Attorney Noel Darce

Practice Focus

Litigation Practice, Energy Regulation and Utilities, Appellate Group

Noel Darce, a partner in our Litigation Section, has practiced in utility, regulatory and energy-related law for over four decades.

“Noel Darce is highly regarded for representing the LPSC in matters before FERC as well as state and federal courts.” —Chambers and Partners

Because of his vast experience with a range of energy issues, clients look to him for advice on regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, and FERC regulations implementing those statutes. Legal and strategic issues related to RTO participation, utility mergers and acquisitions, generation expansion, utility bankruptcies, utility contracts and transactions, rate regulation and related litigation are also significant areas of his practice.

Noel appears before state and federal regulatory agencies and the courts.

Noel is active in both professional and civic circles. He is an Energy Bar Association member and past board member of the New Orleans Chapter. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, and New Orleans Bar Association. In the community, Noel has worked with the United Way of Greater New Orleans, the Archbishop’s Community Appeal, and other charitable organizations. He is a member of Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church and has been involved in church and school activities.

Noel is recognized by Chambers and Partners USA as Band 1 in Energy & Natural Resources: Utilities. He is also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Administrative/Regulatory Law, Energy Regulatory Law, and Utilities Law. In 2022, 2023, and 2025, he was named the Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in Energy Regulatory Law (New Orleans), as well as the 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for Administrative/Regulatory Law.

Education

J.D. from Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, 1983
- Member of the Louisiana Law Review
- Order of the Coif
B.A. from Louisiana State University, 1980

Publications / Presentations

Co-author, “Antitrust Law” 35 Loyola Law Review 687 (1989).
Note, Interspousal Contracts, 42 La. L. Rev. 727 (1982).

Representative Matters

Represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission staff in numerous proceedings involving the merger of investor owned and cooperative electric public utilities.
Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission in proceedings involving the quantification and recoverability of the costs to electric utilities for repair and rebuilding due to damage caused by hurricanes and tropical storms as well as the securitization of those costs.
Represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission in proceedings involving the quantification and recoverability of abandoned plant costs as well as the securitization of those costs.
Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission staff in state and federal proceedings and stakeholder processes regarding Regional Transmission Organizations.
Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission staff in various Dockets concerning requests for rate increases, development of formula rate plans and the siting and certification of new generating units for various electric utilities in Louisiana.
Represents the Louisiana Public Service Commission staff in various rulemaking proceedings.
Represented an offshore leaseholder client in proceedings in federal court in which an interstate gas pipeline attempted to invalidate a long term gas purchase contract.
Represented the State of Louisiana in a claim for overpaid royalties and severance taxes arising out of a settlement with the Department of Energy for violation of crude oil price control regulations.
Regularly represents state regulatory agency staff in various retail ratemaking proceedings.
Represented national pipe manufacturer in litigation related to the breach of a purchase contract for the construction of a sewerage system.
Represented a group of medical practitioners related to the breach of a partnership agreement to construct a medical facility.
Represented entity constructing aquarium in litigation attempting to block the permitting of that construction.
Represented brokerage house and broker against unsuitability and churning claims.
Represented large landowner in mineral rights litigation seeking cancellation of mineral lease.
Represented parish taxing authority in litigation challenging levy of property tax for water and drainage district.