PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Tyler Whitney is a partner in Cable Huston’s Energy & Utility and Government practice groups. From serving as outside general counsel, to negotiating and drafting complex power purchase agreements, to developing risk-mitigation strategies for unique problems, Tyler understands the importance of aligning legal strategy with his clients’ business needs.
Prior to joining Cable Huston, Tyler was General Counsel for a Washington public utility district, where he also served in several other roles, including as Assistant General Manager. This experience gave Tyler a wide-angle lens to understand and appreciate every aspect of a complex public utility with its own generation, transmission, water systems, and wholesale telecommunications network.
As General Counsel, Tyler oversaw all litigation and claims, contracts, labor and employment matters, policy development, and regulatory compliance. This included negotiating and drafting wholesale and retail power contracts representing more than $500 million in revenue. As Assistant General Manager, Tyler was also responsible for overseeing the PUD’s hydroelectric production, regulatory affairs, human resources, contracts, and water departments. Tyler was also responsible for administering the PUD’s two FERC licenses, and helped the PUD achieve FERC approval of a major license amendment and attendant off-license settlement agreement, providing better conservation outcomes at a significant cost savings to ratepayers.
Tyler has substantial experience in negotiating and drafting wholesale and retail power contracts, easements and right-of-way agreements, franchises, utility service agreements, procurement and purchase contracts, pole contact agreements, interlocal agreements, collective bargaining agreements, and many other utility-related transactions. Tyler also has substantial experience in governance and open-government matters, including Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act compliance, records retention laws, and municipal ethics.
Tyler previously worked for a Spokane law firm practicing in complex commercial litigation, and served as the Mayor’s Policy Advisor at the City of Spokane.