Member
Charleston, WV
office 304.340.3867
mobile 304.881.1544
Ms. Riggs' primary areas of practice are energy and public utilities.

Education

  • Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, B.A. in History/Prelaw, Secondary Education, 1986
  • West Virginia University College of Law, J.D., 1989

Experience

  • Providing representation before the West Virginia Public Service Commission on behalf of water and sewer utilities:
    • Preparing and litigating applications for certificates of convenience and necessity
    • Preparing and litigating petitions for conveyances and acquisitions of water and/or sewer utility assets
    • Preparing documents relative to conveyance and acquisition of utility assets
    • Preparing and litigating rate cases for water and sewer utilities
  • Manage large utility easement acquisition projects
  • Advising developers and financial institutions on development issues, including preparation of financial documents involving renewable energy projects
  • Prepare and litigate easement condemnation cases
  • Providing representation before the West Virginia Public Service Commission on behalf of industrial consumers
  • Providing representation before the West Virginia Public Service Commission on behalf of pipelines and energy development companies
  • Preparing and litigating siting certificates for natural gas-fired power plants and renewable energy projects
  • Preparing utility agreements
  • Participating in the drafting of West Virginia’s electric deregulation plan
  • Serving as Co-chair of the Task Force established to review, and make recommendations concerning, the Public Service Commission’s proposed rules for the government of water and sewer utilities
  • Developing and implementing programs and policies of the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council
  • Representing the Council as lender in loan transactions
  • Representing the Council before state legislative committees
  • Arguing cases before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals on public utility matters
  • Representing the West Virginia Public Service Commission in receivership proceedings before circuit courts
  • Executive Secretary, West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, June 1996 – August 1999
  • Staff Attorney, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, July 1991 – May 1996
  • Attorney, Mountaineer Gas Company, June 1989 – June 1991

Distinctions

  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2020 & 2023 "Lawyer of the Year" for Utilities Law in Charleston, W.Va.
  • Nominated by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Utilities Law and Municipal Law

Admissions

  • West Virginia State Bar
  • West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit