Giordano & Associates, Ltd. represents numerous business and governmental clients on regulatory, litigation, transactional and legislative matters involving energy. In addition, the firm represents renewable energy developers and energy customers implementing alternative generation energy strategies. The firm has litigated or negotiated favorable results for numerous clients. Some examples are the following:
MENDOTA HILLS WIND GENERATORS
Giordano & Associates represented Navitas Energy, Inc. on its development of the Mendota Hills Wind Farm in Lee County, Illinois. With an aggregate nameplate capacity of 50.4 megawatts, the Mendota Hills Wind Farm was the first operating, utility-scale wind energy project in Illinois. The firm negotiated and closed the interconnection agreement with the electric utility as well as the numerous wind lease, purchase and easement agreements necessary to acquire land rights for the project.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT FOR LARGE CONSUMERS
The firm has represented numerous clients in connection with distributed generation, backup power systems, and other alternative energy strategies. Giordano & Associates represented The John Hancock Center in connection with the installation of an emergency backup generation facility. Also, when the Sears (Willis) Tower sought to install a $10-million, 13-megawatt, gas-fired co-generation facility in the basement of the skyscraper, the firm represented the building in litigation with Commonwealth Edison (“ComEd”) when ComEd opposed the facility.
COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT OF COMED RATE CASES
Giordano & Associates was the lead consumer counsel in the negotiation of a comprehensive settlement in 2013 among ComEd and various consumer, governmental and business representatives of three major cases pending before the Illinois Commerce Commission (“ICC”). The settlement established a framework for efficient and ethical electricity competition in Illinois. The settlement followed extensive litigation that began in the fall of 2001 regarding ComEd’s delivery services charges, customer transition charges and other matters. Giordano & Associates negotiated every term of the settlement agreement and the ComEd tariffs, legal motions and proposed ICC orders which were necessary to implement the settlement agreement. Among other things, the settlement reduced ComEd’s customer transition charges, changed the design of ComEd’s delivery services rates, and established a fund of $11 million in ComEd money to reimburse Chicago building owners for the costs of installing emergency generators.
SETTLEMENTS WITH COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY
The firm has also achieved numerous other settlements with ComEd after litigation on behalf of clients such as Target Corporation and the City of Chicago.
ILLINOIS ELECTRIC SERVICE CUSTOMER CHOICE AND RATE RELIEF LAW
Mr. Giordano was a principal player in the 1997 passage of the Illinois Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law, which provided for direct access to competitive sources of electricity supply for retail customers. Since the passage of that law, Giordano & Associates has been instrumental in ensuring that the benefits of that law are made available to Illinois retail electricity customers.
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CONTRACTS
The firm has negotiated electricity supply contracts for many major users, including the Sears Tower, the Chicago Public Schools and Tempel Steel Company, realizing savings in excess of $125 million.
ELECTRICITY CURTAILMENTS
Giordano & Associates reversed an Illinois Commerce Commission Order in the Illinois Appellate Court regarding ComEd’s electricity curtailments of various schools and businesses and subsequently executed a comprehensive settlement with ComEd regarding this matter.
ELECTRICITY TAXES
Representing the manager of three major downtown buildings, the firm succeeded in obtaining a reduction of approximately 65% in assessed municipal electricity taxes.
SBC – AMERITECH MERGER
Mr. Giordano litigated in opposition to SBC Corporation’s 1999 acquisition of Ameritech Corporation before the Illinois Commerce Commission. The firm gained Commission approval of more than 90 conditions that promoted local telecommunications competition.
SEARS (WILLIS) TOWER ROOFTOP
The firm has advised the Sears Tower regarding Federal Communications Commission and other legal issues involved in siting HDTV antennas on the Sears Tower’s rooftop.