Brocato, Thomas L.

Energy and Utility Practice Group - Chair
(512) 322-5857
Thomas Brocato
Thomas Brocato Email Me
Best Lawyers Award Badge
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Since 2004, Thomas has solved problems for Lloyd Gosselink clients through his 33 years of experience in representing clients before regulatory agencies, the courts, and the legislature. In addition to his focus on utility administrative law, his experience in preparing electric supply contracts, rate proceedings, transmission line licensing applications, and appellate litigation make Thomas a valuable resource for clients with gas, water, and electric utility issues.

  • Admitted to the State Bar of Texas (1990)
  • Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Federal District Court
  • D., Texas Tech University School of Law (1990)
  • A., The University of Texas at Austin (1987)
  • Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel — Assistant Public Counsel representing residential and small commercial consumers on electric utility matters
  • Public Utility Commission of Texas — Assistant General Counsel representing the public interest in regulatory matters
  • Speaker, “Stop the Rate Case! – Why in an Era of Streamlined Regulation Cities are Seeing More Utility Rate Cases than Ever” – TCAA Summer Conference, June 2024
  • Speaker, “Gas and Electric Utility Update” – TCCFUI Fall Seminar, October 2023
  • Speaker, “Electric Utility Deregulation in Texas: We’ve Come a Long Way” – TCCFUI Fall Seminar, October 2023
  • Speaker, “Gas and Electric Utility Regulation in Texas” – City of Arlington, October 2023
  • Speaker, “MOU TCOS: Where are We Going and Where will we Stop?” TPPA Annual Meeting, July 2023
  • Speaker, “PUC 2.0: New Faces, New Policies and New Rules” TPPA Legal Semina, February 2022
  • Speaker, “After Winter Storm Uri: Are We Safer Now?” TCCFUI Fall Seminar, October 2022
  • Speaker, “The Changing World of MOU TCOS Filings at the PUC” – TPPA Annual Meeting, July 2022
  • Speaker, “Overview of Gas Rate Regulation in Texas” – City of Irving, March 2022
  • Speaker, “Electricity / ERCOT 101” – City of Waco, August 2021
  • Speaker “ Update on Electric and Gas Utility Matters at the Legislature, the PUC, and Railroad Commission,” Texas Coalition of Cities for Utility Issues Fall Seminar, October 2020
  • Speaker, “General Fund Transfers and Other Allocations in the Current Regulatory and Legislative Environment/Update on Data Foundry vs. Austin Energy Litigation,” Texas Public Power Association Legal Seminar, October 2019
  • Speaker, “Third Time’s a Charm? Oncor Seeks Another Suitor,” 2017 Texas Coalition of Cities for Utility Issues Seminar, October 2017
  • Speaker “Rate-Setting for Municipal Utilities,” TSCPA Energy Conference, May 2017
  • “Witness Preparation,” EUCI Course presented in Denver May 2018, Charleston February 2017, Baltimore October 2017,
  • Denver January and August 2015, Dallas April 2014, Sacramento July 2014
  • RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS CONT.
  • Speaker “A New Era of MOU Rate Appeals Before the PUC,” TPPA Annual Meeting, June 2016
  • Speaker “Oncor Sale and the Richardson Litigation,” TCCFUI Fall Seminar, October 2015
  • Speaker “State Utility Issues Update,” TCAA Summer Conference, June 2015
  • “Municipal Participation at the Public Utility Commission and Railroad Commission,” 2014 TCCFUI Fall Seminar,
  • December 2014
  • In-House “Witness Preparation Seminar,” FERC Staff Training, May 2014
  • “Got to Regulate: Too Much, Too Little, or Just Right,” Gulf Coast Power Association Annual Meeting, April 2014
  • Texas Public Power Association
  • Public Utility Law Section, State Bar of Texas
  • The Best Lawyers in America©: 2016 -2024
  • Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® for Energy Regulatory Law, Austin: 2022
  • Selected Texas Super Lawyers List: 2016-2019
  • Listing by Chambers and Partners USA for Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) – Texas 2023, Band 2
Thomas has many interests including history, travel, sports, cooking, and being outdoors. Mostly, however, Thomas enjoys helping people and spending time with his family.

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