Biography

Dan Collins is Of Counsel with the firm's Energy & Telecommunications Practice Group, practicing from our Boston office. As the former Director of Government Affairs for the New England Power Generators Association (NEPGA) and Chief Operating Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), his clients benefit from his extensive career immersed in the regulation of electric power, natural gas, and water companies. Dan advises clients seeking regulatory outcomes that will improve service quality; ensure consumer protections; create a more resilient and modern grid; and enhance safety and reliability of investor-owned utilities, transportation network companies, and natural gas pipelines. He works closely with developers, consumers, and industry associations to develop regional energy solutions.

In his role as Director of Government Affairs for NEPGA, Dan represented a diverse group of electric-generating companies that compete in the region’s wholesale electricity market, advocating before legislative committees, public utilities commissions, state energy agencies, and other entities through written and in-person testimony, comments, and lobbying activities. He designed and executed legislative strategies to support the membership’s policy priorities and commercial interests and advised the president and members on pending or proposed energy and environmental legislation, regulations, and policy developments. He also represented NEPGA on the Northeast Energy and Commerce Association’s (NECA) Board of Directors and served as a co-chair of the Legislative Committee.

As COO of the DPU, Dan oversaw the Department’s fiscal, information technology, and personnel functions. He led the Division of Regional and Federal Affairs, the group responsible for monitoring and analyzing activity in the region’s wholesale electricity markets and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdictional matters, advising the Commission and secretariat on regional energy issues and policies, and recommending actions that aligned with the Commonwealth’s priorities. He also developed and maintained positive working relationships with energy stakeholders, including IS0 New England, New England Power Pool (NEPOOL), New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners (NECPUC), and officials from all the New England states.

Prior to his role at the DPU, Dan was a Government Study Committee member for the Town of Norwell, Senior Counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and legal counsel in the Office of Senator Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr.

At Preti Flaherty, Dan serves in dual roles as Of Counsel in the Energy Practice Group and as Policy Advisor with the firm's affiliated public affairs firm, Preti Strategies. ​​He is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School and the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Dan lives in Norwell, Massachusetts.

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • At Large Member, Town of Norwell Complete Streets Committee

Firm Highlights

Publication

Schutz and Harriman Author Article for MLRC on Mill's Veto of Constitutionally Fraught Legislation

In an article for the Media Law Resource Center's July 2023 Media Law Letter,  Preti Flaherty attorneys Sig Schutz and Alex Harriman explore Gov. Janet Mills' recent veto of L.D. 1610, “An Act to Prohibit Campaign Spending...

Press Coverage

Maine Media Organizations Oppose Foreign Electioneering Ban

Question 2 on Maine’s November ballot asserts that corporations owned or controlled by foreign governments do not have the same rights to political speech as companies here in the U.S. and that foreign governments should be prohibited...

Publication

Municipal Update: Maine Legislature Acts to Clarify Sales of Tax-Acquired Properties

Early this week, in response to the  United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in  Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota  (598 U.S. (2023)) , the Maine Legislature passed emergency legislation establishing a new process for...

Event

2023 Maine Employment Law Summit

For nearly 30 years, Preti Flaherty's Employment Law team has provided Maine employers with practical guidance and best practices at our annual Employment Law Summit. Join us  Thursday, October 5  for the 2023 Employment...

News

Matt Warner Named to Cannabis Law Journal Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers 2023

Preti Flaherty attorney and Cannabis Business Group member Matt Warner has been named to the list of Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers for 2023-2024. A joint publication of  Cannabis Law Report and  Cannabis Law...

Publication

Maine Law Amended to Require More Details When Public Employees Disciplined

Governor Mills recently signed a bill amending the public disclosure requirements for public employees who have been disciplined. Although widely reported as applying to police misconduct, the law applies to all government employees. The...

Press Coverage

Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting Wins Public Records Dispute with York County Jail

News

Jeffrey Talbert Named to American College of Environmental Lawyers

Jeffrey Talbert, Chair of Preti Flaherty’s Environmental Law Group, has been invited to become a Fellow in the distinguished American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL). Membership in the premiere association of environmental lawyers is by...

Publication

How to navigate the legal side of nondisclosure agreements

Preti Flaherty attorney Kristy Abraham has authored an article for  MaineBiz  on navigating the legal side of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), outlining six questions for organizations to review before entering into a NDA.

News

Preti Flaherty Litigation Practice Group Adds Four New Attorneys

Preti Flaherty is pleased to announce the addition of four experienced Associates to the firm’s Litigation Practice Group: Stephen Garvey, Michael Hanify, Hanna May, and Tiffany Ottenga. Stephen Garvey is a graduate of Boston...