Paul L. Zimmering

Paul Zimmering concentrates his practice in public utilities regulation.  He has represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission for many years, including in proceedings involving the quantification and recoverability of the costs to electric utilities for repair and rebuilding due to damage caused by hurricanes and tropical storms as well as the securitization of those costs; and, represented them in state and federal proceedings regarding the potential movement of electric utilities to Regional Transmission Organizations.  Paul taught Public Utility and Energy Regulation as well as advanced seminars on those topics for 28 years.

• Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission in proceedings involving the quantification and recoverability of the costs to electric utilities for repair and rebuilding due to damage caused by hurricanes and tropical storms as well as the securitization of those costs.
• Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission in proceedings involving the quantification and recoverability of abandoned plant costs as well as the securitization of those costs.
• Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission in state and federal proceedings regarding the potential movement of electric utilities to Regional Transmission Organizations.
• Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission in various matters pending before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding cost allocation among operating companies of major Louisiana electric utilities and the generation procurement practices of electric utilities.
• Has advised a member of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation regarding energy legislation.
• Has represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission in Dockets considering the appropriate level of avoided costs to Qualifying Facilities.
• Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission in various Dockets concerning requests for rate increases, development of formula rate plans, and the siting and certification of new generating units for various electric utilities in Louisiana.
• Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission in Dockets pending before the FERC concerning generation procurement practices of electric utilities.
• Represented an offshore leaseholder client in a proceeding in federal court in a dispute regarding the scope of an overriding royalty interest.
• Represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission in proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Louisiana State District Court regarding overcharges by major industrial pipelines to Louisiana Utilities.
• Represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission in an investigation of the fuel procurement practices of a Louisiana gas local distribution company and a Louisiana intrastate pipeline resulting in significant refunds to Louisiana ratepayers.
• Assisted in the representation of the interests of Louisiana ratepayers in proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to unbundle services pursuant to FERC Order No. 636 and the establishment of wholesale rates in the post-Order 636 environment.
• Was one of the drafters of a Louisiana Public Service Commission General Order prescribing the costs that may be flowed through to retail ratepayers via gas local distribution companies' Purchase Gas Adjustment Clauses.
• Was one of the drafters of a General Order of the Louisiana Public Service Commission prescribing the types of costs that may be passed through the Fuel Adjustment Clauses of jurisdictional electric utilities in Louisiana.
• Was one of the drafters of a Louisiana Public Service Commission General Order regarding transfers of ownership and/or control of Louisiana Utilities.
• Represented the Louisiana Commission in proceedings before the Louisiana Commission and the FERC involving the merger and/or acquisition of electric and gas utilities involving at least ten business combinations.

• American Bar Association member.
• Louisiana State Bar Association member.

Paul was an Associate Professor of Law at Tulane University Law School where he taught courses in Public Utility and Energy Regulation as well as advanced seminars on those topics for 28 years. 

• Best Lawyers in America 1995 - 2024.
• Chambers and Partners 2008 - 2023.
• New Orleans Magazine "Top Lawyer" 2012 - 2020 and 2022.