Experience

NH Office of the Consumer Advocate

• United States
• Utilities
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Consumer Advocate

  • Feb 2016 - Present

  The Office of the Consumer Advocate represents the interests of residential utility customers at the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, regional bodies such as NEPOOL and ISO New England, and elsewhere. I and my expert staff of four carry on the work of the office. Our priorities are to keep rates as low as possible while empowering consumers by encouraging utilities to innovate and adapt. The Office of the Consumer Advocate represents the interests of residential utility customers at the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, regional bodies such as NEPOOL and ISO New England, and elsewhere. I and my expert staff of four carry on the work of the office. Our priorities are to keep rates as low as possible while empowering consumers by encouraging utilities to innovate and adapt.



Vermont Law and Graduate School

• United States
• Higher Education
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Adjunct Professor

  • Nov 2021 - Present

  I once again have the honor of teaching in the online program of Vermont Law and Graduate School (f/k/a Vermont Law School). Courses include Energy Regulation (covering everything from cost allocation to transmission planning) and Energy Efficiency Policy (EE being an enduring passion of mine. Great to be back in the virtual classroom after a few years' absence! I once again have the honor of teaching in the online program of Vermont Law and Graduate School (f/k/a Vermont Law School). Courses include Energy Regulation (covering everything from cost allocation to transmission planning) and Energy Efficiency Policy (EE being an enduring passion of mine. Great to be back in the virtual classroom after a few years' absence!



Vermont Law and Graduate School

• United States
• Higher Education
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Senior Energy Law Fellow

  • Dec 2012 - May 2016

  I designed and then taught, for 15 straight terms, online graduate-level courses in energy law and policy. I hope to do more of that . . . it was VERY rewarding.

• Associate Director, Institute for Energy and the Environment, Associate Professor

  • 2008 - Nov 2012

  During my fulltime work at Vermont Law School, I taught courses in energy regulation and administrative law and worked on a diverse menu of consulting projects -- everything from carbon capture and sequestration to privacy of customer data -- by supervising a team of student researchers.



Law Office of Donald M. Kreis, PLLC

• Hartland, Vermont

• Principal

  • Jan 2014 - Feb 2016

  My private practice focused on providing legal assistance to cooperatives, since this particular form of business organization was and is a subject of great interest to me. My private practice focused on providing legal assistance to cooperatives, since this particular form of business organization was and is a subject of great interest to me.



Vermont Public Service Board

• Montpelier, Vermont

• Hearing Officer and Staff Attorney

  • Dec 2012 - Dec 2013

  Served as hearing officer in complex utility cases, including facility siting and least-cost integrated resources planning proceedings. Drafted proposed decisions, conducted hearings, managed cases, and otherwise did lots of writing and thinking about important public policy matters. I am presently winding down this work and expect to be fully finished by mid-February at the latest. Served as hearing officer in complex utility cases, including facility siting and least-cost integrated resources planning proceedings. Drafted proposed decisions, conducted hearings, managed cases, and otherwise did lots of writing and thinking about important public policy matters. I am presently winding down this work and expect to be fully finished by mid-February at the latest.



New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission

• General Counsel

  • Apr 2006 - Aug 2008

  I served as the chief legal officer of the agency, providing counsel to the three commissioners, serving as legislative and media liaison for the PUC, and assuring that all written decisions of the agency were comprehensive, fair and impervious to appellate challenge.

• Hearings Examiner and Staff Attorney

  • Jul 1999 - Apr 2006

  I represented the Staff of the Public Utilities Commission in proceedings before the PUC. I conducted discovery, cross-examined witnesses, negotiated settlement agreements and drafted decisions.



Vermont Supreme Court

• Law Clerk

  • Aug 1998 - Jul 1999

  I was law clerk to Associate Justice John A. Dooley, III. I was law clerk to Associate Justice John A. Dooley, III.



United States District Court, District of Maine

• Law Clerk

  • Sep 1996 - Jul 1998

  I served as a career law clerk to Magistrate Judge David M. Cohen. I served as a career law clerk to Magistrate Judge David M. Cohen.



Fontaine & Beal, P.A.

• Associate

  • Sep 1995 - Aug 1996

  This was a temporary position, between law clerkship appointments, to assist a law firm with some constitutional litigation on behalf of a labor union. This was a temporary position, between law clerkship appointments, to assist a law firm with some constitutional litigation on behalf of a labor union.



United States District Court, District of Maine

• Law Clerk

  • Sep 1994 - Aug 1995

  I was law clerk to Magistrate Judge David M. Cohen. I was law clerk to Magistrate Judge David M. Cohen.



Maine Supreme Judicial Court

• Law Clerk

  • Aug 1993 - Jul 1994

  I was law clerk to Associate Justices Caroline D. Glassman and Robert W. Clifford. I was law clerk to Associate Justices Caroline D. Glassman and Robert W. Clifford.



Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

• United States
• Environmental Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Third Mate

  • Mar 1990 - Jul 1990

  Just prior to starting law school, I left my job at Maine Times a few months early to pursue a remarkable opportunity in environmental education by serving on the crew of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. This is a project started in the 1960s by the late Pete Seeger. I lived on the boat, helped with sailing duties, oversaw volunteers and taught lots of kids about America's greatest river! I later served on Clearwater's Board of Directors (1999-2002). Just prior to starting law school, I left my job at Maine Times a few months early to pursue a remarkable opportunity in environmental education by serving on the crew of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. This is a project started in the 1960s by the late Pete Seeger. I lived on the boat, helped with sailing duties, oversaw volunteers and taught lots of kids about America's greatest river! I later served on Clearwater's Board of Directors (1999-2002).



Maine Times

• Staff Writer

  • Mar 1986 - Mar 1990

  Maine Times was one of the original alternative newsweeklies, and I had the honor of being hired by its founding editor (the late Peter Cox) and working under him just prior to his retirement. As a Staff Writer, I travelled and wrote about all 16 counties in Maine, though my favorite topics were garbage (since landfills and waste-to-energy were big topics), the media, and the correctional system. I was sad when Maine Times folded in 2002 -- but it lasted 34 years. Maine Times was one of the original alternative newsweeklies, and I had the honor of being hired by its founding editor (the late Peter Cox) and working under him just prior to his retirement. As a Staff Writer, I travelled and wrote about all 16 counties in Maine, though my favorite topics were garbage (since landfills and waste-to-energy were big topics), the media, and the correctional system. I was sad when Maine Times folded in 2002 -- but it lasted 34 years.



The Associated Press

• United States
• Media Production
• 700 & Above Employee

• Newsperson

  • Jun 1981 - Mar 1986

  Launching my career by spending almost five years at Associated Press was the sort of values-defining experience that a lot of veterans associate with their youthful military careers. Some of the best editors in the business taught me to write swiftly -- and only what I knew to be true. I spent my first three years on the national broadcast desk, writing news for radio and TV around the world. Then I transferred to the Portland, Maine bureau to hone my skills as a general assignment reporter for print and broadcast. What I remember best about the AP was the high quality people who worked alongside me -- heroes all! Show less