Lewis L. Manning,

Lewis offers experience across a wide range of regulatory mandates, including acting for power generators and pipeline operators on rate design and facilities applications. He is described by clients as "an expert in his field who is well regarded by partners, regulators and courts, is client-focused and delivers an excellent service." - Chambers Canada, 2021 Guide

Lewis’ practice focuses on Regulatory/Administrative Law energy matters involving both the electricity and oil and gas sectors including all aspects of rate applications, toll design, facilities applications, cost of capital and related matters before the Alberta Utilities Commission (previously the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board), the Alberta Energy Regulator (previously the ERCB) and the Canada Energy Regulator (formerly National Energy Board). He has appeared at all levels of the Alberta courts in relation to various energy related matters both at trial and appeals, the BCUC, OEB, Manitoba PUB, the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry, the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also represented clients in arbitrations as well as sitting as an arbitrator in relation to  oil and gas and electric industry related contract disputes.

Lewis represents independent power producers, industrial & commercial customers, oil & gas producers, utilities, forest industries, industry associations, regulators, consumers and transmission companies in relation to a variety of regulatory matters. He has participated actively in all matters relating to the restructuring of the gas transmission and distribution sectors in Canada and the electric industry in Alberta. He was also a member of the legislative drafting committee responsible for the Alberta Electric Utilities Act and related matters.

Lewis has a strong civil litigation background and has appeared as counsel in the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal in relation to a number of first nation challenges to pipeline projects. He has also acted as counsel before many other administrative tribunals, including the Development Appeal Board, the Workers Compensation Board, Calgary Real Estate Board, and the Municipal Government Board (Commercial Property Tax Assessment Appeals in relation to gas plants).

• Best Lawyers in Canada: Energy Regulatory Law , 2015-2025
• Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys - Litigation Star, 2019-2024
• Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Leading Practitioner for Energy (Electricity) (2023-2024) and Energy (Oil & Gas) (2024)
• Chambers Global: Energy: Power (Regulatory) (Band 4), 2024
• Chambers Canada: Energy: Power (Regulatory) - Nationwide (Band 4), 2024
• Chambers Global: Energy: Power (Regulatory) (Band 3), 2023
• Chambers Canada: ranked for Energy: Provincial Regulatory - Alberta (Band 3); Energy: Power (Regulatory) - Nationwide (Band 3), 2022
• Lexpert Special Edition: Leading Canadian Lawyers in Energy, 2016-2020
• Who's Who Legal Canada:
  • Energy (National Guide), 2016-2019
  • Energy (Global Guide), 2016-2018
• Lexpert Special Edition: Leading Canadian Lawyers in Energy, 2019
• Legal 500 Canada: Energy (Power), 2016
• Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: Peer Review rated

• Represented successful Respondent (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers) resisting a leave to appeal application in a case regarding the Crown’s duty to consult Aboriginal people in the context of a number of major pipeline projects in Western Canada (Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation et al. v. Enbridge Pipelines Inc. et al., 2010 CanLII 70737; on appeal from the Federal Court of Appeal).
• Represented Respondent (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers) in successfully defending a series of four appeals brought by First Nations challenging three separate decisions from the National Energy Board that issued Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for the construction of three major pipeline projects in Western Canada (the Keystone Pipeline Project, the Southern Lights Pipeline Project and the Alberta Clipper Pipeline Expansion Project). (Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation v. Enbridge Pipelines Inc., 2009 FCA 308; leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada denied.)
• Advised Direct Energy in regulatory matters in Alberta related to retail sales of electric power and natural gas. Matters include representation of Direct Energy in relation to its applications to the Alberta Utilities Commission for approval of retail rates, return, code of conduct compliance, customer care and billing system service agreements and associated costs, and in relation to its energy price setting plans for the acquisition of energy to serve its customers.
• Representing Milner Power in an ongoing proceeding with the Alberta Utilities Commission in relation to a successful complaint by Milner of the Alberta electric system operator’s loss factor rule and methodology which was established in January 2006.
• In addition to the AUC proceeding there have also been a number of appeals to the Alberta Court of Appeal since 2010 and a number of more recent permission to appeal applications have been adjourned pending the conclusion of the AUC proceeding.
• Represented a major wind power developer regarding interconnection to the Alberta grid
• Represented various industrial customers regarding rate disputes and successfully obtained major refunds from a local utility
• Represented various Oil & Gas companies regarding generic cost of capital proceeding before Alberta regulators
• Represented large industrial and commercial ratepayers in successfully challenging more of $33m of surcharges proposed by a local distribution company
• Provided advice and counsel to a regulatory Board in relation to review and variance application brought by a local utility in relation to its rates
• Represented a major utility in relation to Alberta transmission tariffs and related matters
• Represented several major oil shippers in relation to successfully contested NEB tariffs regarding oil pipelines
• Represented Calgary Health Authorities in relation to successfully contested sour gas well developments
• Represented oil and gas producers in relation to Mackenzie Valley Pipeline matters