Ann L. Fisher Legal and Consulting Services, 1996
Principal in AF L&C, demonstrated abilities in strategic analysis and advocacy.
· Substantial experience in negotiation and enforcement of business agreements, real estate transaction, and commercial lease.
· Active in health insurance rate setting for small business and individuals.
· Represent a major Northern California Municipal Organization in Northwest Wind issues.
· Advised large Oregon City in issues related to BPA and tot ax issues of major investor owned utility.
· Advised quasi and municipal governmental organizations on energy issues, costs, and opportunities in the wholesale market.
· Successfully developed wholesale power contracts through bilateral and RFP arrangements.
· Provided assessment, protocol development, and advice to small publicly owned utilities on FERC/NERC/WECC Reliability Standards.
· Significant number of contacts and relationships within the NW energy arena.
· Appreciation of issues facing the Energy Industry in the NW and knowledge of the history of the current issues, including renewable resources, integration issues, operational issues, and transmission constraints.
· Substantial experience in rate proceedings and administrative hearings at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) and other administrative bodies; familiar with BPA cases after and before Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Orders 888, 889, and 890, the Comprehensive Regional Review, and RPS issues.
· Represented a major Southern California utility in its dealings with Bonneville Power Administration culminating in a multi-million million settlement for the client and no rate impact to BPA customers.
· Actively involved in project development, including wind and biomass development, under Energy Facilities Siting Council rules and new state regulations to facilitate faster siting of new resources.
· Familiar with power pricing, procurement, and acquisition issues.
· Has significant understanding of complex financial arrangements, risk assessment and mitigation, and Governmental Relations. Successful relationships with Media.
· Played a major role in analyzing and identifying financial issues in the proposed purchase of Portland General Electric Company by an equity investor group, resulting in expanded protection for customers.
· Participated, at the request of sponsoring legislators, in a small work group to craft legislation to reduce rates charged to customers by limiting payment of phantom taxes; drafted language to give the Public Utility Commission more regulatory authority.
· Successfully lobbied for commercial and industrial customers for inclusion of favorable provisions in Oregon's deregulation bill.
· Active involvement in Oregon Public Utility Commission workshops and hearings in developing incentives and benchmarks to encourage market access while maintaining protections for customers choosing to remain with the utility.
· During 1999 and 2001, Oregon Legislative session successfully lobbied on behalf of business customers for additional protections under Oregon's energy deregulation bill.
· Developed and implemented successful strategy for annexation of major industrial customer into the service area of a publicly owned utility. For the same client, established a subsidiary as a Power Marketing Company recognized by FERC.
· Significant involvement in the development of contracts for services and supplies, including negotiation of utility contracts and power sales agreements.
· Achieved the highest rating for legal ability in Martindale-Hubbell; skilled contract negotiator; first rate communicator.
Prior energy experience:
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, 2/94 - 12/96
· Of counsel position in the Energy and Utility section of the firm, with principal emphasis upon electric utility issued including industry restructuring, FERC orders related to transmission access and power marketing.
· Specifically recruited to represent consumer owned utilities and to handle legal issues facing electric energy providers. Represented the Public Generating Pool (partial requirements customers of BPA) in 1995 and 1996 BPA power and transmission rate case proceedings. Extensively involved in negotiating new power supply contracts for industrial and utility entities, BPA contract negotiation, and preparation and development of business contracts for supplies and services.
· Successfully negotiated power supply and related service contracts with BPA as well as other power contracts on behalf of utilities and industrial customers.
· Actively participated in BPA rate proceedings, including those related to terms and conditions for transmission services.
· Principal emphasis on industry restructuring issues, FERC Orders 888/889, transmission access, and federal power marketing.
· Involved in a variety of regulatory matters adjudicated by the OPUC and FERC.
· Obtained favorable rulings from the OPUC for a special rate for a large industrial customer and from FERC for a power-marketing subsidiary of an industrial customer.
· Developed effective procurement strategies for alternative supply choices and resource development.
· Additional areas of practice include general real estate and business matters including contract interpretation and development, environmental insurance coverage, and general business consultation.
Portland General Corp, 8/89 - 2/93
Assistant General Counsel assigned to Portland General Electric Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Portland General Corp. responsibilities included negotiation and development of contracts, risk analysis, litigation management, and antitrust issues.
· Significant involvement in contract negotiation, risk analysis, and regulatory oversight.
· Established the contractual requirements of successful programs for low-income weatherization projects, renewable resource development and use of new technology.
· Assigned to industrial accounts, new power contracts, renewable resource development, energy efficiency program development and contracts, real estate development, power project development, environmental regulation, and DSI issues.
Prior Business Experience
Prior and continuing legal experience in areas of real estate, business transactions, criminal prosecution, creditors' rights, and contract negotiation and enforcement. This includes working for Greene & Markley and Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, both in Portland, Oregon and in the Marion County District Attorney's Office. Previous Small Business Owner (Breeding Arabian Horses).
Other Activities:
Advisor to Disjecta, LLC, a nonprofit LLC promoting Arts in Oregon. (pro bono, 2006-ongoing); Oregon Small Business for Responsible Leadership, Executive Board Member, 2007-2010; Reasonable Insurance Premiums Coalition, Board of Directors, 2010-ongoing; Judge Pro Tem, Multnomah County Circuit Court, 1995-2006.
Representative Professional Activities and Awards
· 2001 Building Owners and Managers Association's Member of the Year recipient for work in energy matters on behalf of business owners.
· For effectively derailing the Texas Pacific Group attempts to purchase Portland General Electric Company under conditions that were detrimental to business and residential customers, was characterized as one of the "winners" in the effort by Pulitzer Price winner Nigel Jaquiss of Willamette Week.
· Public Speaker on electric energy issues and ethical issues facing attorneys; under the auspices of the OSB and Law Seminar, Inc.
Bar Leadership:
· Oregon State Bar, Board of Governors, Four-year term, January 2007-2010, extended two additional years by vote of the region through 2012.
· Oregon State Bar, Corporate Counsel Section, Executive Board, 2007-2013.
· Oregon State Bar, Executive Committee Member, Administrative Law Section, 2002, 2008-2011, Chair 2006; Chair Elect 2005; Secretary 2004.
· Oregon State Bar Energy Telecommunications and Utility Section Executive Board Member, 2000-2008; Secretary 2006, Treasurer 2005, Immediate Past Chair 2002, Chair 2001.
· Oregon State Bar, Disciplinary Board, 1993-1997, Region 5 Chair 1995-1997.
· Oregon State Bar, Financial Institutions Committee, 1996-1998, Chair 1998; 2003-2004, 2006.
· Oregon State Bar, MCLE Board, 1991-1994, Secretary 1992-1993, Chair 1993-1994.
· Oregon State Bar, Bar-Sponsored Programs Committee, 1985-1988, Secretary 1986-1987, Chair 1987-1988.
· Oregon State Bar, New Lawyer's Committee, 1990-1991.
· Oregon State Bar, Ethics Committee, 1999-2002.
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