Mary-Kaitlin E. Rigney

Associate

704.998.6518

More ways to contact Mary-Kate Rigney

Clients rely on Mary-Kate's experience representing customers and utilities in litigation proceedings before the FERC and state utility commissions to help them navigate a variety of regulatory matters.

Articles + Publications

High-Level Summary of FERC Order No. 1920 on Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation
Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Mary-Kate represents natural gas pipeline customers, natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs), electric utilities, and water and wastewater utilities in proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state public utility commissions, and the U.S. Court of Appeals. Mary-Kate also counsels her clients on a variety of complex regulatory matters.

In particular, Mary-Kate’s experience includes representing natural gas pipeline customers and investor-owned utilities in rate case litigation proceedings before the FERC under Sections 4 and 5 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Sections 205 and 206 of the Federal Power Act, respectively. Mary-Kate also regularly helps clients navigate complex tariff-related issues and seek various regulatory approvals before the FERC. She also advises on rate issues, including cost-of-service, market-based, and formula rates.

At the state level, Mary-Kate assists LDCs and electric utilities with rate case proceedings before state public utility commissions. Additionally, she represents LDCs in annual gas cost recovery proceedings and other annual rate rider proceedings before state commissions. Mary-Kate also advises clients on water and wastewater utility acquisitions and transfers of certificates.

  • Served as FERC counsel for clients in ongoing FERC rate case proceedings under Section 4 of the NGA and advised on all legal issues during the settlement phase.
  • Advised LDCs in matters pertaining to FERC regulation, including limited-jurisdiction blanket certificates; FERC complaint proceedings; and rulemaking and other policy change proceedings.
  • Counseled NGPA Section 311 and Hinshaw pipelines on various jurisdictional matters.
  • Assisted in representing LDC in annual rate update proceedings before the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission (NCUC) and Public Service Commission of South Carolina.
  • Represented and counseled major investor-owned electric utility in rate case proceedings before the NCUC.
  • Assists in representing major investor-owned electric utility in matter on appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court.
  • Assists in representing entity in water and wastewater utility acquisition proceedings before the NCUC.
  • Legal 500 United States: Energy: Energy Regulation: Oil and Gas (2024)
Overview

Mary-Kate represents natural gas pipeline customers, natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs), electric utilities, and water and wastewater utilities in proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state public utility commissions, and the U.S. Court of Appeals. Mary-Kate also counsels her clients on a variety of complex regulatory matters.

In particular, Mary-Kate’s experience includes representing natural gas pipeline customers and investor-owned utilities in rate case litigation proceedings before the FERC under Sections 4 and 5 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Sections 205 and 206 of the Federal Power Act, respectively. Mary-Kate also regularly helps clients navigate complex tariff-related issues and seek various regulatory approvals before the FERC. She also advises on rate issues, including cost-of-service, market-based, and formula rates.

At the state level, Mary-Kate assists LDCs and electric utilities with rate case proceedings before state public utility commissions. Additionally, she represents LDCs in annual gas cost recovery proceedings and other annual rate rider proceedings before state commissions. Mary-Kate also advises clients on water and wastewater utility acquisitions and transfers of certificates.

Representation Matters
  • Served as FERC counsel for clients in ongoing FERC rate case proceedings under Section 4 of the NGA and advised on all legal issues during the settlement phase.
  • Advised LDCs in matters pertaining to FERC regulation, including limited-jurisdiction blanket certificates; FERC complaint proceedings; and rulemaking and other policy change proceedings.
  • Counseled NGPA Section 311 and Hinshaw pipelines on various jurisdictional matters.
  • Assisted in representing LDC in annual rate update proceedings before the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission (NCUC) and Public Service Commission of South Carolina.
  • Represented and counseled major investor-owned electric utility in rate case proceedings before the NCUC.
  • Assists in representing major investor-owned electric utility in matter on appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court.
  • Assists in representing entity in water and wastewater utility acquisition proceedings before the NCUC.
Insights

Articles + Publications

High-Level Summary of FERC Order No. 1920 on Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation

Articles + Publications

Troutman Pepper Summary of FERC Order No. 2023-A on Generator Interconnections

Articles + Publications

Hydrogen Sector Needs More Regulatory Certainty

See all insights from Mary-Kate Rigney

Awards
  • Legal 500 United States: Energy: Energy Regulation: Oil and Gas (2024)

Top areas of focus

  • Member, Energy Bar Association
  • Member, Women’s Energy Network
  • Member, North Carolina Bar Association

Education

  • American University Washington College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2016, senior staff, American University Law Review
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, B.S., cum laude, 2013

Bar Admissions

  • North Carolina
  • District of Columbia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit