Energy & Utilities

Berger Singerman represents clients in the full range of energy, telecommunications, and water law regulation and utility issues. Our practice includes businesses with utility-related issues as well as any industries or activities subject to the jurisdiction of the Florida Public Service Commission (“PSC”), the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Management Services, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Florida Legislature, and other state and local governmental authorities including state and federal courts as well as the Division of Administrative Hearings. Substantively, our work includes the electricity, natural gas, natural gas pipelines, telecommunications, and water/wastewater fields, as well as related practices like cable/video, transportation, and land use/environmental.

Energy Law. Our energy practice includes electric, natural gas, pipeline, ethanol and biofuels, and renewable energy matters and any related overlap with environmental, real property, and land use law. Within the energy sector, we can negotiate environmental attributes agreements, assist in the evaluation and implementation of renewable or alternative energy options, assist in permitting CNG and LNG facilities, handle utility rate cases and other PSC proceedings, litigate power plant or transmission siting cases, negotiate natural gas or alternative fuel supply agreements, obtain special or economic development rates from utilities, and resolve related environmental and land use issues.  

Telecommunications Law. We represent developers, office parks, and other large users of communications services in negotiating service or equipment requirements, including phone/PBX, CATV, wireless, and data. Our work also includes technology companies, carrier-to-carrier interconnection and arbitration, communications towers, internet-protocol providers, and representation of wireless and competitive telecommunications providers.   

Water Law. Our water law practice includes wastewater, irrigation, and water reuse issues, including representation of developers, large business and industrial users, and water and wastewater utilities before the PSC or county governments. We can assist with the identification and creation of water utility options, negotiate service and contributions in aid of construction (“CIAC”) contracts, and handle rate cases and other PSC or local government proceedings. We are able to leverage our utility practice experience with our environmental relationships in order to provide a comprehensive approach to a client’s water needs.