LSO ENERGY ADVISORS

Expert legal guidance on electric, natural gas and renewable energy matters.

LSO Energy Advisors combines industry knowledge, regulatory expertise and commitment to highest quality work to deliver thoughtful and effective representation to consumer and environmental organizations, utilities, renewable energy companies, municipalities and others navigating the energy sector in New England.

Types of Work

Power Agreements

Draft, review and negotiate:
• purchase power agreements for both suppliers and purchasers of electricity and natural gas
• renewable energy net metering credit agreements on behalf of host customers and off-takers
• tariff-related and other transactional documents

Regulatory

Extensive administrative law experience in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Advise and counsel clients regarding state and federal regulatory proceedings. Litigate rate and regulatory matters before public utility commissions and other state agencies.

Negotiation

Negotiate and drive agreements and settlements for clients. For example, settled a multi-million dollar dispute with an electric utility on behalf of a large nonprofit customer regarding second feeder service and interconnection issues. Continually negotiate with electricity, natural gas and solar providers on behalf of PowerOptions’ nonprofit and public entity members.

Strategy

Work closely with clients to design and achieve their goals. Assisted PowerOptions in creating and establishing a Small Systems Solar Program including the RFP process, vendor selection, and contract negotiation. Worked with Town of Wellesley to design a highly successful residential rooftop PV program.

Clients

Beverly Hospital
Brightfields Development, LLC
Eaglebrook School
Locke Lord LLP
McLane Middleton
Merrimac Municipal Light Department
PowerOptions
Springfield JCC
Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley (pro bono)
TerraForm Global
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Wellesley Municipal Light Plant

testimonials

Bio

Laura Olton is the Principal of LSO Energy Advisors, LLC. For over 20 years, Laura has been a leader in the fields of energy, utility and regulatory law, providing strategic advice in the public and private sectors. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and New York. Laura works independently and with law firms and other energy experts on a project by project basis.

Laura served as General Counsel of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities during the Patrick Administration from 2008 to 2011, where she was the chief legal advisor to the Commissioners of the agency responsible for implementing and enforcing numerous clean energy policies. She authored and delivered high-profile opinions for the agency, including decisions on Cape Wind and the Green Communities Act of 2008. Laura supervised a large legal staff and oversaw all adjudicatory proceedings, rulemakings and Department orders regarding investor-owned electric power, natural gas and water industries in the Commonwealth.

Prior to the DPU, Laura was General Counsel of Narragansett Electric, National Grid’s Rhode Island subsidiary. Her practice included representing the company in all regulatory proceedings as well as advising on rates, customer service, business services, energy efficiency, competitive supplier issues, contracts and procurement matters. Prior to her responsibilities in Rhode Island, Laura held various other senior legal positions at National Grid. Laura also practiced law at the law firms of McDermott, Will & Emery and Rubin & Rudman LLC, and she clerked at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Laura is a Selectman-appointed member of the Town of Wellesley’s Sustainable Energy Committee and is an elected Town Meeting Member. She also has chaired the Energy & Telecommunications Committee at the Boston Bar Association. Laura graduated Boston University School of Law cum laude and Tufts University magna cum laude.

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