Attorney Noel Darce

Practice Focus

Litigation Practice Energy Regulation and Utilities Appellate Group

About

Noel Darce has more than four decades of experience in utility, regulatory, and energy law. He advises clients on a wide range of energy matters, including regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, and related regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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

His practice also encompasses legal and strategic issues involving regional transmission organization participation, utility mergers and acquisitions, generation expansion, utility bankruptcies, utility contracts and transactions, and rate regulation and related litigation. Noel appears before state and federal regulatory agencies and the courts.

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

Experience

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.

Recognitions

Chambers USA: Band 1, Energy & Natural Resources: Utilities since 2015
Legal 500: New Orleans Elite, Band 3, Energy 2026
The Best Lawyers in America®: Administrative/Regulatory Law, Energy Regulatory Law, and Utilities Law since 2016
Best Lawyers®: “Lawyer of the Year," Energy Regulatory Law 2022, 2023, 2025
Best Lawyers®: “Lawyer of the Year," Administrative/Regulatory Law 2024
Super Lawyers: Utilities and Energy & Natural Resources since 2018
New Orleans Magazine: Top Lawyers since 2016

Media

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

Credentials

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