Photo of Corban Coffman

Corban represents utilities and other power suppliers in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) matters.

Corban represents energy and utility clients on a variety of matters before FERC. He has experience with representing companies seeking market-based rates, stated rates, and formula rates; filings to maintain market-based rates; and has represented clients filing complaints and comments with respect to Regional Transmission Organizations. In addition, Corban provides support to corporate transactions requiring FERC approval, represents clients in FERC enforcement actions, and assists clients in filing comments on proposed rules. While Corban is primarily experienced in the traditional electric market, he works with renewable energy as well, and alongside his FERC work, he also advises clients on compliance issues related to retail choice.

Corban gained experience with case management early in his career and was instrumental in the drafting and preparation of highly complex, multimillion-dollar settlements. Clients know that Corban will always go the extra mile and ensure that their matters move forward.

On December 19, 2024, FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to approve the addition of the newly defined term “Ride-through” to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Glossary of Terms and to approve the proposed Protection and Control (PRC) Reliability Standards PRC-024-4 (Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Synchronous Generators, Type 1 and 2 Wind Resources, and Synchronous Condensers) and PRC-029-1 (Frequency and Voltage Ride-through Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources (IBR)). According to FERC, these reliability standards are intended to address reliability gaps associated with IBRs tripping or entering momentary cessation in aggregate. The new rules will ensure that IBRs are able to “ride through” frequency and voltage excursions, such as faults on the transmission or sub-transmission system. In the NOPR, FERC seeks comments on the proposed rules and the need for informational filings that would help FERC analyze the impact of proposed exemptions in the rules for certain IBRs.

At its May 13, 2024 open meeting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) unanimously approved Order No. 1977,[1] which updates the process FERC uses when exercising its transmission siting authority under Section 216 of the Federal Power Act, as amended by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA). 

At its May 13, 2024 open meeting, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a groundbreaking final rule—Order No. 1920[1] —requiring public utilities to undertake new long-term regional transmission planning over a 20-year horizon and allocate the cost of selected transmission projects in a manner that corresponds to the benefits they provide.