Steve Weiler is Managing Shareholder of Leonard, Street and Deinard’s Washington, D.C., office. With an emphasis in matters involving ratemaking, transmission and energy markets, he has represented electric utilities, interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines, local distribution companies, electric generators, hydroelectric projects, wind generators, marketers and industrial end-users in a wide range of regulatory proceedings, including administrative litigation before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and appellate litigation.

Before joining Leonard, Street and Deinard, Steve was Of Counsel at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP and a Partner at Keck, Mahin & Cate. Prior to entering private practice, he served as an advisory attorney in the FERC’s Office of the General Counsel.

Professional and Civic Activities

• Member, Energy Bar Association

In recent years, Steve’s practice has focused on regulatory and transactional matters involving electric transmission providers, in particular on transmission rate and tariff proceedings. For example, he helped obtain regulatory authorization for a high voltage direct current (HVDC) merchant transmission project that will connect large wind farms to distant market centers. He represents energy companies in litigation, at the FERC and the courts on a variety of matters, including the rules under which costs for new and transmission projects are allocated, liability involving contested transactions in markets administered by RTOs, and electric transmission rate cases.

Steve has also worked with independent power producers and electric utilities to develop, negotiate and pursue federal regulatory approval for mergers and acquisitions, the purchase or sale of generation facilities, transactions involving corporate affiliates and matters involving market power. He also works on renewable energy projects, assisting with the development of large wind farms and addressing interconnection and transmission access issues, as well as power purchase arrangements.

In addition to representing interstate and intrastate pipelines, as well as large customers, in rate proceedings at FERC and various state commissions he helps natural gas storage developers and storage customers, in both transactions and regulatory proceedings at FERC.

Finally, Steve helps energy companies understand their regulatory responsibilities, craft regulatory compliance programs, and, when necessary, defend against FERC enforcement investigations.

Education

• J.D., University of North Dakota School of Law, 1986
       Order of the Barristers
• M.A., summa cum laude, English, University of North Dakota, 1982
• B.A., summa cum laude, English and Honors, University of North Dakota, 1979

Admissions

• District of Columbia
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Seventh and Ninth Circuits