Aaron Fate

Before joining Taft, Aaron practiced energy law for over 25 years at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), and in private practice in Washington, DC.  His legal work has been at the heart of the energy grid transformation over this period, including:  the establishment, regulation, and enforcement of energy markets; the proliferation of distributed generation, renewables, demand response, and energy efficiency; transmission planning and expansion; interconnection; and the recent increase in load forecasts and incorporating large loads onto the grid, such as data centers.

Aaron has handled and led teams to handle complex filings, commercial disputes, alternative dispute resolutions (ADRs), compliance audits, enforcement matters, discovery, and strategic business initiatives.  He has advised and advocated for clients in areas ranging from natural gas and hydropower to commodities markets and finance to corporate governance and operational issues.  Clients rely on his deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and industry operations to successfully navigate complex legal and business challenges.

Aaron also has a particular expertise with FERC-jurisdictional regional transmission organizations (RTOs), having worked closely not only with MISO, but PJM, and their respective Independent Market Monitors (IMMs) on market design, manipulation, referrals, investigations, and self-reports.

In addition to his legal practice, Aaron teaches a legal seminar on Energy, Economics, and the Environment as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University’s McKinney School of Law.

• At MISO, resolved 42 informal ADRs with no subsequent proceedings, including a 22 party ADR challenging settlements related to a natural disaster.
• Led a company-wide response to a three-year compliance audit, receiving one minor finding.
• Handled dozens of self-reports and data requests with FERC’s Office of Enforcement, with no further action taken on any matter.
• Filed significant Tariff revisions improving MISO’s markets, resource adequacy, demand response, and finance that were accepted by FERC with no further action.
• At FERC, worked on major investigations and orders, including the first order applying its market manipulation authority, the first administrative litigation of market manipulation, and numerous other investigations and settlements.
• Served for six years as a liaison to PJM on enforcement matters, working closely with the RTO and its Independent Market Monitor.