Overview
William Keyser focuses his practice on regulatory litigation and transactions involving US electricity and capacity markets. His clients include electric utilities, transmission providers, energy storage developers, independent power producers, power marketers, hydroelectric power producers, debt and equity investors, and public utility holding companies. Will counsels clients on a variety of matters including transmission rates and cost allocation, interconnection procedures and agreements, mergers and acquisitions, renewable portfolio standards, market-based and cost-based sales of energy, interlock issues, FERC's e-Tariff requirements, and participation in regional transmission organizations. He represents clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy, federal and state courts, and state public utility commissions.
Will is recognized as a leading energy lawyer in the Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) market by Chambers USA and Chambers Global, who notes that clients laud Will as a "smart and practical" practitioner who is "very strong on strategy and client relationships." The Legal 500 also recognized Will as a "Next Generation Partner" in the Electric Power (Litigation) industry in 2023.
Prior to joining private practice, Will served as a law clerk for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel.
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- J.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, 2001
- B.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1996
Representative Matters
- Represented a group of transmission owners in submitting comments in support of incentive transmission rate policy changes at FERC.*
- Represented investor-owned utility in defending complaint against return on equity.*
- Represented unregulated subsidiary of large utility in performing regulatory due diligence and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals to acquire and operate multiple utility-scale solar facilities in California.*
- Advised energy storage developer in obtaining Exempt Wholesale Generator status and market-based rate authority. *
- Represented energy storage developer in challenge to capacity market mitigation rules in organized market*
- Advised solar facility owners in negotiating amendments to numerous interconnection agreements with regional transmission operators. *
- Represented wind project developer in successfully challenging inclusion of network upgrades in interconnection agreement.*
- Represented retail power provider in litigation over changes to PJM Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR).*
- Represented a transmission owner in a FERC proceeding to determine the proper cost allocation methodology to be used for high voltage transmission facilities in PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM).*
- Advised a Pennsylvania public utility in obtaining FERC approval for its formula transmission rates.*
*Matters handled at prior firm.
News & Publications
Client Alerts
Summary of Coal and State Action Executive Orders
April 14, 2025
By: Daniel A. Mullen, Jennifer L. Key, William M. Keyser, Alex Kaung Myat Ahkar
Client Alerts
FERC's New PURPA Rules Upheld, NEPA Issue Remanded
September 11, 2023
By: Jennifer L. Key, William M. Keyser, Chris D. Zentz, Joe Bower
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 28 Practice Rankings, 34 Individual Awards in Legal 500 US 2023
June 14, 2023
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 25 Practice, 72 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2023
June 1, 2023
Client Alerts
Broad Implications If FERC Sides with State AGs’ Effort to Limit ESG Investing
May 25, 2023
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 16 Practice, 40 Individual Mentions in Chambers Global 2023
February 21, 2023
Client Alerts
FERC Proposes NOPR on Backstop Siting Authority
December 19, 2022
Events
Seminars & Events
Third Annual Regulatory Symposium
December 9, 2021
Speakers: Shannen W. Coffin, Micah S. Green, William M. Keyser, Pantelis Michalopoulos, Michael L. Weiner
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Energy: Electricity – Regulatory & Litigation, Nationwide (2021-2024)
- Chambers Global, Energy: Electricity – Regulatory & Litigation, USA (2024-2025)
- Legal 500 US, "Next Generation Partner," Energy Litigation: Electric Power (2023)
- Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law (2018-2022)
Previous Employment
- Law Clerk, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel