Utilities, Sustainability and the Law

SLN #: 88335
Course Prefix: LAW-791
Course Section: 025
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor(s): Mayes
Course Books: View List of Books

Course Description:
Students will examine utility law in Arizona and the United States, with a particular focus on how traditional ratemaking is accomplished in an era of renewable energy portfolio standards, energy efficiency mandates and greenhouse gas emissions reductions regimes for electric and natural gas utilities. Since energy sustainability laws and regulatory policies are largely imposed on and carried out by utilities, the course will begin with an examination of the fundamentals of utility regulation. Additionally, the course will follow current trends in utility regulation such as adjustor mechanisms designed to pass through natural gas and other commodity costs, renewable energy and energy efficiency surcharge mechanisms and the rate-basing of renewable energy projects, construction work in progress allowances in rate base, and attrition adjustments. Finally, the course will address new and emerging trends in utility law, including a discussion of transmission policies promoting renewable energy development, federal and state efforts on Demand Response and the Smart Grid, and the regulation of greenhouse gasses, including proposed federal climate change legislation.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 3
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: Yes
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Final Exam Given: No
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.