Kissinger & Fellman has been representing local governments in connection with public utilities matters since 1987. We have worked with clients of all sizes in connection with gas and electric franchise agreements, pole attachments, siting of major utility facilities and enforcement of franchise provisions. The Firm has also been extensively involved with local government participation in proceedings before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission related to Xcel Energy’s quality of service, and tariff proceedings related to street lights, traffic signal lighting and environmental matters. The Firm’s attorneys regularly presents to local elected officials and staff regarding the scope of local versus state regulatory authority over public utility service providers, and have drafted municipal and county code provisions to implement local authority in order to maximize local control.
Given the Federal Communications Commission’s recent decisions related to broadband service as a utility, and the deregulation of broadband service by many state public utilities commissions, the Firm is working with a variety of local government clients on issues related to the intersection of broadband, communications and utilities law.