Jennifer Bencken
Experience
- Data Center
- Electric Regulatory
- Energy Regulation & Governmental Affairs
- Land Use & Municipal Law
- Power Generation
- Renewable Energy
Biography
Jennifer Bencken’s practice focuses on electric power industry transactions and regulatory matters. She advises utilities, developers, investors, lenders and large power consumers on transactions in electric power markets and state and federal electric regulatory issues. She has extensive experience negotiating long-term renewable power purchase agreements, as well as master trading agreements and agreements for the purchase and sale of renewable energy credits. Jennifer also regularly represents equity investors and lenders in renewable project finance transactions for wind, solar and battery storage facilities. She also advises large commercial and industrial users of electric power, including data centers, manufacturers and large corporate campuses.
Jennifer previously served as in-house counsel for one of the country’s largest municipal electric utilities, where she worked closely with the utility’s power trading and regulatory departments on wholesale power transactions and utility tariff matters.
Education
B.A., cum laude, Williams College
J.D., with honors, University of Texas School of Law
- Articles Editor, Texas Law Review, Vol. 86
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Counseling and defending clients on issues related to compliance with Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) rules, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Protocols and other ISO/RTO rules
- Representing developers, tax equity investors and lenders in project finance transactions, including battery storage, solar, wind, and gas generation projects and related due diligence
- Representing buyers and sellers in the negotiation of renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs) and virtual PPAs
- Providing regulatory advice and negotiating transaction documents for behind-the-meter and on-site power generation projects
- Advising utilities and power developers on the negotiation of interconnection agreements and ERCOT qualified scheduling entity (QSE) arrangements
- Negotiating utility facilities extension agreements and retail power supply contracts on behalf of large retail electric customers, including industrial manufacturers, data centers and corporate campuses
- Representing parties in regulatory proceedings before the PUCT
- Assisting Texas retail electric providers on compliance with certification, de-certification and reporting obligations
- Advising an electric utility on implementation of green energy tariff and related customer transactions
- Advising clients on operating contracts and offtake arrangements for natural gas, coal and biomass power generation facilities
- Providing assistance to a public power utility in issuing and evaluating responses to a request for proposals (RFP) for wholesale power and negotiating agreements for the development of a community solar project
- Negotiating project development and supply agreements for chilled water systems and other thermal generation resources
- Advising government entities and third parties with respect to the Texas Public Information Act, including requests for letter rulings from the Texas Attorney General
- “The Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers,” Energy & Natural Resources, 2024-2025
- Co-Author, “Confidentiality of Water Quality Management Plans in Texas,” Jackson Walker Insights (June 23, 2020)
February 24, 2025
Attorney News
Lawdragon Names 15 Jackson Walker Partners Among Leading Energy Lawyers of 2025
According to Lawdragon, the Energy 500 list “reflects the historic strength of a handful of firms in this area, as well as the incursions the global powerhouses have made establishing Energy as a mainstay of their practices.”
April 15, 2024
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2024
View Jackson Walker’s April 2024 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
February 16, 2024
Attorney News
Lawdragon Names 12 Jackson Walker Partners Among Leading Energy Lawyers of 2024
According to Lawdragon, the Energy 500 list “reflects the historic strength of a handful of firms in this area, as well as the incursions the global powerhouses have made establishing Energy as a mainstay of their practices.”
February 8, 2021
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Elects Jennifer Ferri and Erica Benites Giese to Partnership
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the election of Jennifer Ferri and Erica Benites Giese to partnership.
June 23, 2020
Insights
Confidentiality of Water Quality Management Plans in Texas
This article examines whether information contained in Texas water quality management plans may be subject to public disclosure by the Soil Board or other governmental entities, either under the Texas Public Information Act or the federal Freedom of Information Act.
Practice Experience
- Counseling and defending clients on issues related to compliance with Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) rules, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Protocols and other ISO/RTO rules
- Representing developers, tax equity investors and lenders in project finance transactions, including battery storage, solar, wind, and gas generation projects and related due diligence
- Representing buyers and sellers in the negotiation of renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs) and virtual PPAs
- Providing regulatory advice and negotiating transaction documents for behind-the-meter and on-site power generation projects
- Advising utilities and power developers on the negotiation of interconnection agreements and ERCOT qualified scheduling entity (QSE) arrangements
- Negotiating utility facilities extension agreements and retail power supply contracts on behalf of large retail electric customers, including industrial manufacturers, data centers and corporate campuses
- Representing parties in regulatory proceedings before the PUCT
- Assisting Texas retail electric providers on compliance with certification, de-certification and reporting obligations
- Advising an electric utility on implementation of green energy tariff and related customer transactions
- Advising clients on operating contracts and offtake arrangements for natural gas, coal and biomass power generation facilities
- Providing assistance to a public power utility in issuing and evaluating responses to a request for proposals (RFP) for wholesale power and negotiating agreements for the development of a community solar project
- Negotiating project development and supply agreements for chilled water systems and other thermal generation resources
- Advising government entities and third parties with respect to the Texas Public Information Act, including requests for letter rulings from the Texas Attorney General
Recognition & Accolades
- “The Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers,” Energy & Natural Resources, 2024-2025
Publications & Speeches
- Co-Author, “Confidentiality of Water Quality Management Plans in Texas,” Jackson Walker Insights (June 23, 2020)