Steven J. Ross is a partner in Steptoe's Washington office in the firm's electric practice. He previously served as practice group leader. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Ross was an attorney with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where he served as a trial attorney and adviser to a former commissioner.

Regulatory Law
Mr. Ross represents electric utilities and other entities in the electric power industry subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, and the Public Utility Holding Company Act, as those statutes are administered by the FERC. He counsels clients in matters related to bulk power transactions and coordination agreements, transmission and interconnection access and pricing issues, electric utility mergers, and FERC’s Standards of Conduct. Mr. Ross advises clients in connection with requests for market based rates, EWG and QF regulations, and rate and cost allocation matters. Mr. Ross has actively participated in matters involving the industry's current restructuring, counseling clients on matters concerning alternative structures, market rules, and state federal jurisdictional issues. He also has counseled clients on compliance issues, and participated in several FERC audit and enforcement matters. In addition to his experience in regulatory proceedings, Mr. Ross also has represented electric utilities in federal and state courts, at both the trial and appellate levels.

Commercial Transactions
Mr. Ross has represented electric utilities in the negotiations of power sales and coordination agreements, as well as long-term transmission contracts. He also has counseled clients on negotiations involving major transmission construction projects and purchases and sales of utility assets, and regularly advises clients as to their rights and obligations under current contracts and strategies for renegotiating or restructuring existing arrangements.