Janet Mills hires seasoned energy lawyer hailed by top utility critic

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Energy lawyer, known for his regulatory and policy knowledge in the utility sector, will join Governor Janet Mills’ office of energy as new business contact highly publicized before the state energy regulator.

William Harwood, currently at Verrill Dana, has over 30 years of experience representing utilities before state and federal regulators, including over 50 cases before the Maine Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He handled tariff cases, management audits, merger approvals, permit applications and regulatory procedures.

Harwood declined to discuss further details until he took on his new role as senior regulatory affairs adviser in September. The governor’s energy office develops state energy policies and programs, and Harwood is expected to assist with policy development and represent the office on task forces.

The move, hailed by a senior lawmaker who has fought the Democratic governor over energy issues, comes as Maine’s utility regulator examines a series of critical cases and Maine’s electricity landscape faces a challenge from supporters of a public service belonging to consumers.

As the administration continues its important work on energy issues, including regulatory work surrounding the oversight of utilities and the growth of the clean energy industry and technology, we are pleased to have expertise and Bill’s considerable experience serving the people of Maine, Anthony Ronzio, spokesperson for Mills’ Bureau of Policy, said.

Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, welcomed the news, saying Harwood is among the most experienced people in the state when it comes to pricing and brings tremendous knowledge.

Berry is a frequent critic of the state’s electric utilities and a major supporter of a bill to establish a consumer-owned utility that Mills vetoed this year. Harwood and his company were consulted by the Mills administration as it reworked a controversial lease for part of the $ 1 billion hydroelectric corridor built by a subsidiary of Central Maine Power Co. and Hydro-Quebec, a 2020 deal. which is contested by opponents of the corridor in search.

I’m happy with the news and hope it can contribute to a more enlightened and more solid policy emanating from Augusta, Berry said.

Harwood has negotiated long-term alternative pricing plans that include automatic adjustments for inflation, quality of service penalties and cost recovery, according to his biography of Verrill Dana. It has also negotiated special long-term tariff agreements between utilities and certain industrial consumers.

Harwood has also been involved in the restructuring of Maine’s electric utility industry, including representing utilities in the sale of their generating assets, recovery of stranded costs, and the provision of an offering service. standard.

Harwood was also an adjunct professor of law at the University of Maine Law School, teaching utility regulation and administrative law, and was a long-time member of the board of directors of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, a group that supports gun control measures.

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