Paule Hamelin

Representative Work

• Paule has extensive knowledge of the oil sector (petroleum products, gasoline and heating oil) having acted for a major oil company since 1991 in various aspects of this sector, including commercialization, wholesale and retail sales, and distribution of these products (analysis and application of the applicable legislative and regulatory frameworks, review and application of diverse commercial agreements, various representations before the Régie de l'énergie du Québec and civil courts).
  • Counsel in matters relating to minimum price determination assessed by the Régie de l'énergie du Québec with regard to petroleum product prices.
• Paule also has vast knowledge of the energy sector with regard to commercial and regulatory litigation, specifically relating to production, sales, distribution and power transmission. She has acted in a variety of matters before the Régie de l'énergie du Québec (since its inception) as well as common law courts.
  • Counsel for clients in different pricing matters of Hydro-Québec in its power distribution activities (the "Distributor").
  • Counsel in various contract approval matters for the Distributor: approval of diverse procurement contracts, among which the closing of TCE, "deferred energy agreements" contracts, including various matters pertaining to the procurement process under the Act Respecting the Régie de l'énergie and Regulation respecting the conditions under which and the cases in which a supply contract entered into by the electric power distributor must be approved by the Régie de l'énergie and the interpretation of government orders.
  • Counsel in various matters regarding procurement plans of the Distributor.
  • Counsel regarding a request for cancellation of an RFP process launched by the Distributor pertaining to wind power integration services.
  • Counsel for Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie in numerous pricing matters among which the major matter concerning the update of the Rates and conditions so that they comply with 890 orders and others of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
  • Counsel in the enactment process of reliability standards regarding power transmission filed by the Reliability Coordinator for Québec.
  • Counsel in a matter regarding the determination of the auxiliary carrier status under the Act Respecting the Régie de l'énergie.
  • Counsel in a matter pertaining to the reimbursement of a contribution agreement linked to the application of the Distributor's Tariffs and conditions.
  • Counsel with regard to various complaints pertaining to the Rates and conditions (calculation of the ATC, renewal rights, open and transparent access to the transmission grid, etc.).
  • Counsel pertaining to the request of Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie regarding additions to the power transmission grid.
  • Counsel with regard to the establishment of an incentive regulation mechanism to ensure efficiency increase by the Distributor and Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie under section 48.1 of the Act Respecting the Régie de l'énergie.
  • Counsel in the advisory opinion on measures likely to improve rate-setting practices for electricity and natural gas.
  • Counsel in an important international arbitration matter involving the wind energy sector.
  • Counsel in a litigation matter with the Distributor pertaining to a contract involving the reimbursement of the extension of a distribution network.
  • Negotiation of various contracts regarding power transmission service.