Electric Cooperatives

Our electric cooperative practice is recognized throughout the country.  We represent numerous G&Ts, distribution cooperatives, major investment banking houses, lenders and other industry participants in a wide variety of transactions.

Our work with electric cooperatives spans a broad spectrum of legal needs and intersects with virtually all of our energy practice areas, including:

  • Registered and privately-placed debt offerings;
  • Working capital, construction and long-term debt financings with RUS, FFB, CoBank, CFC, commercial lenders and commercial paper dealers;
  • Lease arrangements, including leveraged leases;
  • Project financings;
  • First mortgage bond indentures;
  • Wholesale power supply arrangements, including new G&T/Member wholesale power contracts;
  • RUS debt settlements and loan workouts;
  • Co-ownership and joint use arrangements for generation and transmission assets;
  • Mergers and acquisitions;
  • Corporate restructurings and conversions to stock corporations;
  • Retail competition and stranded cost recovery;
  • Business diversification;
  • RTO and related transmission matters;
  • FERC and state utility commission proceedings;
  • SEC No Action Letter relief under PUHCA;
  • General corporate advice;
  • Income tax planning and controversy; and
  • Litigation, including EMF litigation and territorial disputes.

Part of the value we bring to our electric cooperative clients comes from our extensive involvement in the industry, through NRECA and otherwise. We stay abreast of and at times have influenced new industry developments.  Our lawyers are well known to, and meet frequently, with RUS senior executives.  The firm is an associate member of NRECA, and several of our attorneys are active members of the G&T Lawyers' Association and frequent speakers on legal topics at NRECA Annual and Regional Meetings, the G&T Legal Seminar and the G&T Accounting and Finance Officers' Annual Meetings.

In short, we have one of the leading electric cooperative practices in the country, often working at the leading edge of developing areas in the industry.  A substantial number of our attorneys are actively involved in our electric cooperative practice.  We understand the electric cooperative business, and the breadth and depth of our practice experience brings extra value to our electric cooperative clients.

© 2012 Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP