As the former General Counsel to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Mr. Penders served as the chief legal and policy advisor for regulating the Commonwealth’s investor-owned electric distribution, natural gas and water companies, handled complex rate design and base rate cases, and helped to write the playbook for future regional energy solutions. Under his management, the DPU’s legal division issued over 2,000 orders on a wide range of energy issues, including traditional rate recovery obligations, initiatives to encourage grid modernization for the electric industry, including solar, battery storage and electric vehicle deployment, initiatives to quantify and reduce gas leaks in the Commonwealth, and initiatives to ensure energy efficient and renewable energy deployment to meet the Commonwealth’s clean energy and climate goals. He provides clients an in-depth knowledge regarding the regulation of electric power, natural gas and water companies, and was part of the team that created the regulatory oversight of the Transportation Network Company industry.

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Prior to rejoining the firm in 2021, Mr. Penders served as a policy advisor with Preti Strategies, providing business, political and strategic advice to clients on public policy and energy law issues, and of counsel in the Energy Practice Group of its affiliated law firm, Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau & Pachios. Mr. Penders was an attorney with Keegan Werlin from 2006 through 2015, and has previously held positions within the energy industry and in government, at National Grid, the former New England Gas Company, the DPU, the House Committee on Taxation, and the Senate Committee on Post-Audit and Oversight.

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Kevin lives in Foxborough, MA with his wife, three kids, two rescue dogs and a domesticated corn snake.