Richard P. Bonnifield

Rich Bonnifield focuses his practice on energy law, including electricity, nuclear, and natural gas matters.  He has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by electric and gas utilities that operate in a heavily regulated industry.

Rich provides strategic legal and regulatory advice on rates, corporate structure, transactions, tarrifs and reliability matters.  He assists electric and gas utility clients with the development and implementation of regulatory, ethics and reliabilty compliance programs, procedures and training.  Highlights of recent work include:

• Assisting investor owned utilities with electric transmission rate changes, including ancillary services and other tariff revisions at FERC.
• Counseling local gas distribution companies (LDCs), electric utilities and other market participants on FERC compliance issues, internal audits and self-reports, including the design, development and implementation of effective compliance program, guidelines and training materials.
• Representing generators and electric utilities seeking to interconnect and integrate new wind generation into the electric transmission grid.
• Assisting energy clients with preparation for NERC and regional council reliability audits.

Professional Background

From 1995-2008, Mr. Bonnifield worked at a large diversified investor-owned electric and gas utility company, serving as Vice President of Legal Services from 2000-2008 and as General Solicitor from 1995-2000.  During his tenure, he was responsible for the company's regulatory and legal affairs including, among other things, regional transmission, corporate restructuring, rates, compliance, governance, project development, transactions, and litigation.  

Mr. Bonnifield also served from 1990-1995 as General Counsel of the Long Island Power Authority where, among other responsibilities, he negotiated a landmark settlement of complex federal litigation challenging the Authority's application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to decommission the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant.

Government Service

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

• Special Assistant Deputy General Counsel for Litigation, Office of General Counsel, 1983-1984
• Trial Staff Attorney, Office of General Counsel, Pipeline Rates and Certificates, 1980-1983
• Attorney Advisor, Office of Administrative Law Judges, 1979-1980

Judicial Law Clerk, Justice Daniel J. Shea, Montana Supreme Court, 1978-1979

Professional and Civic Affiliations

• President, Energy Bar Association (2009-2010)
• Member, Board of Directors, Energy Bar Association (2006-present)
• Past President, Charitable Foundation of Energy Bar Association (2004-2005)

Publications

"Wind Energy Law", Energy Law and Transactions (2010)

"Transmission at a Crossroads" 21 ELJ 447 (2000)

"Impact on Gas Distribution Companies of Federally Approved Special Marketing Programs" 5 ELJ 287 (1984) 

Speaking Engagements

• 34th Annual AGA Legal Forum, July 17, 2011
• 2010 AGA Energy Market Regulation Conference, October 1, 2010
• The Energy Bar Association: 64th Annual Meeting & Primer, April 28, 2010
• The Energy Bar Association: 13th Annual Midwest Chapter Energy Conference, March 4, 2010
• The Energy Bar Association: 9th Annual Western Chapter Meeting, February 18, 2010
• The Energy Bar Association: Mid-Year Meeting, December 3, 2009

News

• Former In-House Energy Counsel, President-Elect of Energy Bar Association Joins Van Ness Feldman