizer Policy
Discussion, January 2020. - Gregory D. Jones, Comment, Electronic Rulemaking in the New Age of Openness: Proposing a Voluntary Two-Tier
Registration System for Regulations.gov, 62 ADMIN. L. REV. 1261 (2010).
Involvement
- Member of the District of Columbia and Texas Bar Association, including the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section
- Member of the Energy Bar Association (former Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee)