Energy Regulation and Policy

This course provides an introduction to energy law and regulation in the United States. It covers the basic principles of public utility regulation; the division of jurisdiction over energy production and use among federal, state, and local governments; and the federal statutes governing natural gas, electricity, nuclear power, and hydroelectric power. In particular, the course will focus on the federal frameworks for natural gas and electricity regulation and the transition of these sectors from traditional public utility regulation to wholesale competition and, in the electricity sector, restructuring and retail competition at the state level. The course will also introduce students to some of the most pressing topics in energy law today, including climate change and grid decarbonization; energy transportation; grid reliability; and issues of environmental justice and equity in the context of energy regulation.