ELECTRICITY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
OUR GROUP
Our Electricity Law Group works with both electricity suppliers and customers in providing advice and
representation on all aspects of energy law issues.
OUR CLIENTS
On the supplier side, we work with generation companies, transmission and distribution utilities, retailers,
energy regulatory tribunals, government departments and large industrial companies. T hese include
generation companies of all sizes, from the largest provincially-owned utilities to the smallest privately
owned generators, with all forms of power generation including nuclear, water, wind and solar. On the
customer side, we advise and represent large industrial and other types of customers,
OUR EXPERTISE
We offer legal advice across all aspects of electricity issues, ranging from corporate/commercial to
regulatory and environmental to aboriginal law.
OUR SERVICES
TRANSACTIONS:
FIT program applications; review of electricity contracts; mergers and acquisitions; joint venture
agreements; power project development; and project finance
ENERGY TRADING AND MARKETING:
Drafting and negotiating energy swaps, futures, options and other derivatives; preparing and reviewing
power marketing contracts; and conducting RFPs
REGULATORY:
Advising on project structures for regulatory compliance; compliance with IESO market rules; and
representation at provincial and federal energy boards, municipal boards, Competition Bureau and
Investment Canada
ENVIRONMENTAL:
Compliance and regulatory issues; due diligence; environmental permits; remediation; defence of
environmental prosecutions; and litigation
ABORIGINAL:
If transmission or generation projects can affect aboriginal land claim areas or traditional land use areas,
consultations with aboriginal groups and, possibly, the negotiation of mitigation measures and
compensation may be required
TAX:
T ax planning for project structures; advice on Class 43.1 and other project costs; compliance; and
advocacy respecting tax litigation matters
CORPORATE FINANCE:
Public and private financings; mergers and acquisitions; takeover bids; issuer bids; and stock exchange
and regulatory compliance
CONSTRUCTION:
Bidding; contract negotiation; insurance; and litigation and dispute resolution
LITIGATION:
Litigation; and alternative dispute resolution
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:
Patents; licensing; and trade-arks
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
We have provided value-added legal services in a variety of engagements:
Negotiating and drafting power purchase agreements, financing agreements and agreements for
the purchase and sale of energy businesses
Preparing and submitting FIT applications to the OPA and negotiating with transmission and
distribution utilities for grid connection
Advising and representing a number of Ontario LDCs on OEB regulatory matters governing rates,
performance standards, Codes of Conduct, etc.
Providing strategic business advice and representation to foreign governments, power
developers and utilities interested in expanding their operations into Canada
Legal advisors to the Governments of Ontario and Alberta in restructuring the Provinces’ electricity
industry
Advising Ontario’s Ministry of Energy on preparation of the Province’s White Paper on the
electricity industry
Incorporating a large energy marketing business in Ontario and providing it with a broad range of
legal services
Preparing and conducting RFPs and contract negotiations for large industrial customers
KEY CONTACTS
Charles W. Bois
Vancouver
cbois@millerthomson.com
RELATED SERVICES
Regulatory
Environmental
CleanTech
Energy and Natural Resources
Consumer / Retail Financial Services
Litigation
Construction and Infrastructure
Aboriginal
Tax
Intellectual Property
Information Technology