Energy Law & Policy Course

EPIC offers a three (3) credit Energy Law and Policy course every fall, which focuses on the electricity and natural gas industries. [Download course syllabus]

Course Description

Energy is the lifeblood of the modern economy. Its production, conversion, and consumption affect nearly every aspect of our lives. Recognizing the increasing importance of energy and its role in global climate change, this course introduces students to the legal, regulatory, and environmental concepts relevant to the changing electricity and natural gas industries in the U.S. The course examines the historical and legal origins of energy regulation and ratemaking and provides an introduction to the natural gas and electrical industries, including basic terms and concepts, regulatory trends and emerging issues. The course will explore the rise of competition in both industries and will cover California’s energy crisis of 2000-2001 and its aftermath, and trends in renewable and distributed electricity generation. Students also will examine the rapidly evolving regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in California and the United States.

Day and Time (2009)

Energy Law and Policy will be offered on Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 8:50 pm.

Location (2009)

Warren Hall 2B

Instructors

Carrie Downey, Law Offices of Carrie Anne Downey

Glen Sullivan, Retired Sempra Energy

Course Requirements

• Student in-class presentation (10% of final grade)
• In-class, closed-book final exam (90% of final grade)

Course Text and Packet

The course will use Energy Law in a Nutshell and an Energy Law and Policy course packet of selected class discussion materials and primary reference materials.

Student Presentations

Teams of approximately 5 students will research and present a summary of a selected energy law or policy issue or case study relevant to the class discussion. Teams must select one of the topics/dates listed below by September10th. Each team will have 30 minutes to present their material and take questions. Teams should focus on the relevant legal and policy aspects of their topic. As mentioned above, this presentation will account for 10% of the grade.

Direct Access Outside of California (Oct. 8)
Developments in Electric Rate Design (Oct. 15)
Federal Involvement in Transmission (Siting under EPACT 2005 & 2009 Stimulus Funding) (Oct. 22)
Renewable Energy Credits v. Carbon Credits (Nov. 5)
Carbon Offsets (Nov. 12)

Course Topics (2009)

The following provides a brief summary of the topics covered in each class and the instructor for the class. Several industry-expert guest speakers will also be presenting during the course of the semester.

Aug 27: Course Introduction/Energy Issues Overview (Downey/Sullivan)
Topics: Instructor and student introductions, scope and organization of the course, overview of the energy business, current trends and issues in energy law and policy.

Sept 3: Origins of Regulation (Sullivan/Downey)
Topics: Historical origins of regulation, landmark American cases, legal concepts of regulation, regulatory objectives, and limitations on regulation. Also, the role of regulators and the regulatory process.

Sept 10: Introduction to Natural Gas and Evolution of Regulation (Sullivan)
Topics: General overview of the natural gas industry, including, units of measurement, industry structure, current regulatory framework, key cases. The transition from command and control to competition in the natural gas industry.

Sept 17: Introduction to Electricity and Evolution of Regulation (Sullivan)
Topics: Basic terminology, stakeholders and structure of the electricity industry, units of measurement, technology basics, current sources and alternative, historical development of the electric utility, current regulatory structure. Discussion of attempts to increase competition in the electric industry. Preview of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sept 24: Introduction to Ratemaking (Sullivan)
Topics: Principles of rate regulation, rate base, rate of return, performance-based ratemaking, decoupling, and rate design.

Oct 1: California’s Energy Crisis Part I: The Origins (Downey/Sullivan)
Topics: Deregulation in the natural gas and other industries, review of California’s restructuring plan (AB 1890), summary of and analysis of factors contributing to California’s energy crisis of 2000-2001.

Oct 8: California’s Energy Crisis Part II: The Response and Legacy (Downey/Sullivan)
Topics: Review of how regulators and legislators responded to the energy crisis, including AB 1X, CA Department of Water Resources contracting process and FERC actions.

Student Presentation: Direct Access outside of California

Oct 15: Current California Regulatory Efforts (Downey/Sullivan)
Topics: Review of key current regulatory topics, including, the loading order, energy efficiency, demand response, distributed generation, and smart grid.

Student Presentation: Developments in Electric Rate Design

Oct 22: Renewable Energy (Downey)
Topics: Review of renewable energy policies and regulation, including the Renewable Portfolio Standard, role of transmission, permitting processes, and incentives.

Guest Speaker : Wayne Sakarias, Sempra Energy

Oct 29: Electricity Contracts (Downey/Sullivan)

Topics: Basics of gas supply contracts and electricity contracts.

Student Presentation: Federal Involvement in Transmission (Siting under EPACT 2005 & 2009 Stimulus Bill Funding)

Nov 5: Climate Change Part I: The Regulatory Response (Downey)
Topics: California’s regulatory actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including AB 32, SB 1368, legal issues related to AB 32, CA Air Resources Board AB 32 Scoping Plan, and related regulation.

Student Presentation: RECs v. Carbon Credits

Nov 12: Climate Change Part II: Federal and Regional Efforts (Downey)
Topics: Planning in the era of climate change legislation California Attorney General lawsuits against local governments, and intervention in regional planning.

Student Presentation: Carbon Offsets

Nov 19: What’s Next: The Obama Administration’s proposals & the Smart Grid (Downey/Sullivan)
Federal Cap and Trade, carbon offsets and the next international GHG goal.

Student Presentation: Smart Grid

November 26 – NO CLASS due to Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec 3: Course Wrap Up (Downey/Sullivan)

See the USD School of Law Course Information site for more information on class schedules and registration.