Ms. Riggs' primary areas of practice are energy and public utilities.
Education
- Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, B.A. in History/Prelaw, Secondary Education, 1986
- West Virginia University College of Law, J.D., 1989
Experience
- Providing representation before the West Virginia Public Service Commission on behalf of water and sewer utilities:
- Preparing and litigating applications for certificates of convenience and necessity
- Preparing and litigating petitions for conveyances and acquisitions of water and/or sewer utility assets
- Preparing documents relative to conveyance and acquisition of utility assets
- Preparing and litigating rate cases for water and sewer utilities
- Manage large utility easement acquisition projects
- Advising developers and financial institutions on development issues, including preparation of financial documents involving renewable energy projects
- Prepare and litigate easement condemnation cases
- Providing representation before the West Virginia Public Service Commission on behalf of industrial consumers
- Providing representation before the West Virginia Public Service Commission on behalf of pipelines and energy development companies
- Preparing and litigating siting certificates for natural gas-fired power plants and renewable energy projects
- Preparing utility agreements
- Participating in the drafting of West Virginia’s electric deregulation plan
- Serving as Co-chair of the Task Force established to review, and make recommendations concerning, the Public Service Commission’s proposed rules for the government of water and sewer utilities
- Developing and implementing programs and policies of the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council
- Representing the Council as lender in loan transactions
- Representing the Council before state legislative committees
- Arguing cases before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals on public utility matters
- Representing the West Virginia Public Service Commission in receivership proceedings before circuit courts
- Executive Secretary, West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, June 1996 – August 1999
- Staff Attorney, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, July 1991 – May 1996
- Attorney, Mountaineer Gas Company, June 1989 – June 1991
Distinctions
- Named the Best Lawyers® 2020 & 2023 "Lawyer of the Year" for Utilities Law in Charleston, W.Va.
- Nominated by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Utilities Law and Municipal Law
Admissions
- West Virginia State Bar
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
- United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit