Charles C. Read

Charles Read is an energy and public utilities lawyer who handles matters for electric power, natural gas, pipeline and telecommunications companies before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), other state public utilities and public service commissions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and in state and federal courts.

In addition to representing regulated companies, Mr. Read advises investors, lenders, suppliers and large customers in these sectors. Mr. Read is actively involved in the technological transformation that is changing the regulatory landscape through distributed generation, new requirements for risk assessment and mitigation, electric transmission expansion, smart meter capabilities, enhanced reliability standards, and compliance with renewable generation requirements.

Mr. Read's experience includes:

• Investigations into alleged manipulation of the California wholesale energy markets
• Oil and gas royalty disputes
• Power purchase agreement regulatory approval and dispute resolution
• Defense of construction and operating costs of natural gas, crude oil and products pipelines and nuclear and fossil generating plants
• Safety and accident investigations and litigation involving oil tankers, pipelines, power plants, electric distribution systems and gas storage
• Regulatory proceedings for mergers, reorganizations and change of control

Mr. Read chairs the Committee on State Regulation of the Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section of the American Bar Association and is a member of the California Conference of Public Utility Counsel. He is admitted to the California, New York and District of Columbia bars. Mr. Read also has taught classes on energy at UCLA School of Law.

• Five9, Inc. in negotiating its application as a telecommunications carrier before the CPUC and resolving all past amounts due and penalties
• Southern California Edison in completing settlements at the CPUC regarding the 2007 Malibu Wildfire, 2011 Windstorm, and safety incidents
• Southern California Gas Company at the California court of appeal and in the California Supreme Court, successfully defending its right to issue a compressed gas service tariff
• Consolidated Edison Development Inc. handling its mediation of solar project power purchase agreement disputes
• Sempra Energy advising on CPUC regulatory issues concerning natural gas storage facilities

Thought Leadership

• Co-Author "A Guide to PHMSA’s Proposed Rule Expanding Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Requirements,” June 2016
• “Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries” American Bar Association Section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law, 2014
• “Pipeline Safety: PHMSA Adopts Important but Limited Updates to its Enforcement and Hearing Procedures,” 2013
• “New PUCAT Committee to Study State Regulation - Why It's Needed Now,” Infrastructure, American Bar Association, 2013
• “Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries,” Renewable Energy, American Bar Association, 2013
• Communications, and Transportation Law “Annual Report of the Electricity Committee,” American Bar Association Section of Public Utility, 2013

Speaking Engagements

• Building the Ark When the Sun is Shining: Emergency Planning for Utilities, moderator, ABA Webinar, Los Angeles, California, 2014
• Regulatory Issues in Utility Outages, Davies Consulting Program for Utility Managers, Washington, D.C., 2013