Douglas L. Patch
Overview
ShareholderDoug represents clients on energy matters, primarily in regulatory, administrative, and legislative venues. Doug has represented clients before the Public Utilities Commission, Site Evaluation Committee, Department of Safety, and in other administrative proceedings as well as before the New Hampshire Supreme Court. He has worked on regulatory approvals for electric generation facilities, including wind, solar, and other generating facilities, has represented clients seeking approval for mergers, acquisitions, and transfers of ownership, and has conducted due diligence reviews for potential purchasers. He has represented utilities and intervened in siting and utility proceedings for various companies, competitive suppliers, organizations, ratepayer groups, and municipalities, on natural gas, electric transmission, and water issues. Through his alternative dispute resolution practice he has mediated and arbitrated issues related to electric, telecommunications, and water industries, as well as environmental matters.
Past Experience
In addition to nineteen years in private practice representing a variety of clients, Doug brings twenty-three years of public service experience to his practice, including a nine-and-one-half year term as Chairman of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, three and one-half years as an Assistant Attorney General, and six years as Assistant Commissioner for the Department of Safety.
Notable cases
- Represented a NextEra Energy affiliate in obtaining approval for a 30 MW energy project
- Represented Granite Reliable Power in obtaining approval for a 99MW wind project
- Represented TransCanada Power Marketing in various PUC matters and before the Legislature
Hobbies
Doug enjoys tennis, gardening, and reading.
Personal Qualities
Doug prides himself on being responsive and helping clients to evaluate practical solutions to their problems, including legal and legislative remedies.
Professional and Community Involvement
Professional Involvement
- Former Chair, New England Conference of Public Utility Commissioners
- Former Co-Chair, New England Governors’ Conference Power Planning Committee
- Former Member, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Committee on Electricity and Sub-committee on Nuclear Issues – Waste Disposal
- Former Chair, NH Nuclear Decommissioning Finance Committee
- Former Vice-Chairman, New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee
- Chairman, Y2K Task Force
Community Involvement
- Former Chair of the Board of Directors, The Jordan Institute
- Former coach, Little League Baseball
- Former Board Member, Bow Soccer Club
- Former Campaign Chair, Merrimack County United Way
- Independent Living Concord, Board member
Honors & Distinctions
- Cited in The Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law, since 2006
- Selected by The Best Lawyers in America as Concord, NH “Lawyer of the Year” for Energy Law (2016)
Publications
- Active Author for Orr & Reno Energy/Environmental Blog
- How Using Solar Energy Can Benefit Home and Business – NH Business Review (2021)
- PSNH Should Exit Power Generation Business – NH Business Review (2013)
- Fundamentals of the Site Evaluation Process – NH Business Review (2013)
- Are Smart Meters Spying on You? – NH Business Review (2012)
- Legislature’s Energy Plate Will Be Full in 2012 – NH Business Review (2012)
