Donna L. Barnett

Donna Barnett represents public utilities and energy companies in state and federal regulatory proceedings, litigation and commercial transactions. She helps her clients obtain regulatory approval in rate cases and other cost proceedings, merger transactions, compliance cases and rulemaking proceedings. She is experienced in NERC and WECC audits and compliance cases and pipeline safety matters. Donna also regularly represents commercial real estate owners and major tenants in landlord-tenant disputes. Most recently, she assisted her utility clients through NERC/WECC audits, and separate proceedings involving greenhouse gas emissions and Renewable Energy Credits.

Donna has worked more than fifteen years in the utility industry. In California, she was a consultant to Pacific Gas and Electric Company. In Washington, she was Environmental Coordinator for Chelan County Public Utility District, where she helped the utility obtain environmental permits and FERC license amendments for its hydroelectric projects and other operations. She also managed the utility's vegetation management and environmental waste programs, ensuring compliance with federal and state hazardous and dangerous waste laws, including PCB disposal and lead abatement.

Donna worked at the Oregon Public Utility Commission assisting administrative law judges in both energy and telecommunications proceedings, and worked in the Public Counsel Section of the Washington Attorney General's Office, where she was active in telecommunications litigation and rulemaking.

Her experience gives Donna in-depth understanding of the energy industry, its relevant laws and regulations, the regulators, and the people who work in the industry.

Professional Leadership

• Energy Bar Association, 2010 - present
• American Bar Association, 2005 - present
• Washington State Bar Association, Litigation Section, 2005 - present
• King County Bar Association, 2005 - present
• East King County Bar Association, 2005 - present

Community Involvement

• ArtsFund, Associate, 2008 - 2010
• Bellevue Arts Museum, Board of Trustees, Board Operations Committee Chair, 2009 - present

Related Employment

• Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Public Counsel Section, Seattle, WA, Law Clerk, 2004    
• Public Utility Commission of Oregon, Administrative Hearings Division, Salem, OR, Law Clerk, 2003 - 2005  
• Chelan County Public Utility District No. 1, Wenatchee, WA, Environmental Coordinator, 1997 - 2002  
• Environmental Consultants, Inc. (consultant to Pacific Gas & Electric Co.) Davis, CA, Senior Consulting Utility Arborist, 1994 - 1997