The FERC recently approved a one-year extension for utilities to prepare to implement the new definition of the "bulk electric system".

On September 15, 2011, FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to eliminate the semiannual storage reporting requirements for interstate and intrastate natural gas companies.

On February 17, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to ensure just and reasonable compensation for the procurement of frequency regulation service in the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) and Independent System Operator (ISO) organized wholesale electric markets.

On September 20, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order No. 739, Promoting a Competitive Market for Capacity Reassignment.

In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued on September 20, 2012, FERC proposed to approve the Northeast Power Coordinating Council’s (NPCC’s) Regional Reliability Standard on Underfrequency Load Shedding (UFLS).

On March 17, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) issued an order affirming a notice of penalty filed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) regarding an alleged violation of Reliability Standard FAC-003-1 Requirement R2 (Annual Plan for Vegetation Management) by the Turlock Irrigation District (Turlock).

On June 30, 2011, NERC filed its remaining responses to FERC’s recent questions on the expected scope of bulk-power system facilities considered Critical Assets under the proposed CIP-002-4 Reliability Standard.

The renewable energy industry, now designated as a technology and innovation-related area of special concern to the protection of the US industrial and scientific base, is one of seven sectors...

On November 29 and 30, 2011, FERC hosted a technical conference to explore the progress made on addressing concerns raised at the February 8, 2011 Reliability Technical Conference.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) effected fundamental changes in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act) that will result in many previously unregistered advisers, such as advisers to certain private funds, having to register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or one or more state regulators, absent an exemption.

This is the first of a series of trend reports tailored for our clients and friends to help companies stay a step ahead of legal issues that may affect their businesses.

The Food and Drug Administration has notified Congress that it intends to issue draft guidance to propose a risk-based, phased-in framework for oversight.

Last month, we had an engaging Fast Break session covering the growing importance of risk adjustment in various health insurance programs and novel government theories of liability associated with risk adjustment reporting.

Operations have been suspended through September 21 due to security concerns, and suspension may continue into the following week.

Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its much-anticipated opinion in "Microsoft Corp. v. i4i L.P."

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued an update to its obviousness guidelines for examiners, to be used when applying the law of obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103 (the Guidelines).

Several retailers have recently been sued in a series of class action lawsuits alleging claims related to the processing of checks as electronic funds transfers.

Both the federal and state governments have promulgated new laws designed to ensure that companies are taking serious steps to protect the privacy of personal data.

The NRC is taking an important step toward an inclusive licensing regime for a new generation of reactors.

On 31 January 2011, the United Kingdom Ministry of Justice confirmed a further delay in the implementation of the UK Bribery Act (the Act).