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Jo Ann Biggs
Jo Ann Biggs
Partner — Energy Regulation
Partner — Energy Regulation

Jo Ann Biggs

Jo Ann Biggs
Dallas

Trammell Crow Center
2001 Ross Avenue
Suite 3900
Dallas, Texas 75201

Jo Ann Biggs

Experience Highlights

  • Represents clients in evaluation of compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (“NERC”) Reliability Standards and state regulations

  • Represented clients in obtaining regulatory approval of proposed transactions in which regulated electric transmission and distribution assets were being bought or sold

  • Served as lead attorney for a utility in gaining regulatory approval of a large advanced meter deployment and related surcharge

  • Represented client in preparing and litigating multiple system-wide cost of service base rate cases

  • Gas and electric municipal utility in its agreement for the development of advanced metering infrastructure

  • Represents client in investigations into performance of the electric grid during extreme weather events conducted by state, regional, and federal regulators

  • Counsels clients in evaluating possible violations of NERC’s Reliability Standards and state regulations

  • Represents clients during compliance audits, recertification audits, and spot checks conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, NERC, and the Texas Reliability Entity

  • Assists clients in understanding pending and recently passed legislation as well as pending and recently adopted regulations that could affect their businesses

  • Assists clients in preparing required regulatory reports, such as reports related to vegetation management plans, infrastructure hardening efforts, and reliability performance

  • Represented a client in multiple rulemakings at the Public Utility Commission of Texas related to the deployment of advanced meters and in the related state court appeal

  • Served as lead attorney in three administrative proceedings in which the costs of advanced meter deployment were reconciled

  • Represented clients in preparing applications for loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005

  • Represented private equity purchasers regarding regulatory issues in a $45 billion acquisition of major Texas energy company

  • Served as lead attorney for the largest electric utility in Texas in achieving an unprecedented regulatory settlement that resolved all major issues related to the company’s transition to retail electric competition and authorized securitization of $1.3 billion of regulatory assets. Also served as lead attorney in hearings before the Public Utility Commission of Texas to obtain regulatory approval of that settlement and in appeals of that approval

  • Served as lead attorney for the largest electric utility in Texas before Public Utility Commission in litigation of multi-phased proceeding to unbundle the company pursuant to Texas electric industry restructuring legislation, and to set transmission and distribution rates

  • Served as lead attorney for clients in numerous administrative proceedings and rulemakings relating to the implementation of Texas electric industry restructuring legislation, including proceedings to evaluate business separation plans and develop rules for the unbundling of vertically integrated utilities and stranded cost recovery

  • Participated extensively in the preparation of legislation governing a restructuring of the Texas electric industry to require transmission open access and authorize competition in the generation and retail sale of electricity

  • Represented a governmental agency in connection with licensing a geologic nuclear waste repository

Credentials

  • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1983 (Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review)
  • Hendrix College, B.A., English, 1980 (Alpha Chi)
  • Chambers USA, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) (Texas), 2015−2023
  • D Magazine, “Best Lawyers in Dallas,” Litigation, 2012
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), (Dallas): Public Utility Law, 2005 and 2006; Energy Law, 2007−2024; Energy Regulatory Law, 2022–2024; Oil and Gas Law, 2022–2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Lawyer of the Year,” Energy Law (Dallas/Fort Worth), 2016
  • Legal Media Group’s (Euromoney’s) Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Energy and Natural Resource Lawyers, 2016
  • Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2006−2008
  • Legal 500 U.S., Energy Regulation: Conventional Power, 2019–2023
  • Member: American Bar Association; Governing Council, Public Utility Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2002–2004; Dallas Bar Association
  • Hendrix College: Chair, Board of Trustees, 2020–present; Chair, Executive Committee, 2020–present; Chair, Academic Affairs and Enrollment Committee, 2007–2020; Presidential Search Committee, 2013
  • Board of Directors: St. Philip’s School & Community Center Board, 2005–2009
  • National Alumni Board Member: Vanderbilt University School of Law, 1999–2002
  • East Dallas Cooperative Parish: Governing Board Member, 1993–1997; President, 1995–1996
  • Texas
  • Summary of CIP Version 5 Standards, January 2014
  • Summary of FERC Order No. 791, January 2014
  • “You’ve Received Stimulus Funding: What’s Next?” EEI 2009 Fall Legal Conference, October 3, 2009
  • “The Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on Energy Infrastructure Development,” 2009 Gas and Power Institute, University of Texas, September 10, 2009