Assistant Gen Counsel / Senior Counsel - FERC

American Electric Power Co.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 189,000 - 302,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

401K match

AEP Pension

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

American Electric Power Co. seeks an Assistant General Counsel / Senior Counsel to lead significant federal energy regulatory matters before FERC and in PJM, SPP, and MISO matters.

The role involves strategy development, drafting and advocacy of AEP positions, and coordinating with internal teams and outside counsel. The attorney will focus on FERC electric rates, transmission, interconnection, and wholesale market issues.

Qualifications

• FERC regulatory experience related to electric utilities and rate proceedings.
• Experience drafting briefs, protests, opinions, and filings for federal regulatory matters.
• Strong written and oral advocacy for complex regulatory disputes.

Responsibilities

• Represent AEP in complex FERC proceedings and tariff matters.
• Develop regulatory strategy from issue identification through resolution.
• Advise business teams on FERC jurisdiction and tariff issues.
• Lead outside counsel and internal teams to advance AEP objectives.
• Identify regulatory risks and translate developments into recommendations.

Skills

FERC regulatory experience

Regulatory strategy

Legal writing

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Independent ownership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree and Juris Doctorate

Active license to practice law

Job description

Location: 3 Locations

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, FERC Legal and RTO Policy, the Assistant General Counsel / Senior Counsel, FERC will lead and independently manage significant federal energy regulatory matters, including proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and matters in PJM, SPP, and MISO. AEP’s scale and multi-region footprint will provide the attorney with opportunities to work on issues central to the industry’s evolution, including transmission and regional cost allocation, wholesale market and resource adequacy rules, interconnection and transmission service, rapid growth in large loads and data centers, complex rate proceedings, and the FERC-regulatory aspects of strategic transactions and investments. The position offers substantial ownership and a varied docket. The attorney will develop strategy, advise senior leaders, draft and advocate AEP’s positions, and manage matters from inception through resolution, while partnering with internal business and policy teams and outside counsel as appropriate. The practice is centered on FERC electric rates and terms of service, transmission, interconnection, wholesale markets, FERC transaction approvals, and NERC issues. Experience with formula rates, cost-of-service principles, and utility accounting is especially valuable, although the role will extend well beyond any single FERC subject area.

Job Description

What You’ll Do:

• Represent AEP on complex, high-profile FERC proceedings and disputes involving transmission rates and service, regional transmission planning and cost allocation, interconnection, wholesale market design, capacity and resource adequacy, large-load integration and other matters under the Federal Power Act.
• Develop and execute legal and regulatory strategy from issue identification through resolution; conduct legal analysis; prepare and review comments, protests, complaints, briefs, testimony, settlement materials, legal opinions and other filings; and advocate AEP’s positions in contested proceedings, rulemakings and settlement processes.
• Represent AEP in PJM, SPP and MISO stakeholder, tariff and governance processes, working closely with the FERC and RTO Policy organization and business leaders to shape outcomes on transmission, markets, planning, reliability and large-load issues.
• Provide practical, business-oriented advice to AEP’s transmission, generation, commercial, regulatory, finance, operations and other teams regarding FERC jurisdiction, RTO tariffs, transmission service, interconnection, rates, compliance and state-federal jurisdictional issues.
• Advise on complex rate matters, including transmission formula rates, cost of service and utility accounting, while maintaining a broad portfolio that also includes tariff terms and conditions, transmission policy, interconnection and wholesale-market matters.
• Lead the FERC-regulatory workstream for significant corporate and commercial initiatives, including transactions, generation and transmission investments, competitive projects and arrangements to serve new large loads, where federal approvals, tariff rights or market rules are material.
• Take direct substantive ownership of matters and exercise independent judgment, while coordinating with and directing outside counsel, consultants and cross-functional internal teams when their expertise or resources will advance AEP’s objectives.
• Identify emerging regulatory risks and opportunities, translate complex legal developments into clear recommendations for senior management, and help align AEP’s legal, policy and business positions across its operating regions.

What We’re Looking For:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree and Juris Doctorate.

Senior Counsel Experience:

• 6+ years of experience, preferably in a law firm or corporate legal department and in the electric utility or energy sector.
• FERC-related legal experience preferably with a law firm, corporate legal department, or on the staff of a rate regulatory body, such as FERC or a state regulatory agency.

Assistant General Counsel Experience:

• 8+ years of experience, preferably in a law firm or corporate legal department,including at least 4 years of experience as a practicing attorney on FERC matters.
• FERC-related legal experience preferably with a law firm, corporate legal department, or on the staff of a rate regulatory body, such as FERC or a state regulatory agency.

Certifications/Licenses:

• Active license to practice law in state in which position is located.

Other Must Haves:

Knowledge & Skill Requirements:

• Understanding of legal and regulatory issues relating to electric utilities.
• Understanding of federal energy regulation of Transmission and RTOs, including experience representing or working closely with Transmission Owners.
• Ability to manage FERC regulatory proceedings, tariff filings, and rulemakings.
• Experience with (a) preparing briefs, motions, case evaluation summaries and other documents as required by the nature of a case, (b) helping prepare witnesses for testimony, (c) conducting hearings in federal and/or administrative courts, and (d) preparing filings before FERC and/or state public utility commissions and other government bodies related to corporate matters.

Communication Skills:

• Excellent advocacy, negotiation and written communication skills.
• Ability to promote teamwork and build relationships within the legal and business unit teams get work accomplished
• Ability to relate to many different constituencies in a positive, proactive manner that will engender confidence from company management, employees, public utilities commissions and other industry groups.
• Problem solver coupled with good conflict resolution skills.
• Ability for initiative and working independently of direct supervision

Where You’ll Work:

• On-Site in Washington DC, Columbus, OH, Richmond, VA or Austin, TX locations

What You’ll Get:

• Base salary
• Annual bonus
• Long-term incentive
• 401K match
• AEP Pension
• Comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.

Where Putting the Customer First Powers Everything We Do

At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!

Compensation

$188,524.00 - $301,636.00

Physical Demands

The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.

“AEP offers an outstanding group of people to be a part of. The AEP culture values your integrity and awards your hard work.”

Support Business Unit (BU) in achieving and maintaining audit readiness by ensuring alignment with applicable NERC Standards. Drive consistent, effective and proactive compliance efforts by partnering with BU compliance teams and tailoring support based on each BU’s compliance maturity. Perform audit readiness activities directly when needed and serve as a trusted advisor through deep expertise in NERC Standards. Act as the single point of contact for ENRA compliance services on an assigned standard basis. Execute established compliance processes with minimal supervision and maintain accurate, up to date process documentation.

Support business units to be audit ready and improve compliance of NERC requirements across applicable functions and registrations. Support Business Unit compliance teams. Adapt to serve BU’s depending on their compliance organizational maturity. Perform Audit Readiness directly as needed. Be a trustworthy advisor by maintaining expertise in the NERC Standards. Act as the single point of contact, per NERC Standard, for ENRA compliance services.Contribute to strategic vision for NERC Program at AEP. Drive improvements in the AEP NERC program.

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Our culture is purpose-driven and team-oriented: we combine innovation with a customer-first focus to deliver reliable energy and brighter futures.