Law Seminars International Presents

The 7th Annual Comprehensive Conference that looks at

California Energy Markets

New directions for energy markets and transactions

September 19 & 20, 2005
Pan Pacific Hotel in San Francisco, CA
Order      Download PDF Brochure

Who Should Order Homestudy

Attorneys, public and private utility professionals, energy industry executives, power marketers, economists and consultants, tribal and government officials

Why Order

The continuing evolution of California's energy markets this year brings new leadership to regulatory commissions, utility companies and the Independent System Operator. As lawmakers and voters consider significant shifts to existing energy policies, a resurgence of interest in local control among cities and communities brings added tension between utilities and their customers. Regulated utilities have resumed power contracting, with an emphasis on energy efficiency, renewable resources and traditional generation facilities. Major electric transmission projects and LNG proposals promise to increase regional dependencies, while at the same time raising questions about future energy sources and their environmental impacts. This conference will address the current state of power markets and regulatory efforts and how they influence the energy and utilities industry throughout the Western U.S. The program will provide energy professionals at all levels of the industry with the latest information on California's ever-changing legal and policy framework for energy markets and transactions." ~ Program Co-Chairs: Gordon Erspamer, Esq. and Arthur O'Donnell

What You Will Learn

*The California Action Plan *Litigation Update *Legislative Update *Major Transmission Projects *Key Bills Under Consideration *Renewables for Cities and Counties *The Future Role of the Distribution Utility *The Role of the ISO *Hybrid Markets and Community Aggregation *New Developments in Expansion of Municipal Utilities *Project Financing *New Technologies *Utility Procurement

Agenda

Monday, September 19, 2005
8:30 am Introduction & Overview
  Gordon P. Erspamer, Esq., Program Co-Chair
 Morrison & Foerster LLP / Walnut Creek, CA
  Arthur O'Donnell, Program Co-Chair
 Energy Overseer / San Francisco, CA
8:45 am The Current View of California Energy Markets
  Arthur O'Donnell, Program Co-Chair
 Energy Overseer / San Francisco, CA
9:30 am Update on the California Action Plan
  Interagency cooperation plan for the PUC, Energy Commission, and EPA
  Ralph Cavanagh, Esq, Co-Director, Energy Program
 Natural Resources Defense Council / San Francisco, CA
10:15 am Break
10:30 am Litigation Roundup or Midterm Report?
  After four years of litigation about the California Energy Crisis, an analysis of "who won, who lost, and why." Some (the suppliers) say "it's over"; some (the plantiffs and government litigants) say "the last word has yet to be written."
  Barry R. Himmelstein, Esq.
 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP / San Francisco, CA
  Joel B. Kleinman, Esq.
 Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP / Washington, DC
11:30 am Resurrecting Competitive Markets
  California power markets have swung from "boom" to "bust," what will be the next bounce as California experiences the Summer of 2005, 2006 and 2007?
  Robert B. Weisenmiller, Ph.D., Principal
 MRW & Associates / Oakland, CA
  The Effects of Proposition 80: The TURN Initiative
  Michael P. Florio, Esq., Senior Attorney
 The Utility Reform Network / San Francisco, CA
12:15 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:30 pm Lessons from the Energy Crisis: How the Past is Influencing the Future for California Energy Markets
  A lot of competition has left the market; when will it return? What are the policy ramifications?
  James L. Sweeney, Ph. D., Professor
 Stanford University - School of Management Science and Engineering / Stanford, CA
2:15 pm Legislative Update
  Key bills being considered this year include proposals for "million solar roofs," use of advanced meters, core/non core market development, and permitting for liquefied natural gas facilities.
  The Hon. Lloyd Levine, (D) 40th District
 California State Assembly / Sacramento, CA
  Dorothy Rothrock, Esq., VP, Government Relations
 California Manufacturers & Technology Association / Sacramento, CA
3:15 pm Break
3:30 pm Renewables for Cities and Counties
  Irene M. Stillings, CEO
 San Diego Regional Energy Office / San Diego, CA
4:00 pm The Future Role of the Distribution Utility - Industry Leaders Discuss Development and Competition
  Manuel Alvarez, Director, Regulatory Affairs
 Southern California Edison / Sacramento, CA
  Paul Halas, Esq., Senior VP, Business Devlopment
 National Grid USA / Westborough, MA
  Daniel D. Richard, Jr., Esq., Senior VP, Public Affairs
 PG&E Corporation / San Francisco, CA
5:15 pm Reception for Faculty and Attendees Sponsored by Morrison & Foerster LLP

