Current Employment Position(s)

Counsel

Lawyer Overview

Paul Colbert has substantial experience in all aspects of utilities law, including settlement negotiation, litigation, appellate representation, notice and comment rulemaking, and the legislative process. He has successfully led the prosecution of numerous rate cases involving traditional rate base/rate of return regulation as well as restructured utility markets, including electric, gas, and telecommunications. He has settled complex cases involving diverse intervenors, including industrial, commercial, residential, nonprofit, and governmental interests. Through his appellate and legislative practice, Paul has helped formulate precedent and policy concerning the ability of parties to formulate partial settlements, restrict the ability of regulators to decide matters without evidentiary support, establish and uphold the ability of gas and electric utilities to enter market-based rates, and establish parameters for occupation of municipal right-of-way.

Prior to joining Jones Day, Paul worked for Duke Energy Ohio where he led the initiative of Duke to establish Ohio's first electric security plan under the state's new electric restructuring legislation, Substitute Senate Bill 221. In November 2008, Paul successfully defended Duke before the Ohio Supreme Court from accusations of improper subsidies stemming from contracts entered into by affiliates of the utility resulting in the retention of Duke's rate structure. He also prosecuted Duke's transition plan case permitting it to move from regulated to market-based electric rates and its rate stabilization plan case establishing the company's market-based rate structure after the transition period.

Paul's legislative experience also includes significant involvement in Substitute Senate Bill 3, Ohio's original electric restructuring legislation; Substitute House Bill 9, Ohio's competitive gas legislation; and Substitute Senate Bill 255, Ohio's municipal right-of-way legislation.

While at Duke he also represented the company in two gas rate cases. The first case in 2001 established one of the countries first accelerated main replacement programs permitting Duke to establish rates necessary to replace old distribution pipe and increase system reliability and safety. In addition, he prepared and prosecuted Duke's first electric distribution rate case since 1991 and was involved with the acquisition and tariff filing associated with a competitive local exchange carrier telephone utility as well as the formation and implementation of a broadband over power lines (BPL) pilot.

Paul is presently serving his second term as chair of the Ohio Bar Association Public Utilities Committee. He is a member of the Public Utilities Commission Nominating Council charged with recommending candidates for public utilities commissioner to the governor of Ohio, and he has lectured on electric and gas restructuring legislation.

Areas of Practice

• Energy

Bar Admissions

• Ohio

Education

• Capital University

Address

P.O. Box 165017
Columbus, OH 43216-5017

Phones

1.614.281.3988 (Business Phone)

Faxes

1.614.461.4198 (Business Fax)

Emails

Contact Us (Business Email)

Websites

http://www.jonesday.com