Bio
Michael Hassell is a Principal in the Firm's Energy & Utilities Practice Group. He focuses his practice on representing public utilities before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and Pennsylvania's Appellate courts. With more than 30 years of experience representing utilities in rate proceedings, Mr. Hassell has served as lead counsel for several of Pennsylvania's major public water, gas, and electric utilities.
Mr. Hassell is also active in professional associations such as the Energy Bar Association and the Energy Association of Pennsylvania. He was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2015 - 2025 editions in the categories of Energy Law and Energy Regulatory Law. For information about this selection and an overview of common third-party publications, rankings, and list methodologies, click here.
Education
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J.D., College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, 1981
Notes and Comments Editor; William & Mary Law Review, member of the Order of the Coif - B.A., with High Distinction, Pennsylvania State University, 1978
Bar Memberships
- Pennsylvania (1981)
Clerkship
- Honorable John A. MacPhail, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
Affiliations
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Energy Bar Association
- Energy Association of Pennsylvania
Industries
- Utilities/Energy
Representative Cases
- Represented a major electric utility in proceedings to establish default service rates.
- Served as counsel for water, gas and electric utilities in more than three dozen base-rate increase proceedings.
- Served as counsel for several gas utilities in annual purchased gas cost proceedings for more than 20 years.
- Served as counsel for water and gas utilities in proceedings to establish Distribution System Improvement Charges.
- Negotiated settlement of first base-rate proceeding in Pennsylvania to use the fully forecasted rate year provisions of Act 11 of 2012.
Speaking Engagements
- "Fundamentals of Utility Ratemaking in Pennsylvania," Harrisburg, PA (October 2012)
News & Insights
Education
-
J.D., College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, 1981
Notes and Comments Editor; William & Mary Law Review, member of the Order of the Coif - B.A., with High Distinction, Pennsylvania State University, 1978
Bar Memberships
- Pennsylvania (1981)
Clerkship
- Honorable John A. MacPhail, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
Affiliations
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Energy Bar Association
- Energy Association of Pennsylvania