Tuesday, September 20, 2005
8:30 am The Role of the ISO in Light of the Proliferation of New Control Areas
  Robin Smutny-Jones, Director of State and Regional Affairs
 California Independent System Operator / Folsom, CA
9:15 am Western Area Power Administrations Perspective on Leaving the ISO Control Area
  Michael S. Hacskaylo, Esq., Administrator
 Western Area Power Administration / Lakewood, CO
10:00 am Break
10:15 am Devers-Palo Verde Transmission Update
  Bruce Foster, VP, Regulatory Operations
 Southern California Edison Company / San Francisco, CA
10:45 am The Future of Direct Access
  In the absence of a direct vehicle for direct access, what are the options for creating competition through hybrid markets or community aggregation?
  Barbara R. Barkovich, Ph.D., Principal
 Barkovich & Yap, Inc. / Mendocino, CA
  David Huard, Esq.
 Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP / Los Angeles, CA
  Daniel W. Douglass, Esq.
 Douglass & Liddell / Woodland Hills, CA
12:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:15 pm New Developments in Expansion of Municipal Utilities
  Spotlight on requests for annexation into SMUD
  Jan Schori, General Manager
 Sacramento Municipal Utility District / Sacramento, CA
  Gain on Sale - an Untapped Source to Pay Down Energy Crisis Obligations
  Peter W. Hanschen, Esq.
 Morrison & Foerster LLP / Walnut Creek, CA
2:15 pm Project Finance
  Who is likely to be building what, when, and where--and who will be providing the money?
  Edwin F. Feo, Esq.
 Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP / Los Angeles, CA
3:00 pm Break
3:15 pm New Technologies: Utility Plans for Smart Meters for Load Management
  How regional efforts will drive open standards for metering and energy networks, resulting in fundamental shifts in the industry and ultimately a more efficient energy system.
  PS Reilly, Executive VP
 Center for Smart Energy / Redmond, WA
4:00 pm Perspectives on Utility Procurement - Buying and Buillding
  Jan Smutny-Jones, Executive Director
 Independent Energy Producers / Sacramento, CA
  John Fielder, Esq., Senior VP, Regulatory Policy & Affairs
 Southern California Edison / Rosemead, CA
5:00 pm Adjourn

Cancellation

There is a $25 cancellation fee for Course Materials orders and $50 for Homestudy orders

Continuing Education Credits

Law Seminars International automatically obtains CLE credit approval for the state in which a seminar is held. On request, we will apply for CLE credits in other states and other types of credits. Current credits status: CA MCLE 13.75 | NV CLE 13.5 | OR CLE 14.5 | TX CLE 13.5 | WA CLE 13.5

Cost

Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a VHS or DVD recording and the written course materials, is available for $1005. The written course materials alone are available for $100. We will ship your homestudy order via UPS ground within two weeks after the seminar or the date we receive payment (whichever is later).
Order Homestudy

Faculty Bios

Gordon P. Erspamer, Program Co-chair, co-chairs the Inter-Disciplinary Energy Group at Morrison & Foerster LLP. His primary area of concentration is energy litigation with particular emphasis on representing new entrants in dispute with California investor-owned utilities.

Arthur O'Donnell, Program Co-Chair, is an independent energy journalist and author of "Soul of the Grid: A Cultural Biography of the California Independent System Operator." He previously was founding editor of the California Energy Markets newsletter and is a frequent contributor to Public Utilities Fortnightly.

Manuel Alvarez, Director Regulatory Affairs, Southern California Edison directs company activities before the State policy and regulatory agencies. He previously was a Principal policy advisor for the California Energy Commission.

Barbara R. Barkovich is co-founder of Barkovich & Yap, Inc. As an energy regulatory consultant, her clients include both privately and publiclly owned electric and solid waste utilities.

Ralph Cavanagh is a senior attorney and co-director of NRDC's energy program. From 1993-2003 he served as a member of the U.S. Secretary of Energy's Advisory Board. He is a recipient of the Heinz Award for Public Policy and the BPA's Award for Exceptional Public Service.

Daniel W. Douglass of Douglass & Liddell focuses his consulting practice on the development of the regulatory and contractual framework for emerging gas and electric power marketers and large consumers of energy.

Edwin F. Feo is co-head of the Global Project Finance Department at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP and represents parties in the acquisition, development, and financing of power generation assets.

John Fielder, Senior VP, Regulatory Policy & Affairs, Southern California Edison is responsible for developing and implementing regulatory policies and managing proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission and other regulatory agencies.

Michael P. Florio is Senior Attorney for the Utility Reform Network (TURN) and is responsible for coordinating the development of TURN's policy positions on energy-related issues and advocating those positions before various governmental agencies. Previously, he served on the stakeholder governing boards of both the California Independent System Operator and the Power Exchange as a residential end-user representative.

Bruce Foster is VP, Regulatory Operations, at Southern California Edison Company. He played a pivotal role in representing the company's interests before the California Public Utilities Commission restructuring process leading to a final Commission decision supporting direct access and full recovery of Edison's uneconomic costs.

Michael S. Hacskaylo was appointed Administrator for the Western Area Power Administration in 1998. Western, an agency of the Department of Energy, markets and transmits hydroelectric power in 15 states.

Paul Halas is Senior VP, Business Development at National Grid USA. His primary focus is on the developing marketplace for regional, national, and international transmission of energy.

Peter W. Hanschen, a partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP, has been in the forefront of energy regulatory matters for the last quarter century. He is listed as a leading California Energy and Natural Resources lawyer by Chambers USA.

Barry R. Himmelstein is a partner at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP. He is a contributing author of California Class Actions Practice and Procedures (2003).

David Huard is chair of the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources practice group at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. His clients have included electric and natural gas distributors, gas and power marketers, municipalities, counties, special districts, large consumers, and co-generators.

Joel B. Kleinman is a partner in the litigation group at Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP with broad experience in antitrust and class action matters including defense of a major power generator in a class action alleging wrongdoing during the energy crisis.

The Hon. Lloyd Levine, an Assemblymember elected in the 40th District of the California State Assembly, is Chair of the Select Committee on Infrastructure, and a member of the Utilities and Commerce Committee.

PS Reilly, Executive VP, Center for Smart Energy, is a noted expert on commercial success in advanced technology sectors. She is a world-class strategist whose advice is sought by start-ups, Fortune 50 companies, and governments to help them pursue opportunities in the emerging energy technology sector.

Daniel D. Richard, Jr. is Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for PG&E Corporation, where he has been responsible for government and regulatory affairs since 1997.

Dorothy Rothrock is Vice President of Government Relations for California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA). She oversees lobbying efforts for CMTA.

Jan Schori is the General Manager of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. SMUD is the sixth largest community-owned electric utility in the nation. She currently serves as Chair of the American Public Power Association.

Jan Smutny-Jones is Executive Director of the Independent Energy Producers Association in Sacramento, CA, and, on behalf of that organization, has been a pivotal player in California restructuring efforts.

Robin Smutny-Jones is the Director of State and Regional Affairs for the California Independent System Operator (ISO). Previously, she worked for former California State Senator Steve Peace as Chief Consultant to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

Irene Stillings is CEO of the San Diego Regional Energy Office, an independent, non-profit organization, dedicated to creating a sustainable energy future for the San Diego Bi-National Region. She has 30 years experience in the energy industry and in recognition of her accomplishments was installed in the National Woman's Hall of Fame.

James L. Sweeney is Professor of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University. He is on the National Advisory Council of the National Renewable Laboratory and a member of Governor Schwarzenegger's Council of Economic Advisor's.

Robert Weisenmiller, Ph.D. is Principal and Co-founder of MRW & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in economic and technical analysis of electric power and fuel markets.